Process for separating uranium isotopes
Abstract
Abstract URANIUM ISOTOPES CAN BE SEPARATED UTILIZING SHOCK SEPARATION TECHNIQUES BY INTRODUCING GASEOUS URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE, ALONE OR IN ADMIXTURE WITH INERT GASEOUS DILUENTS, AT SUPERSONIC VELOCITY INTO A DUCT SUCH TAHT PARALLEL FLOW STREAMLINES ARE PRESENT; PLACING WITHIN THE SUPERSONIC PARALLEL FLOW STREAM A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW PROBES HAVING CRITICAL DIMENSIONS RELATIVE TO THE MEAN FREE PATH OF SAID FLOW STREAM IN FRONT OF SAID PROBES SO AS TO CAUSE A DETACHED STATIONARY SHOCK TO FORM AHEAD OF EACH OF SAID PROBES LEADING EDGES AND REGULATING THE FLOW THROUGH THE PROBES IN RELATION TO THE FLOW THROUGH THE DUCT SUCH THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SEPARATIVE WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED. THIS MAXIMIZATION OF SEPARATIVE WORK DOES NOT OCCUR EITHER AT THE HIGHEST ENRICHMENT OF THE HEAVIER ISOTOPE IN THE SAMPLING PROBES OR AT THE HIGHEST FEASIBLE WITHDRAWAL RATE OF GAS THROUGH SAID PROBES BUT ONLY AT A NARROW RANGE OF CRITICAL PARAMETERS.
Inventors
- 👤 John B Fenn
- 👤 James R White
Bibliographic Details
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