GB1578091A - Separation of uranium isotope compounds - Google Patents

Separation of uranium isotope compounds Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1578091A
GB1578091A GB597378A GB597378A GB1578091A GB 1578091 A GB1578091 A GB 1578091A GB 597378 A GB597378 A GB 597378A GB 597378 A GB597378 A GB 597378A GB 1578091 A GB1578091 A GB 1578091A
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cold plate
uranium
isotope
compounds
infrared
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Kyoto University
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Kyoto University
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D59/00Separation of different isotopes of the same chemical element
    • B01D59/34Separation by photochemical methods

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE SEPARATION OF URANIUM ISOTOPE COMPOUNDS (71) We, KYOTO UNIVERSITY, of Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to the infrared laser isotope separation which can be used practically.
It has been known that isotope separation by laser is efficient in that the separation coefficient is principally very large and thus it is possible to lower the cost of separation.
Particularly, it has been known that the laser isotope separation is very effective for applications in which isotopes, the ratio of molecular weight of which is very small, are to be separated.
One example of the applications is the separation of uranium isotopes to enrich 235U.
As is well known, since the molecular weight of the uranium isotopes is very close, the multistage process, such as in diffusion or centrifugal methods, has had to be employed though it requires a considerably high cost.
Photochemical isotope separation can be classified, on the basis of the light used, into the visible light type and the infrared type and it is known that a laser is suitable to use as a light source because of the monochromatic nature and high intensity thereof. With separation using the visible laser ray, the isotope shift in wavelength to be absorbed, i.e. the difference in wavelength between the absorptions by the respective uranium isotopes in metal vapour, is as small as 0.08 A at 5915.4 A and the power output of the available laser is very small. Moreover energy transfer from the selectively excited isotope compound to the other isotope compound is relatively large because the excited energy level of the isotope compound is relatively high.
On the other hand, when gaseous uranium hexafluoride is selectively excited with the infrared laser ray, the isotope shift is 0.65 cm-' in wave number at 625.5 cm- for the P3 vibration mode, for example. This is about 100 times that obtainable by using the visible ray and, therefore, the uranium isotope compounds can be relatively easily discriminated from each other.
Furthermore, it may be possible to use a laser of large output. In this connection, however since the light energy of infrared ray is generally several kilocalories/mol which is very small in comparison with several ten kilocalories/mol necessary in usual chemical reaction, it is necessary to consider carefully a reaction through which the separation of selectively excited molecules from others should be performed.
In the past, it has been usual to mix the gaseous isotope molecules with a gas which reacts with the isotope molecules. In this case, however, it is impossible to avoid a direct and/or indirect energy transfer from the excited molecules to the nonexcited molecules due to inter-gas molecule collisions, resulting in a dissipation of the selectively excited energy of the desired molecules.
Therefore, it is desirable to prevent the energy dissipation from the selectively excited molecules to non-excited ones and it is desirable to make the separation of the selectively excited molecules from others possible with relatively small energy.
The infrared absorption spectrum of uranium hexafluoride in gas phase provides a broad peak because of a relatively high temperature thereof and the rotation of the molecule thereof, making a clear discrimination between isotopes difficult.
In order to overcome this problem, the sample should be cooled and solidified to make the isotope molecule in the ground state. This will also provide effects of increasing the spectral intensity of infrared absorption and of decreasing direct energy transfer from excited molecule to nonexcited ones.
In accordance with the invention, a method of separating uranium isotope compounds by using an infrared laser including the steps of diluting a mixture of uranium isotope compounds with an inert gas by 50 to 1000 times, and irradiating the diluted mixture with infrared laser beam including at least one infrared ray having a specific wave number to be absorbed by one of the isotope compounds selectively to excite that one isotope compound is characterized by the steps of blowing the diluted mixture onto a cold plate maintained at a temperature low enough to solidify the diluted mixture on the cold plate as a solid layer, irradiating the solid layer with the laser beam from the outer side of the solid layer on the cold plate, permitting a sublimation of part of the solid layer while collecting the sublimated substance then releasing a residual portion of the layer from the cold plate by raising the temperature thereof and collecting the released substance.
