HYDRIDING PERFORMANCES AND MODELING OF A SMALL-SCALE ZrCo BED

Korea has been developing nuclear fusion fuel storage and delivery system (SDS) technologies including a basic scientific study on hydrogen storage. To develop nuclear fusion technology, it will be necessary to store and supply hydrogen isotopes needed for Tokamak operation. SDS is used for storing hydrogen isotopes as a metal hydride form. We designed and fabricated a small-scale getter bed of zirconium cobalt (ZrCo). The rapid hydriding of tritium is very important not only for safety reasons but also for the economic design and operation of the SDS. The effect of the initial absorption temperatures on the hydriding of ZrCo was measured and analyzed. The experimental results of the hydrogen pressure of hydriding (ZrCoH2.8) at various cooling temperatures are in agreement with the calculated values using numerical modeling equations. The effect of a helium blanket on hydriding was measured and analyzed. The experimental results of the hydriding with 0 %, 4%, and 8% of helium concentration are in agreement with the calculated values based on numerical modeling equations.