Mathematical Modelling of hydrogen isotope separation and retention behavior during nuclear fusion plant-scale operations

本研究旨在开发用于聚变反应堆活性气体处理系统的氢同位素分离技术。这包括分离离开反应器的气体流的种类，以便有用的成分可以回收到环面，在那里它们可以进一步反应。这是高优先级的优化，主要有两个原因；环面内的燃烧效率很低，氚在自然界中很难获得。因此，重要的是要用准确的数据创建这些系统的更好的模型，以确保回收系统的最大效率。氢同位素分离面临的困难之一是该元素的双原子性质。这产生了6种性质极其相似的同位素物，因此很难分离。这项研究的目的是试图克服这些同位素建模的困难，这样就可以准确地确定它们在特定条件下的行为。主要目标是利用低温蒸馏和变压吸附技术有效地模拟这些同位素的分离。该建模建议以两种不同的方式完成。第一种是使用ASPEN Plus，它可以用于创建大型工程系统的模型，并可能用于对整个拟议系统进行建模。第二种是MOOSE (Multi-Physics - oriented Simulation Environment)，它可以用于模拟小型和大型物理现象。将这两个模型一起构建，目标是获得正在发生的事情的完整图景。由于所涉及的一些同位素（即氚）缺乏数据，人们也有兴趣从JET和UKAEA获得真实数据，以验证这些模型。同时，也有可能在JET目前使用氚的低温精馏塔上进行实验，以获得一些重要的与氚相关的数据，以进一步改进模型。这些数据在很多方面都是有益的，它可以改进和验证不同的模型，以确保系统的正确优化。这项研究对小型聚变工程界和世界上更大的能源用户都有好处。对于工程界来说，这项研究为分离环境中准确发生的情况提供了一个窗口，并强调了可以对系统进行改进或实施新技术的地方。对于更大的社区来说，它只是一个试图使核聚变变得可行的大团队中的一个小齿轮。核聚变作为一种清洁能源有着不可思议的潜力，它可以极大地提高能源生产的可持续性。这项研究的目的是为这一宏大冒险的一个小领域提供一些帮助和理解，试图通过替代方法全面对抗能源生产过程中造成的一些损害。

This research sets out to develop on technology for the separation of hydrogen isotopes for the use in fusion reactor active gas handling systems. This involves separating the species of the gas streams leaving the reactor so the useful components can be recycled back to the torus where they can be further reacted. This is of high priority for optimisation for two main reasons; the burn up efficiency is very low within the torus, and tritium is very difficult to obtain in nature. Thus, it is important to create better models of these systems with accurate data to ensure maximum efficiency of the recycle systems. One of the difficulties faced with hydrogen isotope separation is the diatomic nature of the element. This creates 6 isotopologues with extremely similar properties and hence a very difficult separation. This research aims to try and overcome the difficulties in the modelling of these isotopes so it can be accurately determined how they act under certain conditions. The prime goal is to model efficiently the separation of these isotopes using cryogenic distillation and pressure swing adsorption technologies. This modelling is proposed to be done in two different ways. The first is using ASPEN Plus, which can be used to create models of vast engineering systems and will likely be used to model the entire proposed systems. The second is MOOSE (Multi-Physics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment) which can be used to model small- and large-scale physical phenomena. Building these two models together with the goal of achieving a complete picture of what is going on. Due to the lack of data present for some of the isotopes involved, namely tritium, there is also interest in obtaining real data from JET along with the UKAEA to verify these models. Also, the potential to run experiments at the current cryogenic distillation column at JET, in which tritium is used, to obtain some important tritium related data to further improve the models. This data would be beneficial in many ways, it could improve and verify different models to ensure correct optimisation of the system.This research has benefits for the small fusion engineering community and for the much larger energy users of the world. For the engineering community, this research allows a window into what is accurately going on within the separation environment and highlights where improvements can be made to the systems or where new technology can be implemented.For the larger community, it is a small cog in a large group trying to work towards getting fusion to become viable. Fusion holds incredible potential for a clean energy source, which could improve the sustainability of energy production greatly. This research aims to provide some help and understanding into a small area of this grand venture to try and overall combat some of the damage that is caused during energy production via alternative methods.