Testing of a Prototype SAES St909 Getter Bed for Conditioning Gas to a Tritium Stripper System

SAES St909 getter beds are used to condition the gas feed to certain tritium stripper systems in the Tritium Facilities at the Savannah River Site. Low-oxygen and low-moisture waste gas containing nitrogen, helium or argon is pre-conditioned by the St909 getter prior to tritium stripping and discharge to the environment. SRS has recently built and tested a full-scale St909 Prototype Getter Bed to replace an existing design. The Bed was activated, loaded with nitrogen and tested for effectiveness in gettering oxygen and cracking water, methane and carbon dioxide at two temperatures, three pressures and three flow rates (residence times). Tests have been conducted using carrier gases of nitrogen and helium. This paper will discuss the new St909 getter bed design and test results.