The nitrogen atmosphere greatly reduces the potential for formation of tritiated water, the most difficult form of tritium to handle. Metal hydride beds are used for storage, pumping, separation and purification of tritium and deuterium. This process allows isotopes to be stored in a safer solid form and requires less storage space than the traditional tank. Tritium is stored below an atmosphere of pressure, thus reducing leak potential. The thermal cycling absorption process provides isotope separation within 233-H, where previous operations always required pumping gas to another facility for separation.
Nitrogen recirculates constantly between the gloveboxes and the stripper systems.
The nitrogen, which already has been through the primary stripper, is pumped through a purge stripper to remove any traces of tritium before the clean nitrogen gas is discharged to the environment. The tritium stripped from the nitrogen is stored for later processing. The laser system allows for more rapid unloading, reduces maintenance time and eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical drilling operations. Drilling, which carried the potential for gas releases, was necessary when the shear system experienced occasional failure.