Abstract
In this study, the effect of arrangements of flexible 3-section squared-off gas centrifuge cascades on middle isotopes of xenon enrichment,126Xe, and 131Xe, to a specific enrichment level (85%) has been investigated. 3-section squared-off cascades can be arranged in three different arrangement types depending on the feed flow that enters in the first, second, or third section. To simulate the 3-section squared-off cascades, the number of equations and unknown parameters must be equalized by considering four unknown parameters as input data in addition to other input parameters. These parameters are returned flow fractions between two sections, cascade cut, and first-stage cut. Two codes named SQ3-PSO and SQ3-SS were developed using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Salp Swarm algorithms (SSA) to optimize the cascade parameters and were compared together. Maximizing cascade capacity production, recovery factor, and D function were selected as the objective function main items. The comparison of the results showed that the PSO algorithm is somewhat more satisfactory than the SSA. All three cascade arrangement types with 22 stages and 140 centrifuges were optimized for 126Xe and 131X enrichment and their performance was compared. In the end, it was found that the optimal cascade arrangement varies with changing the target isotope. The descending configuration had better 126Xe separation efficiency, 73.64%, than the others, while the ascending counterpart had the highest 131Xe separation efficiency, 77.57%.
Published Version
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