ABSORPTION AND DESORPTION OF HYDROGEN WITH PARTICLE BEDS OF SEVERAL ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS

For the storage of tritium and the recovery of hydrogen isotopes from inert gas mixtures in the fuel cycle of a D-T fusion reactor, metallic particle beds of elementary zirconium and vanadium, and intermetallic compounds of zirconium such as ZrV2, Zr(V0.83Fe0.17)2 and ZrNi are compared. One of the samples is packed in a quartz column, through which H2-Ar gas mixtures at 50-600-degrees-C for absorption or Ar gas at 400-degrees-C for desorption is passed. In conclusion: activation of the Zr, ZrNi and ZrV2 beds is easier than activation of the Zr(V0.83Fe0.17)2 bed; any of the beds of the compounds can absorb hydrogen up to a concentration of less than 1 ppm at the outlet at 100-degrees-C; the hydrogen absorption rate of ZrV2 is enhanced by the addition of iron to it; the amount of the hydrogen storage in ZrNi is the highest in this experimental condition; and absorption and desorption rates of the Zr(V0.83Fe0.17)2 alloy are the fastest.