The essence ol this method is that a gaseous mixture containing an isotope compound to be enriched is diluted with the inert gas and the diluted gas mixture is fed into a chamber at a reduced pressure and blown onto the cold plate. The molecules of the uranium isotope in a matrix of the inert diluent molecules is cold-trapped on the cold plate and irradiated with the infrared ray having a wavelength component which is absorbed by a desired uranium isotope compound. By the irradiation, the desired uranium isotope compound molecules in the matrix on the cold plate are selectively excited and moved in the direction of the laser ray to the cold plate side due to a laser induced photomigration caused by a temperature gradient provided in the matrix, etc. Therefore, the concentration of the selectively excited molecules around the surface of the cold plate becomes higher that that of other portions of the matrix, resulting in a molecular crystal layer of the excited molecules on the surface of the cold plate.
The cold plate is employed for the reasons that, since it is considered that uranium isotope compounds in the condensed matrix formed on the cold plate are separated from each other and homogeneously distributed and fixed by the solidified diluent gas molecules. Thus, the direct energy transfer from one isotope molecule to the other is avoided, so that the selective excitation can be effectively performed.
Moreover no interferences between the isotope compounds, the absorption peak of infrared ray becomes sharp, so that it becomes easy to know the difference therebetween and that the degree of absorption becomes high.
The diluent gas molecules and the other molecules except the excited ones may be suitably released from the cold plate into the chamber by sublimation, for example, under suitable conditions. The condensed molecules on the cold plate may be collected by merely stopping the cooling of the plate or heating the cold plate to release at first the condensed inert gas and nonexcited isotope molecules from the cold plate and then excited isotope molecules by trapping them selectively.
Alternatively, when an available laser emits a ray which is absorbed by the other uranium isotope compound than that to be enriched, the isotope to be enriched may be collected by collecting the molecules released from the cold plate into the chamber by the first step sublimation.
The invention also includes an apparatus for separating uranium isotope compounds, the apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber provided with a sample inlet port, a collecting port for guiding out of the chamber the separated uranium isotope compounds and a laser ray window; a cold plate disposed in the vacuum chamber with a surface thereof facing the sample inlet port and the laser ray window; a source of the uranium isotope compounds; a source of inert diluent gas; a conduit for connecting the source of the uranium isotope compounds and the source of inert diluent gas to the sample inlet port of the vacuum chamber so that the uranium isotope compounds are diluted; at least one cold trap connected to the collecting port of the vacuum chamber for trapping one of the separated uranium isotope compounds; and infrared laser disposed outside the laser ray of the vacuum chamber so that an infrared ray passes through window to the cold plate; and a cooling means for selectively cooling the cold plate to a temperature low enough to solidify the diluent gas and uranium isotope compounds on the cold plate.
Two examples of an apparatus for separating uranium isotope compounds in the form of uranium hexafluoride, which can easily be made to a gas state to enrich uranium 235, and constructed in accordamce with the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for a batch separation; and, Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for a continuous separation.
In Figure 1, a chamber 10 is defined by a wall 11 of such as stainless steel. In the chamber 10, a cold plate 12 is disposed suitably. The cold plate 12 is made of a metal such as aluminum, copper, nickel, stainless steel or an ionic crystal such as sodium fluoride or cesium iodide and is cooled suitably to a low temperature at or lower than -196"C. Behind the cold plate 12 a heater 13 may be provided. The chamber 10 is formed with a material inlet port 17 through which a nozzle 18 is directed to a surface of the cold plate 12 and a material outlet port 14. The material outlet port 14 is connected through a conduit 25 and a valve 26 to a vacuum pump (not shown). The conduit 25 has a branch 27 which is connected through a valve 28 to a cold trap 29 which is cooled by a coolant 30.
The chamber 10 is further formed with a laser input hole 15. The laser input hole 15 is sealed with a suitable material transparent to the laser ray from a laser gun 31 to form a window 16.
The position and orientation of the cold plate 12 disposed in the chamber 10 should be such that the surface of the cold plate 12 faces the nozzle 18 and laser irradiation through the window 16.
The nozzle 18 is connected through a valve 19 to an inert diluent gas source 22 and a source 23 of uranium isotope compounds, respectively. The flow rates of the inert diluent gas and the isotope are regulated by valves 20 and 21 so that isotope compounds are diluted by the inert gas by 50 to 1000 times.
In operation, the chamber 10 is evacuated by opening the valve 26 connected to the vacuum pump and the cold plate 12 is maintained at a temperature as low as or lower than -196"C.
