Method for separating isotopes using a vortex tube

Claim 1

A method for separating heavier from light isotopes, comprising: introducing a gaseous feedstock mixture containing relatively light and relatively heavy isotopes under sufficient pressure and temperature into an elongated cylindrical vortex tube in a circumferential fashion so as to impart a swirling action of said mixture within said tube around the longitudinal axis thereof which tends to separate said mixture into a warmer outer stream enriched in lighter isotopes and a cooler inner stream enriched in heavier isotopes; enhancing said thermodynamic separation by axially directing an electromagnetic beam along one stream to excite the vibrational mode of the minority isotope in one stream exclusive of the other ones in said one stream; converting the electromagnetically caused excitation of the minority isotope remaining in said one stream to thermal translation causing a further migration of the minority isotope into the other stream; drawing off said outer stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture adjacent the cylindrical walls of said tube through an outer opening spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said tube; drawings off the inner stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture through an axial outlet located approximately along the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 2

A method for separating heavier from light isotopes, comprising: introducing a gaseous feedstock mixture containing relatively light and relatively heavy isotopes under sufficient pressure and temperature into an elongated cylindrical vortex tube in a circumferential fashion so as to impart a swirling action of said mixture within said tube around the longitudinal axis thereof which tends to separate said mixture into a warmer outer stream enriched in lighter isotopes and a cooler inner stream enriched in heavier isotopes; enhancing said thermodynamic separation by axially directing an electromagnetic beam along one stream to excite the vibrational mode of the minority isotope in one stream exclusive of the other ones in said one stream; converting the electromagnetically caused excitation of the minority isotope remaining in said one stream to thermal translation causing a further migration of the minority isotope into the other stream; drawing off said outer stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture adjacent the cylindrical walls of said tube through an outer opening spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said tube; drawings off the inner stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture through an axial outlet located approximately along the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 3

A method for separating heavier from light isotopes, comprising: introducing a gaseous feedstock mixture containing relatively light and relatively heavy isotopes under sufficient pressure and temperature into an elongated cylindrical vortex tube in a circumferential fashion so as to impart a swirling action of said mixture within said tube around the longitudinal axis thereof which tends to separate said mixture into a warmer outer stream enriched in lighter isotopes and a cooler inner stream enriched in heavier isotopes; enhancing said thermodynamic separation by electromagnetically exciting the vibrational mode of lighter isotopes remaining in inner stream exclusive of the heavier ones; converting the electromagnetic excitation of the lighter isotopes remaining in the inner stream to thermal translation causing a further migration of the lighter isotopes into the outer stream; drawing off said outer stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture adjacent the cylindrical walls of said tube through an outer opening spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said tube; drawing off the inner stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture through an axial outlet located approximately along the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 4

A method for separating heavier from light isotopes, comprising: introducing a gaseous feedstock mixture containing relatively light and relatively heavy isotopes under sufficient pressure and temperature into an elongated cylindrical vortex tube in a circumferential fashion so as to impart a swirling action of said mixture within said tube around the longitudinal axis thereof which tends to separate said mixture into a warmer outer stream enriched in lighter isotopes and a cooler inner stream enriched in heavier isotopes; enhancing said thermodynamic separation by electromagnetically exciting the vibrational mode of lighter isotopes remaining in inner stream exclusive of the heavier ones; converting the electromagnetic excitation of the lighter isotopes remaining in the inner stream to thermal translation causing a further migration of the lighter isotopes into the outer stream; drawing off said outer stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture adjacent the cylindrical walls of said tube through an outer opening spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said tube; drawing off the inner stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture through an axial outlet located approximately along the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 12

A method for separating heavier from lighter isotopes, comprising: introducing a gaseous feedstock mixture containing relatively light and relatively heavy isotopes under sufficient pressure and temperature, into a plurality of axially aligned elongated cylindrical vortex tubes, each in a circumferential fashion so as to impart a swirling action of said mixture within each said tube around the longitudinal axis thereof which separates said mixture into a warmer outer stream enriched in lighter isotopes and a cooler inner stream enriched in heavier isotopes; enhancing said thermodynamic separation by electromagnetically exciting from a common source the vibrational mode of the lighter isotopes within the inner stream of each vortex tube exclusive of the heavier ones; converting the electromagnetic excitation of the lighter isotopes remaining in the inner stream of each vortex tube to thermal translation causing a further migration of the lighter isotopes into the outer stream; drawing off in each tube said outer stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture adjacent the cylindrical walls of said tube through an outer opening spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said tube; drawing off in each tube the inner stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture through an axial outlet location approximately along the longitudinal axis of the tube.

Claim 13

A method for separating heavier from lighter isotopes, comprising: introducing a gaseous feedstock mixture containing relatively light and relatively heavy isotopes under sufficient pressure and temperature, into a plurality of axially aligned elongated cylindrical vortex tubes, each in a circumferential fashion so as to impart a swirling action of said mixture within each said tube around the longitudinal axis thereof which separates said mixture into a warmer outer stream enriched in lighter isotopes and a cooler inner stream enriched in heavier isotopes; enhancing said thermodynamic separation by electromagnetically exciting from a common source the vibrational mode of the lighter isotopes within the inner stream of each vortex tube exclusive of the heavier ones; converting the electromagnetic excitation of the lighter isotopes remaining in the inner stream of each vortex tube to thermal translation causing a further migration of the lighter isotopes into the outer stream; drawing off in each tube said outer stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture adjacent the cylindrical walls of said tube through an outer opening spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said tube; drawing off in each tube the inner stream of said thermodynamically separated swirling mixture through an axial outlet location approximately along the longitudinal axis of the tube.