Characterization of water adsorption capacity at high pressure of the molecular sieve proposed to be used in TER RMSB

This study investigates the effects of total pressure and superficial velocity of purge gas on the adsorption capacity of Na-Y zeolite, a candidate material for the Tritium Extraction and Recovery (TER) system in the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) breeding blanket. The TER system captures tritiated water vapor from helium purge gas at intended high pressure (8 MPa) to reduce pressure differentials with the cooling gas and enhance system resilience. Experimental data reveal that, while total pressure increases marginally enhance adsorption capacity, higher purge gas velocities reduce it. Adsorption isotherms were evaluated using Langmuir, Sips, and Freundlich models, with the Sips model providing the closest fit to experimental data. Mass transfer zone (MTZ) analysis indicates a stable MTZ shape along the test bed, supporting scalability of the findings for larger TER systems. Calculated utilization factors remain around 0.93–0.94 across tested pressures but decrease with increasing superficial velocity, further informing optimal operational parameters for effective adsorption and scalability in full-scale equipment.