System for extraction of tritium from liquid metal coolants

Abstract

A method for removing tritium from liquid lithium includes mixing the liquid lithium containing trace amounts of tritium with a molten salt and forming a salt of lithium and tritium. The method also includes separating the liquid lithium from the salt of lithium and tritium and circulating the molten salt in an electrolyzer to form molecular tritium. The method further includes bubbling an inert gas through the electrolyzer to remove the molecular tritium and circulating the argon and removed molecular tritium in a titanium getter to recover the tritium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for removing tritium from liquid lithium, the method comprising:
 mixing the liquid lithium containing trace amounts of tritium with a molten salt;   forming a salt of lithium and tritium;   separating the liquid lithium from the salt of lithium and tritium;   circulating the molten salt in an electrolyzer to form molecular tritium;   bubbling an inert gas through the electrolyzer to remove the molecular tritium; and   circulating the argon and removed molecular tritium in a titanium getter to recover the tritium.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the molten salt includes lithium halides. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the halides comprise at least one of fluorine, chlorine, or bromine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid lithium contains trace amounts of tritium. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein mixing the liquid lithium with the molten salt and separating the liquid lithium from the molten salt are performed in a centrifugal contactor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inert gas comprises at least one of helium or argon. 
     
     
         7 . A system for recovering tritium from a lithium coolant, the system comprising:
 a lithium coolant circuit, wherein the lithium coolant in the circuit includes trace amounts of tritium;   a plurality of contactors coupled to the lithium coolant circuit, wherein the plurality of contactors are operable to mix the lithium coolant with a molten salt and form a salt of lithium and tritium;   an electrolysis unit coupled to one or more of the plurality of contactors;   an inert gas source operable to bubble an inert gas through the electrolysis unit; and   a getter coupled to the electrolysis unit and operable to recover the tritium.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the molten salt comprises at least one of LiF, LiCL, or LiBr. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of contactors comprise centrifugal contactors arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the getter comprises at least one of a titanium or depleted uranium. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the inert gas comprises at least one of helium or argon.