Abstract Gas-Liquid Contactors (GLC) have been studied for the extraction of tritium from Pb-Li blankets, typically consisting on bubble, packed or spray columns. Recent researches propose the use of Permeators-Against-Vacuum (PAV) in which dense metal membranes (V, Nb, Ta) are immersed into flowing Pb-Li: here the hydrogen isotopes pass through the membrane wall and are collected in the permeate side with help of vacuum. In this work, permeation behavior of a Membrane Gas-Liquid Contactor (MGLC) that combines both GLC and PAV concepts is presented. This device includes a porous ANSI 316 L stainless-steel membrane which is immersed into a Pb-Li alloy. Hydrogen isotopes are first absorbed into the liquid metal and then extracted through the membrane by vacuum pumping or purging with inert gas. In fact, the liquid metal penetrates the pores of the porous membrane then realizing a gas-liquid interface through which the hydrogen isotopes mass transfer takes place. The pore size of this membrane has been selected according to the Washburn equation so that the Pb-Li behaves as a “non-wetting liquid” and does not enter the vacuum/inert gas phase where leaks of liquid metal are not allowed. The study describes the preliminary design for the MGLC device working with a porous metal membrane and its experimental characterization at 340–370 °C and 270 kPa. A mass transfer model for the tritium extraction from Pb-Li is also presented, comparing both PAV and MGLC alternatives.

中文翻译：

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用于从铅锂合金中提取氚的膜气液接触器

摘要 气液接触器 (GLC) 已被研究用于从 Pb-Li 毯中提取氚，通常由鼓泡柱、填充柱或喷雾柱组成。最近的研究建议使用渗透器对抗真空 (PAV)，其中将致密的金属膜（V、Nb、Ta）浸入流动的 Pb-Li 中：这里的氢同位素穿过膜壁并在渗透侧收集在真空的帮助下。在这项工作中，介绍了结合 GLC 和 PAV 概念的膜式气液接触器 (MGLC) 的渗透行为。该装置包括浸入 Pb-Li 合金的多孔 ANSI 316 L 不锈钢膜。氢同位素首先被吸收到液态金属中，然后通过真空泵或惰性气体吹扫通过膜提取。实际上，液态金属渗透多孔膜的孔隙，然后实现气液界面，氢同位素通过该界面进行传质。该膜的孔径是根据沃什伯恩方程选择的，因此 Pb-Li 表现为“非润湿液体”，不会进入不允许液态金属泄漏的真空/惰性气相。该研究描述了使用多孔金属膜的 MGLC 装置的初步设计及其在 340–370 °C 和 270 kPa 下的实验表征。还提出了从 Pb-Li 中提取氚的传质模型，比较了 PAV 和 MGLC 替代方案。该膜的孔径是根据沃什伯恩方程选择的，因此 Pb-Li 表现为“非润湿液体”，不会进入不允许液态金属泄漏的真空/惰性气相。该研究描述了使用多孔金属膜的 MGLC 装置的初步设计及其在 340–370 °C 和 270 kPa 下的实验表征。还提出了从 Pb-Li 中提取氚的传质模型，比较了 PAV 和 MGLC 替代方案。该膜的孔径是根据沃什伯恩方程选择的，因此 Pb-Li 表现为“非润湿液体”，不会进入不允许液态金属泄漏的真空/惰性气相。该研究描述了使用多孔金属膜的 MGLC 装置的初步设计及其在 340–370 °C 和 270 kPa 下的实验表征。还提出了从 Pb-Li 中提取氚的传质模型，比较了 PAV 和 MGLC 替代方案。