Power supply design for electrolytic Deuterium implantation in Zirconium

Zirconium is a transition metal that finds many applications in nuclear engineering because of its small neutron capture cross section, which makes it nearly transparent to neutron radiation. In a metal form it readily dissolves hydrogen up to ca 0.07 wt% and can be used to immobilise hydrogen isotopes in geometric configurations. Many applications for this use case are being researched in the context of nuclear fusion, where implantation of hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium is of interest. Direct implantation from water is easier to control than diffusion of gaseous hydrogen, and electrolysis of heavy water is one of the methods used for deuterium implantation in zirconium. The current density is a critical parameter to drive the implantation process forward, necessitating high current, low-voltage power supply systems. This work addresses the electrical engineering problems associated with such application-specific high current power supply systems for hydrogen implantation in transition metals. A compact and cost-effective solution is presented, implemented in a prototype, and tested in a laboratory environment to verify its usability for implantation of deuterium from heavy water into zirconium metal wire.