Then a mixture of the inert diluent gas and the isotope compounds is supplied through the nozzle 18 to the cold plate 12, resulting in a solid layer 32 containing the isotope compounds in the matrix of the diluent gas molecules. Then the laser gun 31 is actuated.
The laser 31 to be used in an application of selective excitation of 238UF6, should be one which can produce an infrared ray, the specific wavenumber of which depends upon the kind of the inert diluent gas and is 619.3 cm-' in case of argon, 617.0 cm-' in case of xenon and 618.4cm-' in case of carbon monoxide and the spectral width in wavenumber of the ray should be equal to or less than the isotope shift. It should be noted that the photoenergy to be given to 238 UF6 by the laser should be enough to provide an energy of about one third the latent heat of the molecule to be excited and in this case, the output power of the laser should be enough to vibrationally excite uranium hexafluoride. Preferably, the uranium isotope compound is diluted with xenon or argon to 100 to 1000 times and blown onto the cold plate of aluminum or copper maintained at -2300C or lower temperature to form a solid layer thereon.
The solid layer is irradiated with the infrared laser ray of 617.0cm-' in the case of xenon diluent or of 619.3cm-' in case of argon diluent. The wavenumber width of the laser ray is equal to or less than 0.65cm-'. These specific wavenumbers of infrared rays are for v3 vibrational absorption band of uranium 238 hexafluoride in the respective inert gas matrices.
That is, it is well known that UF6 molecule has four fundamental vibration modes and the isotope effect is observed in the modes v3 and v4. The modes v3 provides a larger isotope shift in infared absorption peak due to the difference in mass between the isotopes, in comparison with those for the mode v4. Therefore, it is most preferable to use a laser capable of producing infrared ray having frequency corresponding to V3 band of the desired isotope. However, it may be advisable to use other combination bands each including the p3 band as the case may be. Examples of the combination bands are v3+v5, p2+v3 and v1+v3, though the absorption coefficiencies of those combination bands may be lower than that of the v3 band.
In the most preferable operation, a gaseous UF6 to be separated is supplied from the source 23 is diluted to 1000 times with argon supplied from the source 22 and the diluted mixture is blown through the valve 19 and the nozzle 18 against the cold plate 12.
The diluted mixture blown onto the cold plate 12 made of copper maintained at -250 C or lower forms a solidified layer 32 containing 235UF6 and 238UF6 molecules in the matrix of the inert gas molecules thereon. The solid layer is irradiated with the laser beam from the laser 31 through the window 16, the wavenumber and wavenumber width being 619.3cm-' and 0.5cm-' respectively.
Upon the irradiation with the infrared laser beam, each 238UF6 molecule in the matrix may receive an energy enough to overcome a barrier of the argon gas molecules surrounding the 238UF6 molecule.
Since there is a temperature gradient in the matrix from the lowest at the side thereof contacting with the cold plate 12 to the highest at the surface of the solid layer 32 and due to the photon momentum given by the infrared ray, 238UF6 molecules are moved thereby toward the cold plate side and ultimately form a molecular crystal layer 33 of 238UF6 on the surface of the cold plate 12.
On the other hand, the argon gas molecules may sublimate from the surface of the solid layer 32 at a vapour pressure corresponding to the temperature thereof and 236UF6 molecules which are not excited and thus captured by the surrounding argon gas molecules are also released from the layer 32 to the chamber 10. Since the distributional concentration of non-excited isotope compound in the layer 32 condensed on the cold plate 12 is maintained constant while the concentration of the excited isotope compound around the surface of the layer 32 is reduced, the amount of 238UF6 released from the layer 32 by the sublimation of the argon gas molecules may be very small.
The sublimated substances may be collected suitably through the valve 26.
Alternatively, they may be trapped by a cold trap 29' connected through a valve 28' to the conduit 25, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.
After the sublimation is completed with leaving the molecular crystal layer 33 of 238UF6 on the cold plate 12, the latter may be instantaneously heated by a heater 13 or the cooling of the cold plate is terminated.
Upon the heating of the cold plate 12 or the termination of the cooling of the cold plate, the molecular crystal of 238UF6 is released into the chamber 10. 238UF6 thus released may be trapped by a cold trap 29 connected through a valve 28 to the conduit 25.
As well noted, shown in Figure 1 is one example of the apparatus for performing a batch separation.
