Influence of Lithium Mass Transfer on Tritium Behavior in Pebbles of Li2TiO3 with Excess Lithium

• Published in: Fusion engineering and design 2020-12, Vol.161, p.112011, Article 112011
• Main Authors: Katayama, Kazunari, Ipponsugi, Akito, Hoshino, Tsuyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: blanket; Heating; isotope exchange; Li2TiO3; Lithium; Mass transfer; Room temperature; Sorption; Tritium
• ISSN: 0920-3796; 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2020.112011

•Li2TiO3 with excess Li was heated at 900 °C for 30 days in 1000 Pa H2/Ar flow.•Li mass loss was 0.7 wt%, grain size increased and BET surface area decreased.•The majority of evaporative Li was lost by first 3 days.•The influence of the 30 days heating on tritium behavior was not large.•Tritium recovery by isotope exchange with H2 was effective at 600 °C and 900 °C. Tritium breeding ceramic materials are placed at high temperatures for a long period in a fusion DEMO reactor. Therefore, the understanding of Li mass loss phenomena and its influence on tritium behavior are important. In this study, the pebbles of Li2TiO3 with excess Li were heated at 900 °C for 30 days in a 1000 Pa H2/Ar flow and tritium sorption and recovery experiments were carried out. Li mass loss by the heating was evaluated to be 0.7 wt%. The value of Li mass loss was almost same as that for 3 days heating at the same condition. Tritium sorption capacity for the heated pebbles at 600 °C and 900 °C were almost same as that for the pebbles as received. Tritium sorbed in the pebbles could not be recovered effectively by the 1000 Pa H2/Ar purge at room temperature and 300 °C but it could be recovered at 600 °C and 900 °C. The influence of the long-time heating on the behavior of tritium sorbed in the pebbles was not large.