Initial Test Results of a Fast Heat Transfer Response ZrCo Hydride Bed

Fusion tritium research facilities in KAERI

“…We have been developing ZrCo beds for nuclear fusion fuel cycle plants [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. However due to the incomplete reproportionation characteristic of zirconium-cobalt, uranium was recommended to be employed as a way to store hydrogen isotopes as metal hydride [15].…”

“…The following are examples of the test requirements for tritium shipping containers (Figs. [7][8][9].…”

Fusion fuel gas recovery and delivery characteristics on a tray-type ZrCo bed

“…Three trays were preheated up to 270 • C with the heating rate of 27 • C/min. H 2 delivery started and additional heater power was applied at time 10 min to raise their temperature to ∼340 • C. As proved by this experiment, the preheating delivery method proposed by our previous papers can control the primary vessel hydrogen pressure (PG-4) below 10 Pa to avoid a risk of disproportionation during a rapid delivery operation of the ZrCo bed for the SDS [5][6][7]. ZrCo bed temperature (TC-5) increase rate is much slower than that of the tray (TC-17) in the time 10-30 min due to the large endothermic reaction heat (∼600 kJ in 90% hydrogen delivery).…”

“…As shown in Table 2, effect of preheating temperature in the range of 270 • C (see Table 1) and 330 • C on the delivery rate of ZrCoH 2 is negligibly small (probably within an experimental error range). Authors have proposed an optimum delivery method employing preheating at 270 • C (no pumping of H 2 because of very low equilibrium pressure in the bed), and additional heating to 350 • C together with vacuum pumping of H 2 to minimize disproportionation during delivery operation [5][6][7].…”

“…Highest delivery rate of approximately 2.1 Pa m 3 /s was achieved by a small bed model of the SDS bed. The design of this bed model is characterized by a horizontal thin cylindrical layer (3-7 mm in thickness) of ZrCo powder packed bed surrounded by a large cylindrical filter and by a large heating surface per unit weight of ZrCo to mitigate a large temperature change in the ZrCo hydride bed due to the exothermic and endothermic reaction heat (ZrCo + x/2H 2 = ZrCoHx + H, H = 73-81 kJ/mol-H 2 ) accompanied by hydrogen recovery and delivery [6][7][8].…”