Hydrides for Processing and Storing Tritium

The Savannah River Site (SRS) has 50 years of experience in handling and processing tritium for defense and other special applications. During the past 20 years, a new technology, metal hydride technology, was introduced to the tritium facilities. This technology dramatically changed the way tritium and the other hydrogen isotopes were handled and processed at SRS. Metal hydrides allowed tritium to be stored much more compactly and at much lower pressures, thereby minimizing accidental release and enhancing operational safety. The use of metal hydrides also simplified many of the processes, resulting in smaller and more efficient operations, which led to significant cost savings. Multimillion-dollar cost savings have been realized in the existing tritium facilities at SRS by using metal hydride technology. Similar cost savings are expected in several of the new tritium projects. New tritium applications continue to be developed at SRS to ensure the reliability of our nation’s tritium reserves and to support our nation’s commitment to a strong defense. In recent years, the Department of Energy and SRS have supported the development of “dualuse” metal hydride technology, which provides benefits not only for defense but also for future energy applications. SRS has collaborated on international energy programs aimed at demonstrating nuclear fusion as a potential, clean, and plentiful source of future energy. SRS has also partnered with government, industrial, and academic institutions to apply its expertise on metal hydrides to clean, non-polluting, hydrogen-powered energy systems. Benefits from these dualuse activities have allowed SRS to maintain its expertise in metal hydrides and have led to substantial cost savings for SRS facilities.