Generation of hydrogen isotopes with an electric pulse hydride injector

An Electric Pulse Hydride Injector (EPHI) designed for safe interim tritium storage has been developed for the dosed supply of hydrogen isotopes in a time interval ranging from several milliseconds up to hundreds of seconds. The release of gas occurs via current pulses through the active elements of the EPHI, each of which is made of a thin molybdenum foil coated on both s ides with a thin titanium powder layer. The pulses are generated by a twent y sector current source. With this source the foils can be heated individua lly or in groups. In this way it is possible to release a wide spectrum of hydrogen quantities. The shape, height and length of the current pulses can be varied as required to release a predetermined amount of hydrogen. An extensive parametric study on the performance of the injector has been c arried out in the laboratory. The data obtained have been used for the deve lopment of a model that satisfactorily describes the injector operation. (C ) 1999 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.