ISOTOPE SEPARATION PROCESS

摘要

Process for isotope separation by gaseous diffusion, wherein the separation is performed by microporous capillary tubes with a hydraulic diameter of less than 0.5cm and the gaseous mixture to be separated and circulated in said tubes in such a way that the mixture flows in a laminar or almost laminar manner therein. The apparatus for performing this process comprises at least one assembly of microporous capillary tubes having a hydraulic diameter below 0.5cm, an average pore radius below 200 .ANG., a thickness between 20 and 500 microns, a length of at least 25cm, a porosity between 10 and 60% and a permeability to air between 10.10-7 and 100.10-7 mole/cm2/min/cm of mercury. The tubes are made from an inorganic material and have a circular, square or rectangular cross-section.