Tritium in Fusion Reactors
Fusion reactors utilize lithium blankets to breed tritium fuel, but handling tritium poses complex chemical, radiological, and material challenges.
Behind plans to breed tritium in fusion reactors are decades of experience in understanding tritium's characteristics, plus a variety of options for extracting it from the 'blanket'.
Fusion reactor designs that are fuelled by deuterium and tritium often include a lithium 'blanket' around the fusion site, where the necessary tritium fuel is 'bred' through neutron bombardment, causing the lithium to decay to tritium.
The tritium being managed is not only a radiological hazard but a chemical hazard as well.
The tritium is extracted from the 'blanket' and ultimately recycled into the fusion reaction.
Author's summary: Tritium poses complex challenges in fusion reactors.