Patent ID: 8734566

Claim:
A method of separating a feed gas into a first fraction and a second fraction, the method comprising: introducing the feed gas into a gas centrifuge, wherein the gas centrifuge comprises: a rotor symmetrically positioned about an axis of rotation, wherein an inner wall of the rotor surrounds an interior space, a stationary outer casing enclosing the rotor, whereby an annular space is provided between an outer wall of the rotor and the stationary outer casing; a stationary porous tube centered on the axis of rotation and extending the entire length of the interior space, wherein the stationary porous tube is fluidly connected with a light gas outlet line at a top thereof; and a feed gas inlet cylinder extending through a top of and a distance into the rotor, and surrounding a length of the stationary porous tube. rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation, whereby heavy molecules of the feed gas are forced toward the inner wall of the rotor; and extracting at least a portion of the first fraction from the interior space through the stationary porous tube, and extracting at least a portion of the second fraction from the interior space, wherein the first fraction comprises one or more components of the feed gas having a molecular weight below a cutpoint size, and wherein the second fraction comprises one or more components of the feed gas having a molecular weight above the cutpoint size.