Experimental Investigation of a Helium-Cooled Breeding Blanket First Wall under LOFA Conditions and Pre-Test and Post-Test Numerical Analysis

The experimental investigation of a prototypical set-up simulating a loss of flow accident in a helium-cooled breeding blanket first wall mock-up under typical heat load conditions is presented. The experimental campaign reproduces the expected DEMO thermal-hydraulics conditions during normal and off-normal situations and aims at providing some insight into the fast transients associated with the loss of flow in the blanket first wall. The experimental set-up and the definition of the experimental matrix are discussed, including pre-test analysis performed in support of these activities. The major experimental results are discussed, and a procedure of using the acquired data for validating and calibrating the RELAP-3D model of the mock-up is introduced. All these activities contributed to the creation of a relevant theoretical and practical experience that can be used in further studies concerning incidental transients in real-plant scenarios in the framework of DEMO plant fusion safety activities.

The utility of ‘home-made’ reagent red blood cells for antibody screening during pre-transfusion compatibility testing in Uganda

Background: The WHO recommends that pre-transfusion testing should include ABO/RhD grouping followed by screen- ing for red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies using the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT). However, in Uganda, current practice does not include RBC alloantibody screening. Objective: To assess the utility of ‘home-made’ reagent RBCs in alloantibody screening. Materials and methods: In a laboratory-based study, group O RhD positive volunteer donors were recruited and their extended phenotype performed for C, c, E, e, K, Fya, Fyb Jkb, S and s antigens. These ‘home-made’ reagent RBCs were preserved using Alsever’s solution and alloantibody detection tests performed. For quality assurance, repeat alloantibody screening of patients’ samples was done at Bloodworks Northwest Laboratory in Seattle, United States. Results: A total of 36 group O RhD positive individuals were recruited as reagent RBC donors (median age, 25 years; range, 21 – 58 years; male-to-female ratio, 1.6:1). Out of the 311 IATs performed, 32 (10.3%) were positive. Confirmatory IAT testing in the United States was in agreement with the findings in Uganda. Conclusion: Use of ‘home-made’ reagent RBCs during pre-transfusion testing in Uganda is feasible. We recommend the introduction of pre-transfusion IAT alloantibody screening in Uganda using ‘home-made’ reagent RBCs to improve trans- fusion safety. Keywords: Blood transfusion; ‘Home-made’ reagent RBCs; Pre-transfusion testing; RBC alloantibody screening; Uganda.

High Efficient Detritiation Catalysts for Fusion Safety

Tritium is indispensable to the fusion reactor engineering, and it must be seriously defended because of its radioactivity and permeability. The method of catalytic oxidation and absorption is the most widely used process for tritium cleanup so far, in which detritiation catalyst is of great importance. The poor stability caused by the agglomeration of noble metal limits the life of detritiation catalysts. Here, Anti–Ostwald Ripening is used to prepare single-atom detritiation catalysts S-Pt/Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 for tritium (HT, DT and T2) oxidation. Single-atom dispersed Pt ensures the catalytic activity and decreased the economic cost. The strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) keeps Pt from aggregating, thus increases the working life of catalyst. And Pd based catalyst supported by a cation ordered κ-Ce2Zr2O8 is prepared for tritiated methane (CH4-xTx) oxidation. Tritiated methane is mostly oxidized by Pd/κ-Ce2Zr2O8 at about 450 °C, which is at least 50 °C lower than normal catalysts (such as Pd/Al2O3).