Apparatus and method for concentrating hydrogen isotopes

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method of concentrating a hydrogen isotope, comprises delivering a fluid comprising the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated and an additional gas other than then hydrogen isotope to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising a hydron exchange membrane comprising hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, and also comprising said anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode; removing a first stream in fluid communication with the cathode, the first stream comprising concentrated hydrogen isotope; and removing a second stream in fluid communication with the anode, comprising the additional gas delivered to the anode depleted of the hydrogen isotope.

1 . A method of concentrating a hydrogen isotope, comprising
 delivering a fluid comprising the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated and an additional gas other than then hydrogen isotope to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising a hydron exchange membrane comprising hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, and also comprising said anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode;   removing a first stream in fluid communication with the cathode, the first stream comprising concentrated hydrogen isotope; and   removing a second stream in fluid communication with the anode, comprising the additional gas delivered to the anode depleted of the hydrogen isotope.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional gas comprises at least one of nitrogen, argon, carbon monoxide, or carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional gas comprises nitrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen isotope comprises at least one of deuterium or tritium. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering water comprising the hydrogen isotope to the hydron exchange membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising contacting the hydron exchange membrane with water comprising the hydrogen isotope prior to delivering the fluid to be concentrated to the anode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising delivering water comprising the hydrogen isotope to the hydron exchange membrane simultaneous to delivering the fluid to be concentrated to the anode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering or recycling water comprising the hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electrochemically compressing the first stream to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydron exchange membrane comprises a hydrogen exchange support material and water comprising the hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the water comprises a predetermined atomic fraction of the hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined atomic fraction of the isotope is configured to produce a target hydrogen isotope purity of the first outlet stream. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing water from a water source comprising the hydrogen isotope to the hydron exchange membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the directing the water from the water source comprises directing the water to the first side or the second side of the hydron exchange membrane via a liquid water flow loop. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the water source comprises a humidifier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dehumidifying the first stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydron exchange membrane comprises an ionomer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ionomer comprises a fluoropolymer comprising sulfonate groups. 
     
     
         19 . A method of concentrating a hydrogen isotope, comprising
 delivering a fluid comprising the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated and nitrogen to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising a hydron exchange membrane comprising hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, and also comprising said anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode;   removing a first stream in fluid communication with the cathode, the first stream comprising concentrated hydrogen isotope;   directing the first stream to a water vessel and separating the concentrated hydrogen isotope from the an isotopic water in the water vessel;   after the separating, directing the concentrated hydrogen isotope to a compression and drying station to form a final hydrogen isotope outlet stream;   directing the isotopic water from the water vessel and a separated water stream from the compression and drying station to the second side; and   removing a second stream in fluid communication with the anode, comprising the nitrogen delivered to the anode depleted of the hydrogen isotope.   
     
     
         20 . A method of concentrating a hydrogen isotope, comprising
 delivering a fluid comprising the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated and nitrogen to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising a hydron exchange membrane comprising hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, and also comprising said anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode;   removing a first stream in fluid communication with the cathode, the first stream comprising concentrated hydrogen isotope;   directing the first stream to a drying station to form a final hydrogen isotope outlet stream and a separated water stream;   combining the fluid with the separated water stream upstream of the anode and humidifying the stream; and   removing a second stream in fluid communication with the anode, comprising the nitrogen delivered to the anode depleted of the hydrogen isotope.