DEVICE FOR THE SORPTION, STORAGE AND RELEASE OF HYDROGEN ISOTOPES

Abstract: A device for the sorption of hydrogen isotopes at low pressures, their storage and their subsequent release at high pressures. Use is made of a getter material having linear sorption isotherms and a compressor material having non-linear sorption isotherms.

Description: "DEVICE FOR THE SORPTION, STORAGE AND RELEASE OF HYDROGEN ISOTOPES" , The three isotopes of hydrogen are hydrogen itself, deuterium and tritium (H , D- and T respectively). They find ever increasing use in industry and research and as a consequence there is an increasing interest in the sorption, storage and release of these gases in a safe and controlled manner. Such sorption, storage and release (SSR) devices are well known in the art and have, for instance, been described by D.E. Solomon in U.S. Patent Number 4055276. While they are capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes at low pressures and on heating, releasing the isotope at a higher pressure it is often the case that this higher pressure is still many orders of magnitude below that which is desired. Furthermore, the pressure at which the isotope is released varies during isotope release due to changes of the concentra¬ tion of sorbed isotope within the isotope sorption material (getter). This is due to the fact that for many traditional getter materials the hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure (p) (i.e. the hydrogen isotope pressure outside the getter material and the hydrogen isotope pressure within the getter material) is related to the concentration (q) of hydrogen isotope within the getter material and the getter material temperature (T) by a relationship of the form: log p = A + log q 2 - - - known as Sievert's law. Thus, whilst traditional hydrogen isotope sorption, storage and relase (SSR) devices have the desirable feature of sorption at low isotope pressures * they release the hydrogen isotope at pressures lower than those often required and even that pressure is not at a constant value but decreases drastically. Materials which sorb hydrogen isotopes and release them at high pressures are also knwon. See for example D. Shaltiel et al, Journal of the Less Common Metals, 53 (1977) 117-131- Nevertheless, such materials are not able to sorb significant quantities of hydrogen isotopes at low pressures. See also, U.S. Patents Numbers 4163666 and 4360445. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen isotope sorption, storage and relase device free from one or more defects of prior sorption, storage and release devices. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen isotope sorption, storage and release device capable of isotope sorption at low pressures and isotope release at relatively high pres¬ sure. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for the sorption of hydrogen isoto- pes at low pressures and their release at a high and substantially constant pressure. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description herewith and drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a not-to-scale representation of the isotherms relating to an SSR device of the present invention; ' _ FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of how an SSR device of the present invention is utilized in practice; FIGURE 3 is a practical realization of a hydrogen compressor using a device of the present invention. The present invention is based on the use of a non-evaporable getter material which permanently sorbs active gases and reversibly sorbs hydrogen isotopes . at lev: pressure and whose hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure is analytically described by an equation of the form: 2 B log p = A + log q - —--- where p = hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure in pascal q = concentration of hydrogen isotope in the non-evaporable getter material in T = temperature of the non-evaporable getter in K A,B = are constants which depend on the composi¬ tion of the non-evaporable getter material and the hydrogen isotope, for hydrogen isotope concentrations in the non-evaporable getter material of less than 3x10 3 Pa.m3.kg—1; in combination with a non-evaporable compressor material 2 having a non-linear log p versus log q characteristic such that at ambient temperatures it is capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes released by the getter mate- rial when the getter material is heated to elevated temperatures and which itself releases hydrogen isoto- pes upon heating at a substantially constant pressure higher than that at which the non-evaporable getter material releases the hydrogen isotope. For a better understanding of the present invention reference is now made to Fig. 1 which shows a group of isotherms 100 relating to a