Method for Enriching Reprocessed Uranium in a Cascade of Gas Centrifuges with Simultaneous Decrease in the 232,234,236U Content

Abstract

It is shown that reprocessed uranium can be enriched with simultaneous dilution of 232,234,236U isotopes in a cascade of gas centrifuges that has three feed flows (depleted uranium, low-enriched uranium, reprocessed uranium). Computational experiments are carried out for different 235U content of the lowenriched uranium. It is demonstrated that the chosen combination of diluents can simultaneously reduce the cost of the separation procedure and the consumption of natural uranium, which in turn ensures cost reduction relative to not only the earlier used multiflow cascades but also the standard cascade for enrichment of natural uranium.