Application of Quasi-Ideal Cascades and the Dilution Operation for Purification of Regenerated Uranium Hexafluoride

Abstract

Purification of regenerated uranium in a two-cascade scheme with a dilution operation is proposed. The first cascade has one feed flow, two product flows, and one waste flow. It is calculated as an ideal cascade with adjustment of the obtained ²³⁵U concentration to a prescribed content in the exterior flows. Lowenrichment uranium hexafluoride, intended for the fabrication of nuclear fuel, is obtained in the primary product. A product with the same ²³⁵U concentration as in the feed flow and reduced ^232,234U is produced in the intermediate product of the cascade. This product is enriched with ²³⁵U in the second cascade, which is an R-cascade with the key components ^235,236UF₆. The enriched uranium hexafluoride obtained in the product is diluted to ²³⁵U concentration below 5%. The ²³⁶U content decreases as a result.