Configuration and operation of detritiation systems for ITER Tokamak Complex

Abstract The ventilation systems design for the ITER nuclear buildings ensures radioactive contamination is confined so that workers, the public and the environment are protected. Nuclear buildings are divided into confinement sectors which connect to the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and detritiation system (DS). The Tokamak Complex DS provides centralized air purification for the building confinement sectors. A distributed arrangement of ventilation piping provides networks necessary for two key functions, these being Vent Detritiation (VD), to maintain sub-atmospheric pressure, and Air Detritiation (AD) to collect tritium released into the confinement sector. For the VD function, air extracted from the particular confinement sector is directed to the DS for processing prior to exhaust to the environment. This paper presents the configuration of the DS of the Tokamak Complex and addresses details of the design of the distributed piping network. Dynamic flow and pressure drop modelling has been applied to support the development of the system configuration and provide data for sizing the system and selecting components. Further design development is discussed in view of the safety requirements for operation of the system during design basis events such as earthquake or fire.