The operation of the TFTR tritium system

In April of 1993 PPPL embarked upon the tritium operations phase of the TFTR project. Four years later, in the early morning of April 4, 1997, TFTR pulsed with tritium for the last time. In those four years, approximately 1 mega Curie of tritium was processed, and a Tritium Purification System (TPS) was commissioned. During this period >1,000 invasive (line break) operations were performed with <425 Cl of tritium released to the environment. The highly successful operation of the TFTR tritium systems was due to a corporate culture which stressed the importance of safe operations and the commitment by the TFTR staff to conduct nuclear operations in an efficient and safe fashion. The operation of TFTR as a nuclear facility employed 1,096 detailed operations procedures which were adhered to by all nuclear operations personnel and included a clear chain of command for nuclear operations.