Uranium enrichment apparatus of the separating-nozzle type

An apparatus for the separation-nozzle enrichment in an isotope of a gas mixture, comprising:

• a cylindrical housing having a generally horizontal axis;
• a multistage radial compressor disposed in said housing along said axis;
• a plurality of separating-nozzle units forming respective separating stages operatively connected to and associated with respective stages of said compressor and disposed around said compressor generally coaxial therewith, said separating-nozzle units of said stages being connected in a cascade for progressive enrichment of a gas mixture in an isotope thereof;
• respective coolers operatively connected to and associated with each compressor and each separating-nozzle stage and disposed coaxially around said compressor in said housing;
• means for introducing said gas mixture into said housing for compression in each compressor stage, isotope enrichment in each separating-nozzle stage and cooling in each cooler;
• means for recovering from said housing a gas mixture enriched in said isotope;
• and
• means forming in the cylindrical wall of said housing at least one maintenance opening affording access to units within said housing including said coolers, said separating-nozzle units and said compressor.