GB985668A - Process and apparatus for the separation of gaseous isotopes - Google Patents

Abstract

985,668. Separating isotopes. W. DOBNER. June 14, 1961, No. 21425/61. Heading B1L. A method and apparatus for the separation of gaseous isotopes from a mixture thereof comprises intermittently directing volumes of the mixture at high speed into a longitudinally confined channel, between an inlet and an outlet, evacuating the speeding light isotopes of each volume of the mixture from the channel via the outlet, interrupting communication between the channel and the outlet and thereafter evacuating the remaining heavy isotopes from the channel. As shown, a gaseous isotope mixture is supplied to inlet port 13 at up to 10 Atmo absolute and a volume thereof passes 1000-10,000 times/min. into channel 12 formed in the peripheral zone of a rotatable cylinder 5 having end walls 8 and 9 in airtight sliding contact with walls 10 and 11 of a housing 1 when the inlet port is adjacent the channel which is in airtight sliding contact with a wall 16 of housing 1. The faster isotope molecules escape through the outlet orifice 14 maintained at a pressure down to 0À0001 Atmo absolute before rotation of the cylinder closes off the heavier residue which subsequently passes laterially into volume 4 maintained at low pressure by a vacuum pump. In a modification the inlet and outlet are not in axial alignment, thereby a separate injection of gas mixture takes place and subsequent rotation bringing the outlet end into alignment for withdrawal of the faster isotopes prior to subsequent lateral evacuation of the heavier isotopes. The rotating cylinder may be provided with a plurality of channels.