Tritium Removal Device for Lithium Loop in BNCT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack a means to safely and effectively remove tritium from a lithium loop in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems, which is essential for preventing tritium diffusion into the atmosphere and maintaining a stable lithium target flow, as tritium is difficult to separate from hydrogen and can cause gasification and cavitation issues.
Innovation Solution
A tritium removal device is integrated into the lithium loop, featuring a vacuum pump, hydrogen isotope removal filter, and storage tank, along with a hermetically sealed container filled with argon, which accumulates and removes tritium gas, preventing its escape into the atmosphere and maintaining a stable lithium flow by ensuring the tritium is processed with hydrogen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional tritium removal technology is applied to the lithium loop, then tritium can be removed from the lithium, but the removal process becomes complex and difficult to implement due to the difficulty of separating tritium from hydrogen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of tritium by heating the lithium to allow tritium gasification, then utilizes the phase change from dissolved state to gaseous state for separation. This parameter change enables simple removal without complex separation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts tritium from the lithium loop by allowing it to escape as gas during heating, then captures it in a vacuum pump system. This extraction approach simplifies the removal process by taking advantage of tritium's gaseous state rather than attempting complex separation from dissolved hydrogen
2Temperature
If the lithium target flow is made thin to reduce temperature increase, then neutron attenuation is suppressed, but gas cavitation in the pump inlet becomes more likely due to tritium gasification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing a vacuum pump system in advance that actively removes tritium gas before it can accumulate to cavitation-causing levels. The vacuum pump creates negative pressure to prevent gas bubble formation at the pump inlet
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum pump acts as an intermediary between the lithium target and the atmosphere, capturing tritium gas that would otherwise cause cavitation. This intermediary system allows thin lithium targets to be used without suffering from gas cavitation problems
3Productivity
If the lithium is circulated at high speed to maintain stable target thickness, then temperature control is improved, but tritium gas accumulation increases leading to cavitation and flow instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the vacuum pump system to continuously monitor and remove tritium gas accumulation. The vacuum pressure readings provide feedback on tritium levels, allowing the system to maintain stable operation even at high circulation speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum pump serves as an intermediary that decouples the relationship between high circulation speed and tritium accumulation. By actively removing gas, it allows the system to operate at high productivity without suffering from gas accumulation effects
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively removes tritium from the lithium loop, preventing gas cavitation and ensuring the lithium target flow remains stable, safely containing and processing tritium to prevent atmospheric diffusion, thus enabling continuous and safe operation of the BNCT system.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump for maintaining a vacuum while differentially discharging the lithium target portion
Implementation Method 2
a hydrogen isotope removal filter for removing tritium gas from a gas system of the lithium loop
Implementation Method 3
a hermetically sealed container filled with argon, which accumulates and removes tritium gas, preventing its escape into the atmosphere
Implementation Method 4
a hermetically sealed container filled with argon
Implementation Method 5
a storage tank, into which an exit of the flow passage forming the quench surface therein is connected, thereby bringing the storage tank to be applicable with a gas pressure; and a lithium pump for circulating and supplying the lithium of this storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
A tritium removal device for a lithium loop contains a neutron source (1) for colliding protons on a lithium flow, thereby generating neutrons, a lithium tank (11) for the lithium passing through this neutron source (1) to flow thereto through a flow passage (9), thereby temporarily accumulating it therein, and a lithium pump (17) for circulating and supplying the lithium of this lithium tank (11) to the neutron source (1) through a supply-side flow passage (9′). The lithium tank (11) and the lithium pump (17), into which hydrogen gas containing tritium therein can be easily collected, are enclosed within a hermetically sealed container (7) including an inactive gas therein, so that even if the hydrogen gas including the tritium therein is leaked into the hermetically sealed container (7), it is removed by a hydrogen isotope removal filter.