Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAVY WATER

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4065817

A dual-temperature plant for producing deuteriumenriched hydrogen or water is described. The plant comprises the combination of a single exchange tower consisting of alternate water-- water vapor countercurrent contacting sections and vapor-phase water--hydrogen isotope exchange catalyst beds operated at one temperature, and a plurality of steam--hydrogen isotope exchange catalyst beds operated at a higher temperature and water-water vapor countercurrent contacting columns so arranged that water passes consecutively through the contacting columns while hydrogen and water vapors pass alternately through the contacting columns countercurrently to the water and through the steam-hydrogen exchange catalyst beds. The exchange plant is connected to a hydrogen distillation plant for producing hydrogen which is further enriched in deuterium, and a further conduit is provided for recycling the deuterium-depleted hydrogen from the distillation plant to the exchange plant. Means are provided for hydrogen isotope exchange between the deuteriumdepleted hydrogen and water of natural deuterium concentration before the deuterium-depleted hydrogen is recycled to the exchange plant. (N.W.R.)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-15-021048
OSTI ID:
4065817
Report Number(s):
GB 869414
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English