Patent Number: 039376494
Section: claims

1. A process for the removal of tritium from a system containing an inert-to-oxygen circulating fluid which becomes tritiated comprising the steps of: forming tritiated water vapor by combining with the tritiated circulating fluid gaseous oxygen under pressure and at a temperature sufficient to initiate and sustain a water vapor formation reaction between tritium in the circulating fluid and the gaseous oxygen; and then removing the tritiated water vapor from the circulating fluid-gaseous oxygen mixture, and the system, by fractional liquefaction. 2. A process for the removal of radioactive tritium from a high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor system containing an inert-to-oxygen circulating coolant gas which becomes tritiated comprising the steps of: removing temporarily from the tritiated circulating coolant gas a portion thereof;  mixing with the removed tritiated coolant gas gaseous oxygen at a pressure and at a temperature sufficient to initiate and sustain tritiated water vapor formation from tritium in the removed tritiated coolant gas and the gaseous oxygen;  cooling the mixture of coolant gas, gaseous oxygen, and tritiated water vapor to a temperature sufficient to liquefy only the tritiated water vapor;  separating the liquefied tritiated water vapor from the coolant gas and gaseous oxygen;  removing the liquefied tritiated water vapor from the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor system;  cooling the remaining coolant gas and gaseous oxygen mixture further to a temperature sufficient to liquefy only the gaseous oxygen;  separating the liquefied oxygen from the coolant gas; and then  returning the coolant gas to the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor system to be re-circulated.  pre-heating the removed tritiated coolant gas to a pre-determined mixing temperature prior to mixing with the gaseous oxygen;  heating the coolant gas to a pre-determined storage temperature after the separation of the liquefied oxygen therefrom, and before the return of the coolant gas to the high temperature gas-cooled reactor system; and then  storing temporarily the coolant gas until it is returned to the circulating coolant gas in the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor system.  storing temporarily the liquefied oxygen separated from the coolant gas;  utilizing the stored liquefied oxygen as cooling means in the water vapor liquefaction step; and  using the liquefied oxygen which was utilized as the cooling means in the water vapor liquefaction step, during which step said liquefied oxygen becomes gaseous oxygen, as the gaseous oxygen which is mixed with the removed tritiated coolant gas in the water vapor formation step.  a water vapor formation section, in which a temporarily removed portion of the tritiated coolant gas is combined with gaseous oxygen under elevated temperature and pressure sufficient to initiate and sustain a formation of tritiated water vapor from the tritium in the removed tritiated coolant gas and the gaseous oxygen;  a tritiated water vapor removal section, in which after its formation the tritiated water vapor is removed from the coolant gas-gaseous oxygen-tritiated water vapor mixture by cooling this mixture to a temperature sufficient to liquefy, and thereby separate and remove, only the tritiated water vapor; and  an oxygen removal section in which the coolant gas-gaseous oxygen mixture remaining after the removal of the tritiated liquefied water vapor, is cooled further to a temperature sufficient to liquefy only the gaseous oxygen, which is then separated and removed from the coolant gas, the coolant gas then being returned to the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor to be re-circulated.  a liquid oxygen storage section, in which the liquefied oxygen separated from the coolant gas is stored prior to its use again in the system, and in which additional liquid oxygen is added to replace the oxygen consumed by the formation of the water vapor.  a gaseous coolant pre-heating section, in which the tritiated coolant gas is pre-heated to a predetermined mixing temperature before being introduced into the water formation section; and  a gaseous coolant heating section, in which the gaseous coolant, after separation of the liquefied oxygen therefrom, and before return to the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor, is heated to a pre-determined storage temperature, and then stored prior to its re-circulation. 3. A process according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: 4. A process according to claim 3 where the heating means utilized in heating the coolant gas after the separation of liquefied oxygen therefrom comprises a heat exchange with water of much a much temperature than is the coolant gas after the separation of liquid oxygen therefrom, thus resulting in a chilled water supply which is available for use elsewhere in the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor system and supporting environment. 5. A process according to Claim 2 further comprising the steps of: 6. A process according to claim 5 further comprising the step of adding to said stored liquefied oxygen a sufficient amount of liquid oxygen to replace the oxygen consumed by the formation of the water vapor. 7. A system for the removal of radioactive tritium from a high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor containing an inert-to-oxygen circulating coolant gas which becomes tritiated, comprising: 8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising: 9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the cooling means of the water vapor removal section comprises a heat exchange with liquid oxygen supplied from the liquid oxygen storage section, during which heat exchange the liquid oxygen becomes gaseous oxygen, which gaseous oxygen is then used as the gaseous oxygen mixed with the coolant gas in the water vapor formation section. 10. A system according to claim 7 further comprising: 11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the heating means utilized in heating the coolant gas after the separation of liquefied oxygen therefrom comprises a heat exchange with water of a much higher temperature than is the coolant gas after the separation of liquid oxygen therefrom, thus resulting in a chilled water supply which is available for use elsewhere in the high temperature gas-cooled atomic reactor system and supporting environment. 12. A system according to claim 7 wherein the portion of said water vapor formation section in which the tritiated coolant gas and the gaseous oxygen are physically combined is lined with a catalyst. 13. A system according to claim 7 in combination with a conventional adsorbent of tritium, said absorbent being positioned after said oxygen removal section. 14. A process according to claim 2 wherein prior to returning the coolant gas to be re-circulated said coolant gas is passed over conventional adsorbents of tritium to even further insure its removal.