Optimal plate aspect ratio for the improvement in recovery of deuterium from water-isotopes mixture in flat-plate thermal diffusion columns

Abstract

The effects of plate aspect ratio on the degree of deuterium recovery, production rate and plate surface area in a flat-plate thermal diffusion column with plate surface area fixed, have been investigated. Theoretical considerations show that when the thermal diffusion columns are constructed with the best plate aspect ratio, maximum recovery of deuterium, maximum production rate or minimum plate surface area can be achieved. The optimal plate aspect ratio for maximum recovery of deuterium is obtained with given production rate and plate surface area, while that for maximum production rate is determined with the degree of deuterium recovery and plate surface area fixed, and that for minimum plate surface area is estimated with known degree of deuterium recovery and production rate. The maximum degree of separation and maximum production rate are achieved without changing any total expense, while the design with minimum plate surface area results in minimizing the total expense.