Routine operation of the gas chromatographic isotope separation system of the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe

The Gas chromatographic Isotope Separation System (ISS) of the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe (TLK) is in operation with tritium since 1995. The first test runs with up to 3.7×1012 Bq of HT–DT mixtures revealed the need for modifications and improvements in the areas of process conduction and tritium detection. Upon completion and verification of the improvements by appropriate performance tests, the ISS was taken into routine operation. Until early 1997, approximately 2000 l of hydrogen isotopes with an activity of 2.2×1014 Bq tritium have been processed. The H2 and HD fractions released to the Central Tritium Retention System of the TLK contained less than 1010 Bq m−3 of tritium. Protium was isolated by several consecutive isotopic scrambling/isotopic separation steps and released to the Central Tritium Retention System of the TLK. Deuterium/tritium fractions containing less than 0.1% of protium were sent back to the infrastructure of the TLK.