Figure 2 shows an example of the apparatus for performing a continuous separation, in which similar components are designated by similar reference numerals.
In the embodiment in Figure 2, a cold plate takes the form of a mandrel 12' rotatably supported in a vacuum chamber defined by the wall 11. A nozzle 40 is provided in the mandrel 12' and connected to a conduit extending along an axis of the mandrel 12'.
The vacuum chamber is formed with a mixture supply cavity 10a at around the bottom thereof. A nozzle 18 is provided in the mixture supply portion 10a, to which the inert diluent gas source 22 and the isotope source 23 are connected through a valve 19.
Adjacent the mixture supply cavity 10a and in the downstream side thereof, an irradiation cavity 10b is provided integrally with the vacuum chamber. The cavity 10b is sealed with a window 16 transparent to the infrared ray. Further, a cavity 10c is also provided in the downstream side of the irradiation cavity 10b. The cavity 10c provided with heating means 15 is connected to a cold trap 29' through a conduit 25'.
Another cavity 10d is formed above the mandrel 12', which is connected through a conduit 25 to a cold trap 29.
In the cavity 10d, a suitable heating means is provided. In Figure 2 it is shown as a pair of heaters 13.
In the mandrel 12' a centre conduit 39 extending along an axis thereof is provided to which a nozzle 40 is formed. The nozzle 40 is directed to an upstream side of the cavity 10a so as to jet a flow of coolant, such as liquid helium, to an inner wall of the mandrel 12' to cool the mandrel 12'. The lower portion of the mandrel 12' may serve as a reservoir of the coolant as shown by a numeral 41 in Figure 2 and thereby the lower portion of the mandrel 12' is more efficiently cooled.
In operation of the apparatus in Figure 2, the chamber is evacuated as in the batch apparatus in Figure 1 and the mandrel 12' is rotated in the direction shown by an arrow while the coolant is blown onto the inner surface of the mandrel 12'.
Then the valves 19, 20 and 21 are opened so that UF8 in the source 23 is diluted to 100--1000 times with the inert gas from the source 22 and is blown through the nozzle 18 opened in the cavity 10a onto the outer surface of the mandrel 12'. As in the preceding embodiment, the mixture is condensed on the outer surface of the mandrel 12' as a condensed solid layer 32.
The layer 32 is carried on the surface of the mandrel 12' into the irradiation cavity 10b with the rotation of the mandrel in which the condensed layer 32 is irradiated with an infrared laser ray emitted from a laser 31 through the window 16, to thereby selectively excite 236UF6 or 23aUF6 depending upon specific laser ray used.
With this irradiation, the excited molecules are moved radially inwardly to form a molecular crystal layer 33.
The condensed layer including the molecular crystal layer 33 therein is carried to the cavity 10c with the rotation of the mandrel 12' in which the portion of the layer 32 other than the molecular crystal layer 33 sublimates with the aid of heater 15 and is collected by cold-trap 29'.
The molecular crystal layer 33 is carried into the cavity 10d which is slightly heated by the heaters 13. Therefore, the molecules in the molecular crystal layer 33 are released in the cavity 10d and collected by the cold trap 29 The above process is repeated, resulting in a continuous separation between 236UF6 and 238UF In this embodiment, it is course possible to use the laser capable of producing an excitation light of wavenumber 619.9cm- in a case of argon matrix and or 617.6cm-' in case of xenon matrix and wavenumber width equal to or less than 0.5cm-'. In such case, 235UF6 forms a molecular crystal layer on the cold plate.
Since the amount of 235U in a given amount of natural uranium is very small in comparison with 238U, it may be advisable to actuate the heating means intermittently.
The time interval between the actuations of the heating means may be made corresponding in time to a plurality of revolutions of the mandrel, the number of the revolutions being determined such that it permits the crystal layer to become thick enough to facilitate the collection. The control of heating means may be performed by a power source and control means 100 connected to the heating means.
By this arrangement, the enrichment of 236UF6 is made much easier and efficient.
