High-temperature Proton Conductor Hydrogen Sensor for Tritium Monitoring

In order to develop the trace tritium monitoring technologies in exhaust gas of nuclear power plants and other tritium apparatus, a high-temperature proton conductor ceramic CaZr_0.9In_0.1O_3-α was used as a hydrogen sensor for tritium monitoring. The trace hydrogen extraction characteristics of an electrochemical hydrogen isotopes sensor using a one-closed CaZr_0.9In_0.1O_3-α proton conductor tube were studied in case of helium with 100 ppm and 10ppm levels of hydrogen, respectively. These results indicated that about 99% of hydrogen at anode was recovered to the cathode, and the electrochemical hydrogen sensor will be one of potential trace tritium extraction and monitoring technologies. The driving force of extracting hydrogen in the hydrogen sensor was a potential difference without pressurization, so the hydrogen sensor can extract hydrogen isotopes from a low-pressure hydrogen isotope gas by only loading direct current voltage.