Analysis of Operating Modes of a Countercurrent Column for the Chemical Isotope Exchange between Hydrogen and Water with Independent Flows of Water and Hydrogen

According results of a theoretical analysis of the countercurrent column operation for the liquid phase catalytic exchange (LPCE) between hydrogen and water in a mode with independent flows of hydrogen and water, it is shown that there are temperature-dependent maximum values of the molar ratio of hydrogen and water flows, at which the separation performance of the column towards isotope mixtures of protium–tritium and protium–deuterium diminishes. Options for the operation of a chemical treatment column were experimentally studied provided that water vapor condensate is returned to the column from the output steam–gas flow or without it. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis performed.