hydrogen isotope chemic¬ al compressor and purifier of the present invention. Isotherm 102 shows the hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure of a non-evaporable getter material which permanently sorbs active gases and reversibly sorbs hydrogen isotopes at a relatively low pressure and temperature. The getter material, having isotherm 102, is in an ambient where the hydrogen isotope has a pressure of P , as indicated at 104 and the concen- tration of the isotope already sorbed within the getter material is C as indicated at 106. The temperature of the getter material is between approxrimately 0°C and 100°C. As further quantities of the hydrogen isoto¬ pe are produced within the ambient the getter material continues to sorb the isotope until the concentration of the hydrogen isotope within the getter material is C as indicated at 108 and the isotope pressure has increated to P as indicated at 110 by following isotherm 102 according to arrowhead 103. Isotherm 102 (also indicated at T-..) is analytical- Gl ly described by an equation of the form: 2 log P s A + log q - B T where p = hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure in pascal = concentration of hydrogen isotope in the non-evaporable getter material T = temperature of the non-evaporable getter material in K A,B = are constants which depend on the composition of the non-evaporable getter material' and the hydrogen isotope. In the above equation the values of A and B are determ- ined by a method described by F. Ricca and T. A. Giorgi in Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 71, No.11 October 1967, p. 3627-3631 - Typical values are shown in the tables below. 84% Zr - 16% Al 0 - 100°C A B H 2.6 - 0.3 - 7200 - 200 D 3.0 - 0.2 - 7260 - 100 70% Zr - 24.6% V - 5.4% Fe 0 - 100°C A B H 2 2.9 - 0.3 - 6180 - 100 D 2 3.0 - 0.2 - 6327 - 100 Values for T have not been determined but it is report¬ ed that its equilibrium pressure is approximately 4 times that of H_. When the hydrogen isotope pressure has reached the value of P (110) the temperature of the getter material is raised to a higher temperature between about 500°C and 900°C. The non-evaporable getter material now obeys an isotherm 112 (T-,_) and the equilibrium pressure of G2 the hydrogen isotope is P^, as indicated at 114, follow¬ ing the change indicated by arrowhead 116. The getter material is now exposed to a non-evaporable compressor 2 material having a non-linear log p versus log q cha- racteristic such that at ambient temperatures it is capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes released by the getter material when the getter material is heated to elevated temperatures and which itself releases hydro¬ gen isotopes upon heating at a substantially constant pressure higher than that at which the non-evaporable getter material relases the hydrogen isotope. The compressor material is at a temperature of about from 0°C to 100°C. The getter material releases the hydrogen isotope following arrowhead 118 until all the hydrogen isotope released by the getter material has been sorbed by the compressor material. Thus, the concentration of the isotope in the getter material decreases whereas the concentration of the isotope in the compressor material increases following arrowheads 120, 120*, on the compressor material isotherm 121. A point is reach¬ ed when the equilibrium pressures of the getter material and the compressor material are equal at a value of P as indicated at 122 where the concentration of the isotope in the getter material is again C but the concentration in the compressor material is Cj j as indicated at 124 (and 125 on isotherm 121). The compressor material is now heated 1 to a higher temperature 1 between about 150°C and 350°C and its isotherm becomes that indicated by 126. The hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure is now P ad indicated 5 at 128. The compressor material can now release the hydrogen isotope at an approximately constant pressure of P_ until the concentration of hydrogen isotope 5 within the compressor material has been reduced to a vvaalluuee of C. as indicated at 130 and 132 (on isotherm 126). After the compressor material has released its hydrogen isotope it is allowed to cool down and it reassumes isotherm 121 following arrowhead 134. The getter material is also allowed to cool down from T G2 to 1lj 1 following arrowheads 136, 136' whereupon the compression cycle can be repeated. Typical pressures are: P = from about 10 -7Pa to about 10-3Pa; -4 -2 P = from about 10 Pa to about 10 Pa; 3 P = from about 1 Pa to about 10 Pa; 4 P. = from about 10 Pa to about 10 Pa; P_ = from about 10 3 Pa to about 2.105Pa. Typical concentration is: 3 _ι C = from about 10 Pa.m .kg to about C = from about 10 2 Pa.m3.kg-1 to about 3x10 3 Pa.m 3 .kg "1 ; r 3 = from about 103 Pa.m3.kg-1 to about 4x10 3 Pa.m 3 .kg "1 ; C n = from about x10 3• Pa.m3.kg-1 to about • Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown a device 200 for the sorption, storage and release of hydrogen isotopes together with other elements sometimes asso¬ ciated with the device 200. In practice it is convenient to dispose the getter material and compressor material within the device 200 in which there is a vessel 202 which is a source of low pressure hydrogen isotope having a partial pressure of about 10 -7 to 10-3 Pa. A non-evaporable getter (NEG) material is contained in a first gas-tight container 204. A non-evaporable compressor material is contained within a second gas-tight container 206. A pumping system comprising a backing (rotary) pump 208 and a turbomolecular pump 210 are connected to the containers 204 and 206. A hydrogen outlet or storage tank 212 is also provided. The various components are connected through valves 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222 (V , V , V_, V„ and V_ respectively). Consider all valves closed. Pumps 208 and 210 are caused to operate. Valve 214 is opened and after NEG container 204 is heated to activate the getter material contained therein. Valve 214 is closed. Com¬ pressor material contained within container 206 is also activated by heating after opening valve 216 which is then subsequently closed. Valve 218 is opened and the getter material in container 204 contacts and sorbs the hydrogen isotope produced in container 202. After sorption of the hydrogen isotope, valve 218 is closed and the getter material is heated releas¬ ing the hydrogen isotope but not other gaseous impuri- ties. Valve 220 is opened and compressor material in the container 206 sorbs the isotope at approximately room temperature. Valve 220 is then closed and when it is required to produce the purified hydrogen isotope at the required high pressure to storage tank 212, or whatever, the compressor material is heated to the temperature which is required to give "that pressure, and valve 222 is opened. Suitable non-evaporable getter materials are any getter materials which are capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes at low pressures but preferably those which sorb up to 3x10 -3 Pa.m3.kg-1 at about 25°C at an equi- -3 librium pressure of about 10 Pa. Examples of suitable getter materials are those chosen from the group consi¬ sting of Zr-Al alloy, Zr-Fe alloys, Zr-Ni alloys and Zr-M -M alloys where M is chosen from the group comprising Nb and V, and is chosen from the group consisting of Fe and Ni. Even more preferred getter materials are those ternary alloys whose composition in weight percent when plotted on a ternary composition diagram in weight percent Zr, weight percent V and weight percent Fe lies within a polygon having as its corners the points defined by: (a) 75% Zr; ' 20% V; 5% Fe (b) 45% Zr; 20% V; 35% Fe (c) 45% Zr; 50% V; 5% Fe. • See Fig. 16 of U.S. Patent No. 312669. The most preferr- ed getter material for use in the container 204 is a non-evaporable ternary gettering alloy whose composi- tion in weight percent when plotted on a ternary compo¬ sition diagram in weight percent Zr, weight percent V and weight percent Fe lies within a polygon having as its corners the points defined by: (d) 70% Zr; 25% V; 5% Fe (e) 70% Zr; 24% V; 6% Fe (f) 66% Zr; 24% V; 10% -Fe (g) 47% Zr; 43% V; 10% Fe (h) 47% Zr; 45% V; 8% Fe (i) 50% Zr; 45% V; 5% Fe. Suitable compressor materials are any compressor 2 materials which have non-linear log p versus log q characteristic such that at ambient temperature it is capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes released by the getter material when the getter material is heated to elevated temperatures and which itself releases hydro¬ gen isotopes upon heating at a substantially constant pressure higher than that at which the non-evaporable getter material releases the hydrogen isotope. Example of such materials are Zr-V-Fe alloys and La-Ni-Al alloys, there are many others. One preferred composition expecially useful as a compressor material in the second gas-tight container 206 is a ternary alloy of Zr, V and Fe whose composi- tion lies within a certain polygon on a ternary weight percent diagram. That certain polygon is defined by three points. The first point is Zr = 45%; V = 20%; Fe 35%. The second point is Zr = 60%; V 20%; Fe = 20%. The third point is Zr = 45%; V = 35%; Fe = 20%. One preferred Zr-V-Fe compressor material has a composition Zr (V Fe„ )„ where 0.4< x <0.6. x 1-x 2 Other preferred alloys are La-Ni-Al alloys such as La-Ni_ --Al. _. 