PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR DECONTAMINATION OF GAS REJECTED FROM THE FUEL CYCLE OF A NUCLEAR FUSION REACTOR, REJECTED GAS CONTAMINATED WITH COMPONENTS CONTAINING TRITIUM AND / OR DEUTERIUM IN THE CHEMICALLY COMBINED FORM

摘要

Process for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, the compound form being at least one compound which is ammonia or a hydrocarbon, comprising: a) converting the at least one heavy hydrogen-containing compound into its elements in the exhaust gas by cracking the at least one heavy hydrogen containing compound with a cracking medium to liberate the hydrogen isotope, b) passing the liberated hydrogen isotope through a membrane to separate out the liberated hydrogen isotope from the flow of the remaining exhaust gas, and c) discharging the remaining decontaminated exhaust gas into the surrounding air. Apparatus for use in the above process is also described.