Combined Heavy Water Upgrading and Detritiation for CANDU Applications

Abstract

Integrating heavy water upgrading with detritiation in CANDU® stations has the potential to provide cost savings and simplicity in comparison to stations with separate heavy water upgrading and detritiation systems. This paper presents results of a concept study into alternative processes for managing heat transport and moderator system water quality, including a new noncryogenic isotope separation process being developed by Special Separations Applications, Inc. (SSAI) and General Electric (GE) for tritium removal. Overview descriptions are presented for the process design and process characteristics are described.