3-5 1.5 . Such alloys have the advantage that they release the hydrogen isotope at temperatures less than the temperature at which they would ignite if exposed to air and are thus much safer to use in practice. It will be realized that the relative masses of non-evaporable getter material and compressor material can be used to optimize the performance of the chemical compressor. Example 1 In a non-limiting example of the present invention a Zr-V-Fe alloy of composition 70% Zr; 24.6% V; 5.4% Fe is used to sorb a Hydrogen isotope (H ) at ambient temperature until 3x10 3 Pa.m3.kg-1 have been sorbed -3 at a pressure of less than about 10 Pa. Its temperatu¬ re is then raised to 800°C whereupon a compressor material of composition La-Ni_ .-Al, _ at ambient 3.5 1.5 temperature sorbs the isotope until it has sorbed about 1.5x10 4 Pa.m3kg-1. The compressor material is then heated to about 200°C whereupon it releases hydro- gen at a relatively constant pressure of about 10 +5 Pa as shown in Fig. 3« Thus the relative amounts of getter material (Mg) to compressor material (Mc) can be indicated as: 4 3 -1 1.5x10 Pa.m .kg → Mg = 5. 3x10 3 Pa.m 3 .kg "1 Mc Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 is repeated except that the H contacted with the Zr-V-Fe alloy is replac¬ ed by deuterium (D ) contaminated with trace amounts of less than one percent of impurities, namely, oxygen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen. The resultant D released from the compressor material is substantially free of all impurities. Example 3 This example illustrates the structure of a device of the present invention for the sorption, storage and relase of tritium. A device is constructed as shown in Fig. 2 herein. Impure tritium contaminated with about one percent of oxygen and about one percent of nitrogen is located in the vessel 202. A particulate alloy of 62% Zr; 30% V; 8% Fe is placed in the container 204. A particulate alloy of 50% Zr; 25% V; 25% Fe is placed in the container 206. Pure tritium substantially free of oxygen and nitrogen issues past the valve 222 into the vessel 212. Although the invention has beendescribed in consi¬ derable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that varia¬ tions and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described above and as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for the sorption, storage and relase of hydrogen isotopes comprising: A. a first gas-tight container having therein non-evaporable getter material which permanently sorbs active gases and reversibly sorbs hydrogen isotopes at low pressures and whose hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure is analytically described by an equation of the form: 2 B log p = A + log q - - where p = hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure in pascal q = concetration of hydrogen isotope in the non-evaporable getter material in T = temperature of the non-evaporable getter material in K A,B = are constants which depend on the compo¬ sition of the non-evaporable getter ma¬ terial and the hydrogen isotope, for hydrogen isotope concentrations in the non-evapora ble getter material of less than 3x10 3 Pa.m3.kg-1 ; and B. an inlet in the first gas-tight container; and C. a second gas-tight container having therein a non-evaporable compressor material having a non-linear 2 log p versus log q characteristic such that at ambient temperatures it is capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes released by the getter material when the getter mate¬ rial is heated to elevated temperatures and which itself releases hydrogen isotopes upon heating at a substantially constant pressure higher than that at which the non-evaporable getter material releases the hydrogen isotope; and D. a conduit between the first container and the second container; and E. a valve in the conduit; and F. an outlet for the second container. 2. A device for the sorption, storage and release of hydrogen isotopes comprising: A. a first gas-tight container having therein a non-evaporable getter material which permanently sorbs active gases and reversibly sorbs hydrogen isotopes at low pressures and whose hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure is analytically described by an equation of the form: 2 B log p = A + log q - - where p = hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure in pascal q = concentration of hydrogen isotope in the non-evaporable getter material in T = temperature of the non-evaporable get¬ ter material in K A,B = are constants which depend on the compo_ sition of the non-evaporable getter material and the hydrogen isotope, for hydrogen isotope concentrations in the non-evapora ble getter material of less than 3x10 3 Pa.m3.kg-.1 and chosen from the group comprising Zr-Al alloys, Zr-Fe alloys, Zr-Ni alloys, Zr-M - alloys, where M is chosen from the group comprising Nb and V and M is chosen from the group conmprising Fe ' and Ni; and B. an inlet in the first gas-tight