Tritium decontamination of TFTR D-T graphite tiles employing ultra violet light and a Nd:YAG laser

The use of an ultra violet light source (wavelength=172 nm) and a Nd:YAG laser for the decontamination of TFTR D-T tiles will be investigated at PPPL. The development of this form of tritium decontamination may be useful for future D-T burning fusion devices which employ carbon plasma facing components on the first wall. Carbon tiles retain hydrogen isotopes, and the in-situ tritium decontamination of carbon can be extremely important in maintaining resident in-vessel tritium inventory to a minimum. A test chamber has been designed and fabricated at PPPL. The chamber has the ability to be maintained under vacuum, be baked to 200°C. and provides sample ports for gas analyses. Tiles from TFTR that have been exposed to D-T plasmas will be placed within the chamber and exposed to either UV light source or the ND:YAG Laser. The experiment will determine the effectiveness of these two techniques for the removal of tritium. In addition, exposure rates and scan times for the UV light source and/or Nd:YAG laser will be determined for tritium removal optimization from D-T tiles