[en] CANDU heavy water reactors produce tritium in the moderator and coolant circuits through neutron absorption by the deuterium atoms in heavy water. The concentration of tritium, in the form of DTO molecules builds up slowly with time of reactor operation. A typical yearly production rate of tritium is 2400 curie for each megawatt of electricity produced and as a consequence, a 600 megawatt Candu reactor produces 1.4 million curie of tritium per year. Tritium decays to ₃He, a non radioactive species, and has a half life of approximately 12 years. Both Ontario Hydro and AECL are constructing plants to remove tritium from heavy water to maintain the tritium concentration below the equilibrium value. This will result in lower radiation doses to operating personnel and reduce the level of radiation in any releases of heavy water to the environment

[en] Aqueous and gaseous tritiated streams are to be processed in many Fusion, Fission and Isotope Separation Systems. A number of processes have been proposed. Some of them are well established, others are not yet industrially applied. From an engineering point of view these processes are evaluated for use in industrial plants with large scale separating requirements. Tritium processing experience from fission plants (mainly heavy water reactors) can be directly applied to Fusion Reactor Tritium systems. Sufficient experience for equipment design and material selection for industrial plants is already established

[en] The supply of heavy water and the maintenance of nuclear quality heavy water are vital for energy production based on heavy water moderated reactors. One purpose of this paper is to describe heavy water extraction from natural or industrial resources available in Romania, using the ammonia-hydrogen exchange process. A second part describes methods for maintaining the nuclear quality of heavy water in nuclear reactors. (Author)

[en] This article deals with the possible improvement in the field of separation of hydrogen isotopes by using vapour recompression for energy conservation, and employing moderately priced packings with a low pressure drop. (Auth.)

[en] Ontario Hydro's Tritium Removal Facility is presently in it'searlier operating phase. The DTRF was build in order to reduce the average dose rate per worker and tritium emmissions in all of Ontario's Hydro's CANDU reactors. As a byproduct tritium may be sold to civil users. This paper provides an overview of the system design, commissioning philosophy, program and results. Three areas of the plant are considered separately: Main Extraction Process, Concentrated Tritium Handling, Support Systems (author). 3 refs.; 1 tab