PERFORMANCE TESTS OF PALLADIUM SILVER PERMEATORS WITH TRITIUM AT THE TRITIUM-LABORATORY KARLSRUHE/

The permeation of protium, deuterium, and an equimolar deuterium-triti um mixture through finger-type Pd-Ag permeators of various configurati ons operated either in/out or out/in has been compared in parametric s tudies. The parameters included the permeate pressures; the feed-and-b leed flow rates; and the feed-gas composition, i.e., helium, Q(2), and CQ(4) (Q-hydrogen, deuterium, tritium). Results on the dependence of the hydrogen isotope breakthrough into the bleed-gas stream and thus o n hydrogen isotope decontamination factors were obtained as a function of feed-gas flow. The observed isotopic effects are large, i.e., H-2/ D-2 = 1.72 +/- 0.03 and H-2/DT = 2.06 +/- 0.03. No evidence of permeat or deterioration was observed after 1.5 yr of discontinuous operation with hydrogen isotopes-mostly deuterium-tritide. In situ evidence on t he integrity of a Pd-Ag permeator was obtained from empirical permeati on curves, helium leak measurements, and hydrogen isotope breakthrough curves. Methane poisons Pd-Ag slowly but progressively at 360 degrees C. When the hydrogens in methane are replaced by tritium, the rate of poisoning considerably increases, and after a few days, the overall p oisoning becomes severe. The poisoning by hydrocarbons can be complete ly reversed by heat treatment in laboratory air.