Xin Xiao, Benton Randall, Henry T. Sessions, Robert ... · Xin Xiao, Benton Randall, Henry T....
Transcript of Xin Xiao, Benton Randall, Henry T. Sessions, Robert ... · Xin Xiao, Benton Randall, Henry T....
Thermal Cycling Absorption Process Overview
Xin Xiao, Benton Randall, Henry T. Sessions, Robert Allgood, Dave BabineauSavannah River National Laboratory
Overview
• How does TCAP Work?
• TCAP History
• State of the Art Technology
• Typical Performance
• In House Expertise and Capability
• TCAP Feature Summary
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Tritium Processing at SRS - The Largest Metal Hydride Based Tritium Facility in the World
MH=Metal Hydrides: Pd, Pd/k, LaN5-xAlx, Ca1-yMmyNi5, Ti, U
Reservoirs Unloading
MH Primary Separator
Diffusers
Mix Tanks
Reservoirs Loading &
Sealing
PumpsMH T2 & D2
Storage
Vacuum Pumps
MH Feed Bed
MH T2
Storage
MH D2
Storage
MH TCAPIsotope
Separation
MechanicalCompressors
MH Compressors
He-3
Newly Loaded
ReservoirsMHLong-TermT2 Storage
MH Transport Vessels
Glovebox T2
Stripping System
Gloveboxes
Catalyst Bed Zeolite Bed Mg BedGloveboxesTo Isotope Separation
Compressor
Cryosorption
Gas Cylinder
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TCAP with passive-PFR
TCAP with active-’PFR’
Feed
Product
Feed
Product
Raffinate
Raffinate
Pd/k
Pd/k
Act
ive
PFR
Pass
ive
PFR
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Isotopic Effect Based on Material Property
Palladium favors lighter hydrogen isotope Molecular Sieve favors heavier hydrogen isotope
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TgasDgas
TsolidDsolid
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Pd
Other Hydrides
Colder
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
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0 200 400 600 800Absolute Pressure, mmHg
Ads
orbe
d Q
uant
ity, S
TP c
c/g
UOP 13X, D2UOP 13X, D2UOP 13X, H2UOP 13X, H2
TCAP Development History• TCAP concept invented at SRL 1980• Experimental TCAP achieved 97% purity (D2, H2 ) 1983• Prototype TCAP achieved 99% purity (D2, H2) 1989• Pilot TCAP demonstrated (production-configured) 1993• Production TCAP achieved target T2/D2 separation 1994• Compact TnT design tested at LANL 2001• Batch Cryogenic distillation column replaced by TCAP 2004• Comp.-free CTC concept developed, 1/10th footprint 2006• Comp.-free CTC experiment reached 4,000 cycles 2009• Inverse Column achieved 2X+ capacity & higher purity 2009• Mini-TCAP for Shine Medical Technologies 2013• Micro-TCAP (batch) for LLE (U. Rochester) 2013• Plant-Configured mini-TCAP reached 8,000 cycles 2018
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Representation of TCAP Footprint Reduction
CTC-TCAP (1/10th current footprint) Mini-TCAP Micro-TCAPNew TCAP technology continues to evolve in miniature designs for diversified applications
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TCAP for SHINE Medical Technologies
Mini-TCAP constructed by SRNL
Linear Accelerator in SHINE for medical isotope production
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TCAP for LLE, University of Rochester
Micro-TCAP constructed by SRNL
Laser Target Shot in Laboratory for Laser Energetics for Fusion Study
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Micro-TCAP Configuration
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TCAP Typical T and P Cycles
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TCAP Concentration Profile
Micro-TCAP Concentration Profile (Feed V16)
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20
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0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000Column Gas Quantity, std cc
Con
cent
ratio
n, %
D%H%
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Extensive Evaluation for Component Selection
– LN2 control valves– Process valves:
• Tritium compatibility• Pressure rating• Performance• Durability
– Pressure transducers– Thermocouples– Insulation
Components meet ASME B31.3 and are tritium compatible
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MS Column Cooling
-200
-180
-160
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
916 921 926 931 936 941 946 951 956Time, min
Tem
pera
ture
, °C
Ave MS Temp - PID controlValve response - PID controlAve MS Temp - LN2 exhaust controlValve response - LN2 exhaust control
LN2 Control Algorithm
MS column
Coolant LN2
Coolingcoil
Coolant N2 gas
Heater
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Separation Enhanced by Reactive Equilibrium
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o-H2
p-H2
HDequilibrated
Why Us? - Team with Track of Records and Expertise• Discovery of deuterium 1931
• Discovery of tritium 1934
• TCAP concept invented at SRL 1980
• SRS Isotope Separation
⁻ Thermal diffusion 1957-1986
⁻ Fractional absorption1964-1968
⁻ Cryogenic distillation 1967-2004
⁻ TCAP 1994- present
TCAP Team 2017
TCAP (Thermal Cycling Absorption Process) for hydrogen isotope separation
TCAP Team 1985
TCAP 2012
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Water Isotope Separation Under Development
GO
MFC
Water feed
BPR
V-3
V-1
sample1(feed water)
18' Column
Liquid pump
H2
sample2(effluent water)
PSV1
V-2Cold trap
sample3(recycle back
to feed)3A d
ryer
vent
TCAP(optional)
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Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz in the TCAP Lab
SRNL’s Steve Xiao (from left), Sharon Redd and Tommy Sessions explain the research and development process behind SRNL’s Thermal Cycling Absorption Process (TCAP) for Secretary Moniz in July 2014. SRNL has continually improved TCAP’s ability to enrich tritium gas in a smaller space, and in a more cost-effective process.
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Energy Secretary Rick Perry in the TCAP Lab
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Director of Defense Programs Science and Technology David Babineau explains the Thermal Cycling Absorption Process (TCAP) to Energy Secretary Rick Perry in February 2018. TCAP has reduced the footprint needed to separate hydrogen isotopes by up to 10 times while saving operational costs and improving performance.
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TCAP Technology Licensed to Greenway Energy
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Director Vahid Majidi and President of Greenway Energy Scott Greenway signed TCAP license agreement. Standing in the Backrow are Director of Defense Programs David Babineau, inventors Henry T. Sessions and Steve Xiao.
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Isotope Separation for Tritium: Past, Present and Future
Past: 23 ft. Cryogenic Distillation Column
Cryogenic Distillation • 23 Feet Tall• Significant Supporting Infrastructure
• Helium refrigeration• Liquid nitrogen cooling jacket
• Large inventory of tritium• Batch mode operation• Difficult to control
Present: Thermal Cycling Absorption Process
Thermal Cycling Absorption Process • About three feet in length and diameter• Small enough to be placed in glovebox• Reduced material-at-risk by 27X• Reduced tritium environmental emissions by 1000X• Continuous mode operation• Reduction in supporting infrastructure• Hot and cold nitrogen refrigeration system
Mini-TCAP• < 1/10th footprint of present TCAP• ¼ heat load• Further reduces tritium at risk by 2/3• Once through liquid nitrogen cooling• Electric heating
Past
Present
Future
Future: Mini-TCAP
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Summary: TCAP Features
Separation by chromatographyHydrogen itself as carrier gasExcellent radioactive confinementReprocess gas in column repeatedlyHD re-equilibrium / separation
VersatilityScale by throughputImpurity rejectionEnergy efficient
Simple design & advanced control logicNo mechanical moving parts besides valvesInherently safe / extra long lifeRobust and fault proof
Easily beat deuterium natural abundance (~ 150 ppm)
Pressure swingTemperature SwingHydride vacuum pumpHydride pressure pumpHydride interim storage
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