Lessons learned in design phase of cernavoda tritium removal facility based on LPCE and cryogenic distillation.

ICSI was part of a consortium who has recently completed the conceptual design of the Cernavoda Tritium Removal Facility (CTRF). CTRF is sized to process heavy water from 2 CANDU reactors, to process a flow of 40 kg/h with tritium concentration in heavy water up to 54 Ci/kg, over 40 years. CTRF removes tritium using liquid phase catalytic exchange (LPCE) followed by cryogenic distillation (CD). The actual design of Cernavoda Tritium Removal Facility includes last know-how in terms of expertize from ICSI, Kinectrics, ISTECH, CITON, CELIN as participants to the project. During the design phase of CTRF several items are identified and needs to be solved take into account the specific of facility: location and connection to CANDU NPP. Starting from here the paper will identify several key lesson learned during the design phase related to technological and safety approach to respect the site (CNE cernavoda) and regulation (mainly Romanian Regulatory Body, CNCAN) requirements. All information presented can be used as reference for other similar facilities that may be constructed in the future, like ITER facilities for detritiation and tritium removal plants in CANDU environment, which will use isotopic separation and cryogenic distillation.