A high porous-matrix 2D-SiCf/SiC as permeator for the efficient recovery of tritium solved in Pb–17Li with compact and efficient columns®

The economical recovery of tritium from the breeding materials represents a major issue in the conception of future fusion plants. The satisfactory structural compatibility of Pb–17Li with SiCf/SiC and the large hydrogen rates through it, suggest the use of a high-porosity-matrix (HPM) 2D-SiCf/SiC as permeator membrane for the recovery of tritium dissolved in Pb–17Li. Uncertainties concerning Pb–17Li with SiCf/SiC interaction are identified in order to analyze the main feasibility issues of SiCf/SiC extractors. For a wide range of operating modes the ideal recovery efficiencies of a HPM 2D-SiCf/SiC column are obtained by the numerical implementation of a general dispersion model. The comparison of the obtained efficiencies with those of the actual bubbling columns demonstrates the potential attractiveness of the proposed extractor concept.