In-pile tritium release behaviour of lithiummetatitanate produced by extrusion–spheroidisation–sintering process in EXOTIC-9/1 in the high flux reactor, Petten

Out of pile tritium release behaviour and microscopic investigation of lithium metatitanate irradiated in the High Flux Reactor in Petten

“…Temperature programmed desorption measurements have been performed on irradiated Li 2 TiO 3 pebbles with 7.5% (natural) and 30% (enriched) 6 Li-abundance. This revealed large differences in tritium release and release mechanisms.…”

“…The bulk material in EXOTIC 9/1 is 12.8 g of Li 2 TiO 3 pebbles with 7.5% (natural) 6 Li-abundance. Additionally, a sample of 0.2 g Li 2 TiO 3 pebbles with 30% (enriched) 6 Li-abundance was present in the experiment.…”

“…Additionally, a sample of 0.2 g Li 2 TiO 3 pebbles with 30% (enriched) 6 Li-abundance was present in the experiment. Characteristics of the Li 2 TiO 3 samples are given in Table 1.…”

“…EXOTIC 9/1 was irradiated for 300 Full Power Days and the total average lithium burn-up is about 3%; the total measured activity from tritium during irradiation is 220.42 Ci. It was found, by performing temperature transients during in-pile operations, that the average residence time of tritium in the samples was quite high [5,6]. Though, it is believed that locally, in the 30% 6 Li-enrichment sample, the burn-up and the temperature were higher (i.e.…”

Enhanced fabrication process for lithium orthosilicate pebbles as breeding material

“…Though porosity in any form deteriorates the mechanical strength, it is expected that open porosity is favorable for good tritium release properties [13]. Closed pores may lead to a blowup of the pebbles when subject to neutron irradiation, because of the rising gas pressure inside, and should therefore be avoided.…”