As mentioned hereinbefore, in the present isotope separation, the isotope compounds are chemically unchanged throughout the separation process and there is no production of chemically active substances. Therefore, it is advantage in the service life of the apparatus. Further, when the present invention is applied to the uranium isotope separation described as the enbodiment of the present invention, it is possible to use uranium hexafluoride which is easily converted to gas phase capable of being handled easily.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of separating uranium isotope compounds by using an infrared laser including the steps of diluting a mixture of uranium isotope compounds with an inert gas by 50 to 1000 times, and irradiating the diluted mixture with infrared laser beam including at least one infrared ray having a specific wavenumber to be absorbed by one of the isotope compounds selectively to excite that one isotope compound, characterised by the steps of blowing the diluted mixture onto a cold plate maintained at a temperature low enough to solidify the diluted mixture on the cold plate as a solid layer, irradiating the solid layer with the laser beam from the outer side of the solid layer on the cold plate, permitting a sublimation of part of the solid layer while collecting the sublimated substance, then releasin residual portion of the layer from the cold plate by raising the temperature thereof and collecting the released substance.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the uranium isotope compounds are uranium hexafluoride; the temperature of the cold plate is -230"C or lower; the inert gas is argon; and the infrared irradiation is performed with an infrared laser ray having frequency components including p3 vibration of the one isotope compound.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the uranium isotope compounds are uranium hexafluoride; the temperature of the coid plate is -l960C or lower; the inert gas is xenon; and the infrared irradiation is performed with an infrared laser ray having frequency components including V3 vibration of the one isotope compound.
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the one uranium isotope compound is 236UF6 and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 619.3cm-'.
5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the one uranium isotope compound is 236UF6 and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 619.9cm-'.
6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one uraniun isotope compound is 236UF6 . and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 617.0cm-'.
7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one uranium isotope compound is 235UF6 and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 617.6cm-'.
8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared ray has wavenumber width of 0.65cm-' or less.
9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the infrared ray has wavenumber width of 0.65cm-' or less.
10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the temperature of the cold plate is -2500C or lower, and the wavenumber width is 0.5 cm-'.
11. A method according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to any one of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. An apparatus for separating uranium isotope compounds, the apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber provided with a sample inlet port, a collecting port for guiding out of the chamber the separated uranium isotope compounds and a laser ray window; a cold plate disposed in the vacuum chamber With a surface there.of facing the sample inlet port and the laser ray window; a source of the uranium isotope compounds; a source of inert diluent gas; a conduit for connecting the source of uranium isotope compounds and the source of inert diluent gas to the sample inlet port of the vacuum chamber so that the uranium isotope compounds are diluted; at least one cold trap connected to the collecting port of the vacuum chamber for trapping one of the separated uranium isotope compounds; an infrared laser disposed outside the laser ray window of the vacuum chamber so that an infrared ray passes through the window to the cold plate; and a cooling means for selectively cooling the cold plate to a temperature low enough to solidify the diluent gas and uranium isotope compounds on the cold plate.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (17)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. case, 235UF6 forms a molecular crystal layer on the cold plate. Since the amount of 235U in a given amount of natural uranium is very small in comparison with 238U, it may be advisable to actuate the heating means intermittently. The time interval between the actuations of the heating means may be made corresponding in time to a plurality of revolutions of the mandrel, the number of the revolutions being determined such that it permits the crystal layer to become thick enough to facilitate the collection. The control of heating means may be performed by a power source and control means 100 connected to the heating means. By this arrangement, the enrichment of 236UF6 is made much easier and efficient. As mentioned hereinbefore, in the present isotope separation, the isotope compounds are chemically unchanged throughout the separation process and there is no production of chemically active substances. Therefore, it is advantage in the service life of the apparatus. Further, when the present invention is applied to the uranium isotope separation described as the enbodiment of the present invention, it is possible to use uranium hexafluoride which is easily converted to gas phase capable of being handled easily. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. A method of separating uranium isotope compounds by using an infrared laser including the steps of diluting a mixture of uranium isotope compounds with an inert gas by 50 to 1000 times, and irradiating the diluted mixture with infrared laser beam including at least one infrared ray having a specific wavenumber to be absorbed by one of the isotope compounds selectively to excite that one isotope compound, characterised by the steps of blowing the diluted mixture onto a cold plate maintained at a temperature low enough to solidify the diluted mixture on the cold plate as a solid layer, irradiating the solid layer with the laser beam from the outer side of the solid layer on the cold plate, permitting a sublimation of part of the solid layer while collecting the sublimated substance, then releasin residual portion of the layer from the cold plate by raising the temperature thereof and collecting the released substance.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the uranium isotope compounds are uranium hexafluoride; the temperature of the cold plate is -230"C or lower; the inert gas is argon; and the infrared irradiation is performed with an infrared laser ray having frequency components including p3 vibration of the one isotope compound.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the uranium isotope compounds are uranium hexafluoride; the temperature of the coid plate is -l960C or lower; the inert gas is xenon; and the infrared irradiation is performed with an infrared laser ray having frequency components including V3 vibration of the one isotope compound.
