Apparatus for separating and recovering hydrogen isotopes

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869301

Heung, Leung K ^[1]

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1. Aiken, SC

An apparatus for recovering hydrogen and separating its isotopes. The apparatus includes a housing bearing at least a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A baffle is disposed within the housing, attached thereto by a bracket. A hollow conduit is coiled about the baffle, in spaced relation to the baffle and the housing. The coiled conduit is at least partially filled with a hydride. The hydride can be heated to a high temperature and cooled to a low temperature quickly by circulating a heat transfer fluid in the housing. The spacing between the baffle and the housing maximizes the heat exchange rate between the fluid in the housing and the hydride in the conduit. The apparatus can be used to recover hydrogen isotopes (protium, deuterium and tritium) from gaseous mixtures, or to separate hydrogen isotopes from each other.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5312597
• OSTI ID: 869301
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
separating
recovering
hydrogen
isotopes
housing
bearing
fluid
inlet
outlet
baffle
disposed
attached
thereto
bracket
hollow
conduit
coiled
spaced
relation
partially
filled
hydride
heated
temperature
cooled
quickly
circulating
heat
transfer
spacing
maximizes
exchange
rate
recover
protium
deuterium
tritium
gaseous
mixtures
separate
attached thereto
hydrogen isotope
spaced relation
transfer fluid
gaseous mixture
heat exchange
heat transfer
hydrogen isotopes
fluid inlet
gaseous mixtures
recover hydrogen
recovering hydrogen
partially filled
fluid outlet
hollow conduit
/422/423/976/