Development of an improved LPCE column for the TLK facility with the help of the channeling stage model

The research for the performance improvement of the liquid phase chemical exchange (LPCE) column has been carried out at Nagoya University with the collaboration of National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) and Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe (TLK). Kogel catalysts and Dixon gauze rings were mixed at a certain ratio and packed in the column homogeneously. A stage-wise model, named “Channeling stage model”, was also developed to predict separative performances of the column. In order to design a LPCE column to be tested at the TLK experimental facility, we examined the effect of the catalyst packed ratio and the gas–liquid ratio on the separative performance of the column. The optimal value of the catalyst packed ratio was obtained to 30%. The specifications of the column and the operating conditions of the equipment were reported.