US 5,312,597 A · Apparatus for separating and recovering hydrogen isotopes

Abstract

An apparatus for recovering hydrogen and separating its isotopes. The apparatus includes a housing bearing at least a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A baffle is disposed within the housing, attached thereto by a bracket. A hollow conduit is coiled about the baffle, in spaced relation to the baffle and the housing. The coiled conduit is at least partially filled with a hydride. The hydride can be heated to a high temperature and cooled to a low temperature quickly by circulating a heat transfer fluid in the housing. The spacing between the baffle and the housing maximizes the heat exchange rate between the fluid in the housing and the hydride in the conduit. The apparatus can be used to recover hydrogen isotopes (protium, deuterium and tritium) from gaseous mixtures, or to separate hydrogen isotopes from each other.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus for separating a hydrogen isotope from a gaseous mixture, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a conduit disposed within said housing, said conduit having an interior and an exterior, and an inlet and an outlet;
particles of a hydride carried in said interior of said conduit, said hydride particles having a first temperature;
a fluid in said housing and adjacent said exterior of said conduit, said fluid having a second temperature, said second temperature different from said first temperature;
and
means in spaced relation to said exterior of said conduit for creating turbulent flow of said fluid over said conduit so that said fluid can exchange heat with said hydride particles for adsorbing and desorbing said hydrogen isotope.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for separating and recovering hydrogen isotopes

Life of this patent

Apparatus for separating and recovering hydrogen isotopes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8