Method of separating isotopes from gaseous mixtures

US4311674A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Karl Janner · Erlangen, DE
• Klaus Gregorius · Copenhagen, DK
• Hans Niemann · Winchester, US
• Arno Kersting · Erlangen, DE
• Eberhard Schuster

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 1979
• Grant date: Jan 19, 1982
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01D59/34
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Separation of isotopes from a gaseous mixture of substances containing the isotopes by incorporating supplemental gas and adiabatically expanding at an expansion ratio and starting temperature to cool the mixture and effect condensation of at least a portion of the supplemental gas. Laser radiation is applied to effect selective excitation of one isotope component with selective retention of the non-excited isotope component in the condensate. The condensation may be accelerated by generating condensation nuclei. A compression joint may be used to effect a temperature rise of the gaseous mixture and peelers employed to separate the gas stream portion rich in excited isotope component from the portion rich in non-excited isotope component.