container; and C. a second gas-tight container having therein a non-evaporable compressor material having a non-linear 2 log p versus log q characteristic such that at ambient temperatures it is capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes released by the getter material when the getter material is heated to elevated temperatures and which itself releases hydrogen isotopes upon heating at a substan¬ tially constant pressure higher than that at which the non-evaporable getter material releases the hydrogen isotope, chosen from the group comprising Zr-V-Fe aloys, La-Ni-Al alloys; and D. a conduit between the first container and the second container; and E. a valve in the conduit; and F. an outlet for the second container. 3- The device of claim 2 in which the getter material is a ternary alloy whose composition in weight percent when plotted on a ternary composition diagram in weight percent Zr, weight percent V and weight percent Fe lies within a polygon having as its corners the points defined by: (a) 75% Zr; 20% V; 5% Fe (b) 45% Zr; 20% V; 35% Fe (c) 45% Zr; 50% V; 5% Fe. 4. The device of claim 2 in which the compressor material has a composition Zr (V Fe„ )_ where x 1-x 2 0.4< x <o.6. 5. The device of claim 2 in which the compressor material has a composition 1 La Ni_ ,-Al. _. 3.5 1.5 ' 6. A device for the sorption, storage and release of hydrogen isotopes comprising: A. a first gas-tight container having therein a non-evaporable ternary gettering alloy whose composi¬ tion in weight percent when plotted on a ternary compo¬ sition diagram in weight percent Zr, weight percent V and weight percent Fe lies within a polygon having as its corners the points defined by: 75% Zr; 20% V; 5% Fe 45% Zr; 20% V; 35% Fe 45% Zr; 50% V; 5% Fe; and B. a hydrogen isotope inlet in the first gas-tight container; and C. a second gas-tight container having therein a ternary compressor alloy whose composition in weight percent when plotted on a ternary composition diagram in weight percent Zr, weight percent V and weight percent Fe lies within a polygon having as its corners the points defined by: 45% Zr; 20% V; 35% Fe 60% Zr; 20% V; 20% Fe 45% Zr; 35% V; 20% Fe; and D. a conduit between the first container and the second container; and E. a valve in the conduit; and F. a hydrogen isotope outlet for the second contai¬ ner. 7. device for the sorption, storage and release of hydrogen isotopes comprising: A. a first gas-tight container having therein a non-evaporable ternary gettering alloy whose composit¬ ion in weight percent when plotted on a ternary compo- sition diagram in weight percent Zr, weight percent V and weight percent Fe lies within a polygon having as its corners the points defined by: 75% Zr; 20% V; 5% Fe 45% Zr; 20% V; 35% Fe 45% Zr; 50% V; 5% Fe; and B. a hydrogen isotope inlet in the first gas-tight container; and C. a second gas-tight container having therein a compressor alloy of the composition LaNi c l ,.; and D. a conduit between the first container and the second container; and E. a valve in the conduit; and F. a hydrogen isotope outlet for the second contai¬ ner. 8. A method for the sorption of hydrogen isotope at low pressure and the release of the hydrogen isotope at a higher pressure comprising the steps of: 1. contacting the hydrogen isotope with a non-evapo_ rable getter material which permanently sorbs active gases and reversibly sorbs hydrogen isotopes at low pressures and whose hydrogen isotope equilibrium pres¬ sure is analytically described by an equation of the form: 2 B log p = A + log q - - where p = hydrogen isotope equilibrium pressure in pascal q = concentration of hydrogen isotope in the non-evaporable getter material in T = temperature of the non-evaporable getter material in K A,B = are constants which depend on the compo¬ sition of the nbn-evaporable getter material and the hydrogen isotope, for hydrogen concentrations in the non-evaporable getter material of less than 3x10 3 Pa.m3.kg-1 ; and then 2. increasing the temperature of the getter mate¬ rial to cause hydrogen isotope release; and then 3. contacting the hydrogen isotope with a non-evapo_ rable compressor material having a non-linear log p 2 versus log q characteristic such that at ambient temperatures it is capable of sorbing hydrogen isotopes released by the getter material when the getter material is heated to elevated temperatures and which itself releases hydrogen isotopes upon heating at a substantial¬ ly constant pressure higher than that at which the non-evaporable getter material releases the hydrogen isotope.

Inventors: BOFFITO CLAUDIO, DONI FABRIZIO, MARTELLI DANIELE, BOFFITO, CLAUDIO, DONI, FABRIZIO, MARTELLI, DANIELE
Applicants: GETTERS SPA, SAES GETTERS S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C01B3
IPC codes: B01D53, C01B3, C01B4