Apparatus and method for concentrating hydrogen isotopes

Abstract

An electrochemical hydrogen isotope concentrating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inlet stream of the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated. The apparatus also includes an electrochemical cell that includes a hydron exchange membrane containing hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, an anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane in fluid communication with the inlet stream, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode. The apparatus further includes two outlet streams: a first outlet stream of the hydrogen isotope in fluid communication with the cathode, and a second outlet stream depleted of the hydrogen isotope in fluid communication with the anode.

1 . An electrochemical hydrogen isotope concentrating apparatus, comprising:
 an inlet stream comprising the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated;   an electrochemical cell comprising a hydron exchange membrane comprising hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, an anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane in fluid communication with the inlet stream, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode;   a first outlet stream in fluid communication with the cathode, the first outlet stream comprising concentrated hydrogen isotope; and   a second outlet stream in fluid communication with the anode, comprising fluid from the inlet stream depleted of the hydrogen isotope.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hydron exchange membrane comprises a hydrogen exchange support material and water comprising the hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the water comprises a predetermined atomic fraction of the hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined atomic fraction of the isotope is configured to produce a target hydrogen isotope purity of the first outlet stream. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a source of water comprising the hydrogen isotope in fluid communication with the hydron exchange membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said water source comprises a liquid water flow loop in fluid communication with the hydron exchange membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said water source comprises a humidifier in fluid communication with the inlet stream. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hydron exchange membrane comprises an ionomer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ionomer comprises a fluoropolymer comprising sulfonate groups. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dehumidifier in fluid communication with the first outlet stream. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen isotope comprises deuterium. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen isotope comprises tritium. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a stack of said electrochemical cells. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first outlet stream is electrochemically compressed to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         15 . A method of concentrating an isotope of hydrogen, comprising delivering a fluid comprising the hydrogen isotope to be concentrated to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising a hydron exchange membrane comprising hydrons of the hydrogen isotope, and also comprising said anode on a first side of the hydron exchange membrane, a cathode on a second side of the hydron exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit connection between the anode and the cathode;
 removing a first stream in fluid communication with the cathode, the first stream comprising concentrated hydrogen isotope; and   removing a second stream in fluid communication with the anode, comprising fluid delivered to the anode depleted of the hydrogen isotope.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising delivering water comprising the hydrogen isotope to the hydron exchange membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising contacting the hydron exchange membrane with water comprising the hydrogen isotope prior to delivering the fluid to be concentrated to the anode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising delivering water comprising the hydrogen isotope to the hydron exchange membrane simultaneous to delivering the fluid to be concentrated to the anode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising recovering or recycling water comprising the hydrogen isotope. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first stream is electrochemically compressed to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.