Separation of isotopes by ionization
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for separating desired components in a feed mixture comprising the steps of:
- providing a feed, the feed including a plurality of mixed components, each component having a corresponding first thermal energy;
applying energy to the entire feed such that each of the mixed components has a corresponding second thermal energy that is greater than the corresponding first thermal energy, the second thermal energy being sufficiently high to convert said feed into a plasma or ionized form;
the conversion of said feed into a plasma or ionized form providing at least one component of the mixed components in at least partially ionized form and at least one different component of the mixed components in at least partially non-ionized form, the second thermal energy of the component in the ionized form being substantially same as the second thermal energy of the component in the non-ionized form;
containing said plasma/ions in a magnetic field; and
separating said ionized components from said non-ionized components when the ionized and non-ionized feed components are in substantially thermal equilibrium with one another for prevailing conditions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved processing apparatus and methods are provided which involve the selective ionisation of a feed material and the separation of ionised and non-ionised species. Introduction of a chemical material to cause selective transition to a non-ionised and/or solid or liquid state of part of the feed is provided. The process offers high through puts by virtue of the ionised and non-ionised species being in equilibrium with one another.
51 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A process for separating desired components in a feed mixture comprising the steps of:
-
providing a feed, the feed including a plurality of mixed components, each component having a corresponding first thermal energy;
applying energy to the entire feed such that each of the mixed components has a corresponding second thermal energy that is greater than the corresponding first thermal energy, the second thermal energy being sufficiently high to convert said feed into a plasma or ionized form;
the conversion of said feed into a plasma or ionized form providing at least one component of the mixed components in at least partially ionized form and at least one different component of the mixed components in at least partially non-ionized form, the second thermal energy of the component in the ionized form being substantially same as the second thermal energy of the component in the non-ionized form;
containing said plasma/ions in a magnetic field; and
separating said ionized components from said non-ionized components when the ionized and non-ionized feed components are in substantially thermal equilibrium with one another for prevailing conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A process for separating desired chemical species in a feed mixture:
-
heating an entire feed of mixed chemical species to a predetermined temperature such that each of the chemical substantially the same thermal energy, the feed including a first chemical species and a second chemical species, the predetermined temperature being sufficient to convert the read into a plasma or ionized form such that the first chemical species is substantially ionized and the second chemical species is substantially non-ionized;
containing the plasma/ions in a magnetic field; and
substantially separating the non-ionized second chemical specks from the ionized first chemical species contained in the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
a plurality of discrete chemical species of the teed being substantially ionized and a plurality of discrete chemical species of thc feed being substantially non-ionized; and
substantially separating the non-ionized chemical species from the ionized chemical species contained in the magnetic field.
-
-
31. A process accordingly to claim 28, the act of separating comprises pumping the non-ionized second chemical species away from the first chemical species when the plasma/ions are in the magnetic field.
-
32. A process according to claim 28, wherein the mixed chemical species are selected from discrete elements.
-
33. A process according to claim 28, wherein the separated non-ionized second chemical species is removed as a final product separate from the ionized first chemical species.
Specification