Gaseous diffusion forces uranium hexafluoride gas through a series of semi-permeable membranes. Each pass through a membrane separates the two isotopes from each other; it takes over a thousand passes to make commercial nuclear fuel (3-5% U-235). The lighter, smaller U-235 moves through the membrane easier than the larger heavier U-238. After the UF6 is enriched by the specified amount, then it condensed into a liquid and then solidified.
Enrichment Process and Products
Using uranium as a fuel in the types of nuclear reactors common in the United States requires that the uranium be enriched so that the percentage of the uranium-235 isotope is increased, typically to 3 to 5%. Uranium enrichment is an isotopic separation process that increases the proportion of the uranium-235 isotope in relation to uranium-238 in natural uranium.
The uranium enrichment process was first developed in the 1940s as part of the Manhattan Project.
Gaseous Diffusion
In gaseous diffusion, uranium hexafluoride is divided into two separate streams, and U-235 selectively diffuses from one stream to the other.
No comments:
Post a Comment