Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft

Hans-Joachim Niemann

Arno Kersting

Eberhard Schuster

Klaus Gregorius

Karl Janner

Josef Sprehe

Separation of heavier uranium isotope compounds from lighter uranium isotope compounds in a gas jet having supersonic velocity after one isotope is converted selectively by laser radiation. The gas jet is subjected to an oblique compression shock to abruptly change direction causing the lighter isotope compounds to be deflected unrestrained by guiding walls with the heavier isotope compounds continuing on substantially in the original direction of the gas jet. The heavier isotope compounds are collected in a collecting vessel.

Method for the separation of uranium isotope compounds already converted

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.

Method of separating isotopes from gaseous mixtures

Device for influencing boundary layers at walls of flow guidance equipment encasing a fluid flow including means defining collecting channels within the walls for controllably supplying and withdrawing fluid therewith, and means for defining in the walls fine holes connected to the collecting channels.

Apparatus for influencing the boundary layers at walls

Separation of isotopes from a mixture of respective compounds particularly UF.sub.6 compounds, containing the respective isotopes, physically or chemically by means of laser radiation, by passing through a vaporous mixture of the compounds, laser radiation having a spectral width maximally corresponding to the width of the isotope shift, the frequency being adjusted so that points of accumulation of rotational vibration lines of the one compound containing the desired isotope are covered in the spectrum, and the intensity of the radiation is so high that its absorption reaches the saturation region. With a pulsed laser, the duration of the radiation is shorter than the rotational relaxation time. With a continuously radiating laser, the intensity of the radiation is so high that the chemical or physical separation process is faster than the rotational relaxation.

Method of separating isotopes

Method for separation or enrichment of isotopes bound to anisotopic materials and forming a mixture of isotope compounds by irradiating the mixture of isotope compounds with a first light source to photochemically convert the mixture to a second mixture of isotope compounds, e.g. converting UF.sub.6 to UF.sub.5 and F, irradiating the second mixture in the presence of a reactant with a second light source to selectively excite only one isotope compound of the second mixture, the reactant chemically reacting with the excited compound, e.g. UF.sub.5 .fwdarw.UF.sub.4 + F or UF.sub.5 + R (reactant).fwdarw.UF.sub.4 + RF and separating the reaction products including one of the isotopes of the first mixture. The separation or enrichment of isotopes may be carried out in apparatus having a highly-reflecting elliptical cylinder with a reaction vessel provided with feed and reactant inlet and reaction products outlet, disposed at one focal line of the elliptical cylinder and a high pressure mercury burner disposed at the second focal line, and with the reaction vessel arranged between resonator mirrors of a dye laser as the second light source.

Method and apparatus for the separation or enrichment of isotopes

To separate isotopes from a gaseous mixture containing isotopes and a chemical reaction partner, the reaction between the partner and the isotope to be separated can be directed by a laser beam having a narrow band of wave lengths molecularly exciting the isotope to be separated. To maximize such an effect, the gaseous mixture is held inside of a laser cavity chamber with the cavity chamber providing at both ends with completely reflecting end plates, the laser being operated to form a resonating wave which travels back and forth through the mixture.

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Erlangen, Germany

Hans-Joachim Niemann