Apparatus and process for deuterium exchange

Claim 2

A process comprising the steps of creating an isotope exchange between water and a water soluble exchange medium, one of the water and exchange medium being deuterium enriched; rectifying the water and exchange medium after exchange to separate the water and exchange medium from each other; evaporating the separated water to form a flow of rising vapor; condensing the separated exchange medium to form a reflux liquid; expanding a portion of the condensed exchange medium to cool the exchange medium portion; placing the cooled exchange medium portion in heat exchange relation with a cold consumer to evaporate the exchange medium portion; forming a solution of the evaporate exchange medium portion and water; dissipating the solution heat generated upon formation of the solution; and supplying the solution as the water in said isotope exchange step at a predetermined pressure.

Claim 3

The combination of a deuterium exchange plant and an absorption refrigeration plant wherein said deuterium exchange plant includes at least one exchange tower for counter-current flow of water and a water soluble exchange medium, a first rectifying column connected to said tower for separating water from the exchange medium, an evaporator connected to said rectifying column for producing a flow of rising vapor, a second rectifying column connected to said tower for separating exchange medium from the water and a condenser connected to said second rectifying column for producing a reflux liquid consisting of exchange medium; and wherein said absorption refrigeration plant includes a throttling means connected to said condenser to expand a flow of liquid exchange medium flowing from said condenser, a second evaporator for evaporating the expanded flow of exchange medium, placing the cooled heat exchange medium portion with a cold consumer device, an absorption means for comingling the evaporated exchange medium from said second evaporator and water to form a solution, a cooling means connected to said absorption means for dissipating solution heat and a pump connected between said absorption means and said tower of said deuterium exchange plant for pumping the solution to said tower at a predetermined pressure.

Claim 4

The combination of a deuterium exchange plant and an absorption refrigeration plant wherein said deuterium exchange plant includes at least one exchange tower for counter-current flow of water and a water soluble exchange medium, a first rectifying column connected to said tower for separating water from the exchange medium, an evaporator connected to said rectifying column for producing a flow of rising vapor, a second rectifying column connected to said tower for separating exchange medium from the water and a condenser connected to said second rectifying column for producing a reflux liquid consisting of exchange medium; and wherein said absorption refrigeration plant includes a throttling means connected to said condenser to expand a flow of liquid exchange medium flowing from said condenser, a second evaporator for evaporating the expanded flow of exchange medium, placing the cooled heat exchange medium portion with a cold consumer device, an absorption means for comingling the evaporated exchange medium from said second evaporator and water to form a solution, a cooling means connected to said absorption means for dissipating solution heat and a pump connected between said absorption means and said tower of said deuterium exchange plant for pumping the solution to said tower at a predetermined pressure.