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the one uranium isotope compound is 236UF6 and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 619.3cm-'.
5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the one uranium isotope compound is 236UF6 and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 619.9cm-'.
6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one uraniun isotope compound is 236UF6 . and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 617.0cm-'.
7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the one uranium isotope compound is 235UF6 and the infrared ray has wavenumber of 617.6cm-'.
8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared ray has wavenumber width of 0.65cm-' or less.
9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the infrared ray has wavenumber width of 0.65cm-' or less.
10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the temperature of the cold plate is -2500C or lower, and the wavenumber width is 0.5 cm-'.
11. A method according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to any one of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. An apparatus for separating uranium isotope compounds, the apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber provided with a sample inlet port, a collecting port for guiding out of the chamber the separated uranium isotope compounds and a laser ray window; a cold plate disposed in the vacuum chamber With a surface there.of facing the sample inlet port and the laser ray window; a source of the uranium isotope compounds; a source of inert diluent gas; a conduit for connecting the source of uranium isotope compounds and the source of inert diluent gas to the sample inlet port of the vacuum chamber so that the uranium isotope compounds are diluted; at least one cold trap connected to the collecting port of the vacuum chamber for trapping one of the separated uranium isotope compounds; an infrared laser disposed outside the laser ray window of the vacuum chamber so that an infrared ray passes through the window to the cold plate; and a cooling means for selectively cooling the cold plate to a temperature low enough to solidify the diluent gas and uranium isotope compounds on the cold plate.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12,
wherein the cold plate takes in the form of a mandrel rotatable in one direction about an axis in the vacuum chamber; the cooling means is disposed in the mandrel for supplying a cooling medium to cool a portion of the mandrel; the sample inlet port, the laser window and the collecting port are disposed around the portion of the mandrel in the direction of rotation of the mandrel; and a second collecting port is provided on a portion of the vacuum chamber and a second cold trap is connected to the second collecting port.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising heating means for selectively heating the cold plate.
15. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising heating means for heating a surface portion of the mandrel when the surface portion is adjacent one of the collecting ports.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a control means for controlling the heating means such that the operation of the heating means is intermittent.
17. An apparatus according to claim 12, substantially as described with reference to any one of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB597378A 1977-02-15 1978-02-15 Separation of uranium isotope compounds Expired GB1578091A (en)

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DE (1) DE2806162A1 (en)
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JPS5338897A (en) * 1976-09-20 1978-04-10 Kyoto Daigaku Souchiyou Method of separating isotope using infrared rays
DE2718030C2 (en) * 1977-04-22 1982-12-16 Kraftwerk Union AG, 4330 Mülheim Method and device for the photochemical separation of a mixture of substances
JPS5588833A (en) * 1978-12-27 1980-07-04 Univ Kyoto Isotope separating method and apparatus using plurality of diluting gases
US4584073A (en) * 1983-12-21 1986-04-22 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Process and apparatus for isotopic enrichment using lasers
EP3637436A1 (en) 2018-10-12 2020-04-15 ASML Netherlands B.V. Enrichment and radioisotope production

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DE2447762C2 (en) * 1974-10-07 1987-10-01 Kraftwerk Union AG, 4330 Mülheim Method and device for separating mixtures of substances and application of the same for the production of chemical compounds
DE2458563A1 (en) * 1974-12-11 1976-06-16 Uranit Gmbh PROCESS FOR ISOTOPE SEPARATION BY USING LASER
US4032419A (en) * 1975-06-11 1977-06-28 Research Corporation Method and apparatus for separating uranium isotopes
JPS6025326B2 (en) * 1976-09-11 1985-06-18 株式会社ダイフク storage equipment

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AU3314678A (en) 1979-08-16
DE2806162C2 (en) 1989-03-16
FR2392710B1 (en) 1985-01-25
AU513876B2 (en) 1981-01-08
DE2806162A1 (en) 1978-08-17
FR2392710A1 (en) 1978-12-29

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