Parameters Governing Tritium Extraction Rates from Lithiated Ceramics. The Case of Lithium Aluminate

摘要

Significant discrepancies between results of authors comparing tritium extraction rates from different lithiated ceramics are found in the literature. Recent results obtained at C.E.A., principally on lithium aluminates, show that, for a given ceramic, parameters other than textural (grain size, porosity, etc...) may play a predominant role. Enhancements of extraction rates have been induced by adding MgO to the solid or H sub 2 and CO to the sweep gas, but other factors, probably related to the surface condition of samples, may produce even greater effects. Results of investigations of the influence of exposure to air at given partial pressures of water vapor or of CO sub 2 show that strict preirradiation procedures must be adopted for preparation, storage and handling of ceramic tritium breeders. (ERA citation 13:002600)