SEPARATION OF HEAVY-WATER BY VAPOR-PHASE THERMAL-DIFFUSION COUPLED WITH DISTILLATION AND CONDENSATION

A study on the enrichment of heavy water in a vapor-phase thermal-diff usion column has been conducted. With the combination of the effects o f distillation, vapor-phase thermal diffusion, and partial condensatio n, considerable improvement in the degree of enrichment has been achie ved in a vapor-phase column rather than in a liquid-phase column. It w as also found that even the part of enrichment contributed only by vap or-phase thermal-diffusion effect is much higher than that obtained by liquid-phase thermal diffusion.