Tritiated pump oil change cart

A device to facilitate the changing of oil in pumps used for tritium service has been constructed and utilized to service the TFTR project pumps. The utilization of tritium in TFTR has necessitated the requirement for new maintenance and service procedures for tritium equipment. Two oil change carts were constructed, one for hydrocarbon oil and a second for Krytox (Perfluoroalkyl Ether) oil. Both carts are essentially identical. The oil drain and fill operations do not require active pumping, but utilize a partially evacuated waste drain tank and a pressurized supply tank to transfer oil. The cart has pressure balance capabilities to prevent over or under pressurization of the device being serviced. The cart supply tank is pressurized with inert gas and the waste tank is evacuated with the tritium storage and delivery system vacuum pumps prior to using the cart for servicing equipment. All operations are performed in a completely closed configuration by utilizing the tritium vent system. A specific written procedure is required for the use of the oil change cart with each pump or blower to be serviced. Each procedure specifies the exact interconnection configuration and safe method to transfer the oil. When the waste tank is full, the contaminated oil is transferred to a disposable tank that can be solidified using a gelling agent.