Inductive Plasma Centrifuge for High Throughput Mass Separation

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发感应等离子体色谱（IPC）概念，这是一种用于分离不同原子量元素的新型高通量方法。基于质量的分离，范围从重金属污染的废物到医学同位素的分离，是环境修复活动和工业中遇到的重要问题。需要成本有效的高质量通量分离方法。用于医学同位素分离的真空电弧离心机受到低质量通量和高能耗的限制，而气体离心机具有有限的旋转速度和小分离功率。拟议努力的目标是确定IPC概念克服这些限制的可行性。这一目标将在第一阶段通过执行三项任务来实现：（1）设计和组装一个小规模的IPC实验;（2）在高达1 μ m的压力下进行初步的可行性实验，以证明旋转频率至少为105弧度/秒;（3）为第二阶段IPC实验室原型设备开发概念设计。如果成功，这项工作将为IPC概念在第二阶段的全面可行性论证奠定坚实的基础。该项目是对1994年关于材料合成和加工以及污染最小化和补救领域的国家关键技术的征集重点的回应。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop the Inductive Plasma Centrifuge (IPC) concept, a novel, high throughput approach for separating elements of different atomic weights. Mass based separation, ranging from the separation of heavy metal contaminated wastes to medical isotopes, is an important problem encountered in environmental remediation activities and in industry. A cost effective, high mass throughput separation method is needed. Vacuum arc centrifuges, studied for medical isotope separation, are limited by low mass throughput and high energy consumption, while gas centrifuges have limited rotation velocities and small separative powers. The objective of the proposed effort is to determine the feasibility of the IPC concept to overcome these limitations. This objective will be addressed in Phase I by performing three tasks: (1) design and assemble a small-scale IPC experiment; (2) perform preliminary feasibility experiments at pressures of up to 1 torr in order to demonstrate rotation frequencies of at least 105 radians/sec, and (3) develop the conceptual design for a Phase II IPC laboratory prototype device. If successful, this work will form a firm basis for comprehensive feasibility demonstrations of the IPC concept in Phase II. This project is responsive to the 1994 Solicitation emphasis on National Critical Technologies in the areas of Materials Synthesis and Processing, and Pollution Minimization and Remediation.