ROUTINE OPERATION OF THE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ISOTOPE-SEPARATION SYSTEM OF THE TRITIUM-LABORATORY-KARLSRUHE

The Gas chromatographic Isotope Separation System (ISS) of the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe (TLK) is in operation with tritium since 1995. T he first test runs with up to 3.7 x 10(12) Bq of HT-DT mixtures reveal ed the need for modifications and improvements in the areas of process conduction and tritium detection. Upon completion and verification of the improvements by appropriate performance tests, the ISS was taken into routine operation. Until early 1997, approximately 2000 1 of hydr ogen isotopes with an activity of 2.2 x 10(14) Bq tritium have been pr ocessed. The H-2 and HD fractions released to the Central Tritium Rete ntion System of the TLK contained less than 10(10) Bq m(-3) of tritium . Protium was isolated by several consecutive isotopic scrambling/isot opic separation steps and released to the Central Tritium Retention Sy stem of the TLK. Deuterium/tritium fractions containing less than 0.1% of protium were sent back to the infrastructure of the TLK. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.