STTR: Real-Time Tritiated Gas Composition Analysis through Waveguide Enhanced Optical Spectroscopy for Fusion Fuel Cycles

Tritium is a crucial fuel for deuterium-tritium fusion reactions. Due to the limited natural inventory of tritium, producing it in large quantities is only feasible through online breeding within fusion reactors. To ensure efficient production and sustain the fusion energy industry, there is a pressing need for a real-time sensing tool to monitor the tritium extraction process from blanket materials to achieve efficient tritium production. In this STTR project, AiMiLi Inc., in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and a leading fusion industry partner, proposes the development of a waveguide-enhanced real-time tritiated gas composition analyzer. This tool will enable real-time molecular species analysis and concentration measurements associated with tritium breeding and extraction processes. By leveraging the expertise of fusion industry partners and national laboratory scientists, this project will demonstrate waveguide-enhanced Raman sensors with rapid response times (less than 10 seconds), single-digit parts-per-million (ppm) detection limits, and precise quantification capabilities. These advanced sensors will provide critical insights to optimize and improve tritium production and extraction processes, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fusion energy industry.