The gas centrifuge uranium enrichment process uses a huge number of rotating cylinders in series and parallel formations. Centrifuge machines are interrelated to form trains and cascades. In this process, uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas is placed in a cylinder and rotated at a very high speed this in turn creates a strong centrifugal force so that the heavier gas molecules (uranium-238) move toward the outside of the cylinder and the lighter gas molecules (uranium-235) collect closer to the center.
The stream that is slightly enriched in uranium-235 is reserved and fed into the next higher stage, while the lightly depleted stream is recycled back into the next lower stage. Considerably more uranium-235 enrichment can be achieved from a single unit gas centrifuge than from a single unit gaseous diffusion stage.
No gas centrifuge profit-making production plants are operating in the United States, but, both Louisiana Energy Services (LES) and USEC Inc. have recently received a license to construct and operate a commercial enrichment facility. USEC Inc. was granted a license in February 2004 for a demonstration and test gas centrifuge plant, which is presently under construction. But both LES and USEC Inc.'s commercial facilities are now under construction.
The stream that is slightly enriched in uranium-235 is reserved and fed into the next higher stage, while the lightly depleted stream is recycled back into the next lower stage. Considerably more uranium-235 enrichment can be achieved from a single unit gas centrifuge than from a single unit gaseous diffusion stage.
No gas centrifuge profit-making production plants are operating in the United States, but, both Louisiana Energy Services (LES) and USEC Inc. have recently received a license to construct and operate a commercial enrichment facility. USEC Inc. was granted a license in February 2004 for a demonstration and test gas centrifuge plant, which is presently under construction. But both LES and USEC Inc.'s commercial facilities are now under construction.
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