Tritium decontamination procedure for primary wall of nuclear fusion plant uses plasma burner in gas atmosphere to release tritium

摘要

The procedure consists of heating the free surface of the primary wall in an atmosphere of a protective gas, especially argon, which is inert at high temperature, using a plasma burner of the type used for welding metals to release the tritium and its compounds from the graphite tiles lining the walls. The resultant temperature of 800 - 2400 deg C is maintained for 1 - 10 sec, and removes a layer a few microns thick from the tiles containing virtually all the tritium, leaving the tiles fit for future use.