METHOD OF PRODUCING AQUEOUS HEAVY HYDROGEN CONCENTRATE DURING PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AND APPARATUS THEREFORE

摘要

Deuterium-enriched water is manufactured for use as the raw material of a heavy water manufacturing plant. The enriched water is manufactured by supplying a flow of deuterium-enriched steam to a catalytic production plant in which hydrocarbons are dissociated in the presence of steam while effecting a deuterium isotope exchange between the hydrogen and steam. The mixture flowing from the plant is passed to a condensor which condenses out deuterium-enriched water for use as the raw material in a heavy water plant. This water is also used to enrich the steam passed into the catalytic production plant for the hydrogen. The mixture is also passed onto an exchange stage to enrich a further supply of water before exhaustion of the hydrogen gas to further processing plants. This additional enriched water is also used to enrich the steam.