SEPARATION OF THE OXYGEN ISOTOPES BY THE THERMAL DIFFUSION METHOD

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · At. Energ. (USSR)

OSTI ID:4655653

Ageev, E P; Panchenkov, G M

A thermal diffusion cascade, consisting of three, 12-mm diameter columns, with a 0.4-mm diameter high-temperature resistsnt stainless steel wire, was used for separating the O isotopes. The gas was circulated through the columns from the 15-liter capacity container by a thermal siphon. The maximum separation coefficient of the system, S/sub max/ was found to be 8.45. As it was known that for fast and economical separation, several methods must be used conjointly, a highly productive and a very efficient system were combined for relatively large amounts of O/sup 18/: heavy-oxygen water, prepared by rectification and containing 40 weight% of H/sub 2/O/sup 18/ was electrolyzed, sending the O through the thermal diffusion cascade. The separation was carried out at 640 mm of Hg pressure at a wire temperature of 1103 deg K. After 2 weeks of operation when the O/sup 18/ concentration of the output reached 94%, the enriched product was separated; after 4 months of continuous operation more than 2 liters of O with an O/sup 18/ content from 85 to 90 at.% were obtained. Comparison with other separation methods showed that the combined system is the best for preparing large amounts of the highly enriched product. (TTT)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-034311
• OSTI ID: 4655653
• Journal Information: At. Energ. (USSR), Journal Name: At. Energ. (USSR) Vol. Vol: 14
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: Russian

Related Subjects

ECONOMICS
ELECTROLYSIS
ENRICHMENT
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
OXYGEN 18
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
STAINLESS STEELS
THERMAL DIFFUSION
WATER
WIRES