Experimental determination of hydrogen isotope diffusivity, solubility and permeability in molten lead lithium eutectic alloy

Lead lithium eutectic alloy (Pb-Li) is a promising liquid blanket material for fusion reactors. Pb-Li is proposed as breeder material for Indian blanket concept. Knowledge of the hydrogen isotopes mass transport parameters (diffusivity, solubility and permeability) in Pb-Li is fundamental for the design of effective tritium extraction system and determining the tritium permeation rate from the breeder to structural materials. These parameters of the hydrogen isotopes in Pb-Li eutectic significantly affect their inventory and permeation in the blankets. Hydrogen isotopes solubility in molten Pb-Li has been obtained by different research groups but the solubility values vary widely (similar to 2-3 orders). In this work, an experimental setup has been developed to determine transport properties of hydrogen isotopes in molten Pb-Li using the permeation method. Hydrogen and deuterium transport properties in Pb-Li have been obtained in the temperature range 573-723 K.