Apparatus for the separation of gas mixtures into component fractions according to their molecular or atomic weight

A vortex separator for separating gaseous mixtures into component fractions according to their molecular or atomic weight, comprising a housing having a separator chamber therein that is cone-shaped at least in part, and in the cone-shaped portion is circular in cross-section, has an apex end and a base end, has an end wall at the base end, and side walls extending therefrom to the apex end;

• has a diameter at the base end of at most 5 mm, and a diameter at the apex end of at least 0.01 mm;
• has a length of at least 0.1 mm and not greater than 200 mm, and has a cone angle within the range from 1.degree. to 90.degree. ;
• at least one gas inlet through the housing at the base end of the chamber, arranged for tangential flow of gas from outside the housing into the chamber, to establish a vortical gas flow in the chamber from the base end towards the apex end, with the gaseous components distributed towards the periphery of the vortex with increasing molecular or atomic weight, and towards the core of the vortex with decreasing molecular or atomic weight;
• an outlet through the housing in axial alignment to the chamber at the base end of the chamber;
• and an outlet at the apex end of the chamber;
• the apex end outlet receiving peripheral vortical gas flow from the chamber and the base end outlet receiving core vortical gas flow from the chamber;
• the ratio of the diameter of the separator chamber at the base of the cone to the diameter of the separator chamber at the apex outlet D .sub.base / D .sub.apex outlet being within the range from about 1.3 to about 3.5, and the ratio of the diameter of the separator chamber at the base of the cone to the diameter of the separator chamber at the core outlet D .sub.base / D .sub.core outlet being within the range from about 1.3 to about 3.5.