Method to extract tritium from irradiated boiling water reactor control rod blades

摘要

A method for extracting tritium from irradiated boiling water reactor control rods that have cruciform-shaped. Bands of a malleable metal are wrapped around the flat portions of the blades, one band near the top of each blade panel and a second band near the bottom. The bands are crimped and an inlet penetration is formed through one of the bands and the panel and an outlet penetration is formed through the second band and the panel. A termination of each end of a closed loop conduit is sealably connected to the inlet and outlet for transporting a carrier gas through the interior of the panel. The carrier gas passing through the interior transports the tritium out of the panel to a tritium getter filter to capture the tritium. The carrier gas then recirculates through the system.