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

这项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堆的气流的物种，以便有用的组件可以回收到环状结构，在那里它们可以进一步反应。这对于优化来说是高度优先的，主要有两个原因：环内的燃耗效率非常低，以及在自然界中很难获得氚。因此，重要的是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元素的双原子性质。这就产生了6种性质极其相似的同位素，因此分离非常困难。这项研究的目的是试图克服这些同位素建模中的困难，以便准确地确定它们在特定条件下的行为。主要目标是使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。建议以两种不同的方式进行此建模。第一种是使用Aspen Plus，它可以用来创建大型工程系统的模型，并可能被用来对整个拟议的系统进行建模。第二种是MOOSE(多物理面向对象的仿真环境)，它可以用来模拟小范围和大范围的物理现象。一起构建这两个模型，目标是实现对正在发生的事情的完整了解。由于缺乏所涉及的一些同位素，即氚的数据，也有兴趣从JET和UKAEA获得真实数据，以验证这些模型。此外，在目前的低温蒸馏塔上运行实验的可能性，其中使用了氚，以获得一些重要的与氚有关的数据，以进一步改进模型。这些数据在许多方面都是有益的，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社区和世界上更大的能源用户都有好处。对于工程界来说，这项研究提供了一个窗口，可以准确地了解分离环境中正在发生的事情，并强调在哪里可以对系统进行改进，或者在哪里可以实施新技术。对于更大的社区来说，这只是一个大团队中的一个小齿轮，试图使融合变得可行。核聚变拥有令人难以置信的清洁能源潜力，可以极大地提高能源生产的可持续性。这项研究旨在为这一宏伟事业的一小部分提供一些帮助和了解，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.