The Omega Laser Facility at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (UR/LLE) will begin laser implosion shots on cryogenic DT ICF targets in 1999. The OCTS, now under design and construction by General Atomics, fills plastic ICF targets to high pressure, cools them down to cryogenic temperatures, layers and characterizes the targets, and then transports them to the center of the Omega Target Chamber where they are shot. Although the quantities of tritium being handled by the OCTS are relatively small (<1 g), the design of the tritium handling systems to support the OCTS operation is a significant challenge. The OCTS has a high pressure system that compresses DT at a very slow and uniform rate to pressures as high as 1500 atm. This must be accomplished under the <1 g tritium inventory constraint. A large glovebox has been designed that contains the main cryostat where targets are filled, the vacuum systems, and gas handling systems. The glovebox must provide the structural support for this equipment and yet allow for access to the equipment for maintenance after it becomes tritium contaminated. There are two major vacuum systems to support the system. These were designed to be tritium compatible, relatively compact, easy to maintain, and yet provide high vacuum and roughing vacuum to a number of vessels having a wide range of tritium contamination levels. Finally, a Tritium Removal System (TRS) is being designed to provide cleanup of the glovebox atmosphere, vacuum system effluents, and equipment associated with the Target Chamber. The TRS must support an annual facility tritium release limit of 400 mCi, which is a significant challenge. This paper describes the status and challenges associated with the design of the tritium systems, which includes the DT high pressure system, gloveboxes, vacuum systems, and the TRS.

*Work supported by the US Department of Energy