基于双塔式氢氦/氚氦混合气的快速分离技术

Technology of Quick Separation for Hydrogen-Helium and Tritium-Helium Mixture Based on the Double Towers

氢氦/氚氦混合气快速高效地分离与回收是产氚工艺的关键技术之一。利用液氮温度下吸附剂对氢同位素与氦吸附能力的差异,搭建了双塔式固定床低温吸附-解吸分离氢氦/氚氦的实验装置,通过该实验装置开展了不同组成的氢氦、氚氦混合气的分离实验。实验结果表明:采用双塔式固定床低温吸附-解吸法可以实现不同组成的氢氦、氚氦混合气的快速分离,分离后氦中氢的体积分数低于1.2×10-5,氦的纯度可达到99.998 8%,吸附柱的脱氚率大于97%;双塔式固定床低温吸附-解吸法的解吸氢中含有较高浓度的氦,不适于回收氢;在氚氦分离中采用固定床低温吸附柱是可行的,可作为钯膜分离器的辅助单元。

The separation and recovery of hydrogen-helium and tritium-helium mixture were a key technology for the tritium production process. A separation experiment device for hydrogen-helium and tritium-helium mixture was made by the low temperature adsorption- desorption method with the double towers fixed bed, using the difference of adsorption capacity for adsorbents between hydrogen isotopes and helium at liquid nitrogen. The sepa- ration experiment of hydrogen-helium and tritium-helium mixture with different composition was developed on this apparatus. The results show that hydrogen-helium and tritium-helium mixture with different composition are quickly separated by the low temperature adsorption- desorption method with the double towers fixed bed, and the hydrogen content in helium is below 1.2 X 10 s, and helium purity reach 99. 998 8%, and detritiation factors of the adsorp- tion column is more than 97%. The low temperature adsorption-desorption method with the double towers is not suitable for the hydrogen recovery, because of desorption hydrogen con- taining high concentration helium. It is feasible for tritium-helium separation using the fixed bed low temperature adsorption column and acting auxiliary unit of membrane separator.