Enrichment of heavy water in an inclined flat-plate thermal-diffusion column with transverse sampling streams

The equations which may be employed to predict the optimum angles of inclin ation for enrichment of heavy water in an inclined flat-plate thermal-diffu sion column with transverse sampling streams, have been derived. Considerab le improvement in performance is obtainable if the column is tilted at the optimum angle, instead of being placed vertically, so that the convection s trength can be properly reduced and controlled, resulting in suppressing th e undesirable remixing effect while still preserving the desirable cascadin g effect. Accordingly, essential savings in fixed charges and operating exp ense can be achieved, particularly for lower production rate operations or for smaller degree of separation.