Li4SiO4 pebbles reduction in He+0.1% H2 purge gas and effects on tritium release properties

Abstract Lithium orthosilicate reduction was examined by Temperature Programmed Reaction (TPR) and Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) methods performed in He (or Ar) + H2 purge gas flowing through pebble bed specimens. The parameters governing the kinetics and the steady-state of the reduction process to Li4SiO4−x were determined at 800°C. The level x of the O-vacancy concentration at steady-state (of the order of 1.5×10−3 mole fraction) was found to be compatible with the impurities content in the specimens. Pebble pre-annealing treatments were found to affect the microstructure and the reduction mechanism. Post-irradiation tritium release by TPD tests were performed on both stoichiometric and reduced pebbles with similar results. Tritium release properties of this breeder system seem to be independent from the material reduction state (x).