Patent ID: 7967893
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A method for supercritical fluid enrichment of isotopes, the method comprising the steps of: pressurizing a first enrichment stage to a supercritical pressure, the first enrichment stage having an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber including at least one window, the window is formed from samarium, rubidium, palladium, nickel or other material resistant to chemical reaction with the feedstock in use; supplying at supercritical pressure a feedstock including a target isotope to the inner chamber; spinning the inner chamber to centrifuge the feedstock; and producing a timing, magnitude and/or duration of differential pressure for opening and closing the at least one window between the inner chamber and the outer chamber from one or more of measurements of the feedstock volume, flow rate of the feedstock, target isotope concentration in the feedstock, mass of the feedstock, rotational time of the inner chamber, number of rotations of the inner chamber since a most recent opening of the at least one window, or number of rotations of the inner chamber from a most recent closure of the at least one window wherein a depleted heavier isotope of the feedstock having a lesser concentration of the target isotope than the feedstock passes through the at least one window from the inner chamber to the outer chamber when the at least one window is open.