The main expertise of the Membrane Laboratory of ENEA Frascati is related to the study and development of Pd-based membrane technologies (both permeators and membrane reactors), which are one of the reference processes in the fuel cycle of nuclear fusion reactors. Principal characteristics of Pd-based membranes are infinite hydrogen selectivity, high hydrogen permeability, continuous operation and modularity. In the last few years, the ENEA-Frascati laboratory has erected two experimental facilities for the study of decontamination performance of single and multi-tube Pd-Ag membrane modules. Several experimental and simulation activities have been carried out to investigate the possible application of these technologies in the tritium extraction system of the solid breeder blanket concept. Firstly, the paper describes the proposal for the back-up solution of a tritium extraction system for HCPB based on membrane technologies. Then, the most significant results obtained for the decontamination of water and H2 permeation using two different facilities are presented and discussed. The main difference among the two facilities is the number of Pd-Ag tubes installed. Water decontamination experiments have been performed to investigate the effect of different catalysts. The results obtained with the water gas shift reactions are discussed in terms of reactor performance (i.e., decontamination factor) and methane production in the lumen side. During the He-H2 permeation experiments several operating conditions (e.g., membrane's temperature, lumen pressure, etc.) have been investigated. The effect of the He-H2 feed ratio (which impacts the driving force across the membrane) gives an interesting and unique view of the membrane module performance in terms of permeation efficiency.

Recent achievements of the Pd-Ag membrane technologies in tritium extraction system applications

Santucci A.;Bruni G.;Incelli M.;Sansovini M.
2019-01-01

Abstract

The main expertise of the Membrane Laboratory of ENEA Frascati is related to the study and development of Pd-based membrane technologies (both permeators and membrane reactors), which are one of the reference processes in the fuel cycle of nuclear fusion reactors. Principal characteristics of Pd-based membranes are infinite hydrogen selectivity, high hydrogen permeability, continuous operation and modularity. In the last few years, the ENEA-Frascati laboratory has erected two experimental facilities for the study of decontamination performance of single and multi-tube Pd-Ag membrane modules. Several experimental and simulation activities have been carried out to investigate the possible application of these technologies in the tritium extraction system of the solid breeder blanket concept. Firstly, the paper describes the proposal for the back-up solution of a tritium extraction system for HCPB based on membrane technologies. Then, the most significant results obtained for the decontamination of water and H2 permeation using two different facilities are presented and discussed. The main difference among the two facilities is the number of Pd-Ag tubes installed. Water decontamination experiments have been performed to investigate the effect of different catalysts. The results obtained with the water gas shift reactions are discussed in terms of reactor performance (i.e., decontamination factor) and methane production in the lumen side. During the He-H2 permeation experiments several operating conditions (e.g., membrane's temperature, lumen pressure, etc.) have been investigated. The effect of the He-H2 feed ratio (which impacts the driving force across the membrane) gives an interesting and unique view of the membrane module performance in terms of permeation efficiency.
2019
Membrane reactor; Pd-Ag membrane; Tritium extraction system
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12079/51957
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