Optimization for the tritium isotope separation factor and permeation by selecting temperature and thickness of the diffusion Pd–Ag alloy cathode

Large quantities of tritiated water will be produced in the controlled fusion reactors for power generation. To eliminate the concentrated tritiated water and for recycling tritium, an industrial electrolyzer was developed. The aim of this paper is to give the design of this electrolyzer and the results for optimization in diffusion and in isotopic exchange by selecting thickness of a thimble-shaped Pd–25%Ag cathode working at high temperature and current. In this process, the tritium recovery system is based on the principle of the tritium diffusion Pd–Ag cathode which produces very pure hydrogen isotopes from enriched tritiated water.