Instrumentation and control scheme for implementing a boron isotopic

Abstract

An apparatus for providing an inventory of an isotopically enriched acidic solution of an element that is capable of forming a water soluble weakly acidic solution at temperatures amenable to ion exchange and having a lower molecular weight isotope fraction and a higher molecular weight isotope fraction is disclosed. This apparatus includes at least two ion exchangers, each being temperature dependent with respect to their storage capacity of said lower and higher molecular weight isotopes, a hot tank containing a hot tank solution and a cold tank containing a cold tank solution both flow coupled to the ion exchangers. A first series of valves is selectively operable to direct the hot tank solution to one of the ion exchanger and to direct the cold tank solution to the other ion exchangers. A second series of valves is selectively operable to direct the flow from the ion exchangers to either the hot tank or the cold tank. An analyzer for sampling the solution is located upstream from the hot tank. The analyzer analyzes the sample to determine a content of the lower and higher molecular weight isotopes. A digital computer is connected to the analyzer for computing. a switchover signal based on a value of the actual lower molecular weight isotope enrichment flowing into the hot tank and a predicted value of the amount of the lower molecular weight isotope enrichment in the hot tank.