Gas centrifuge technology is, by a significant margin, the most efficient technology for enriching uranium that has ever been used commercially, and is widely regarded as the technology choice of the future. Enrichment Technology specialises in supplying, designing and managing advanced centrifuge technology. In addition to this we are also committed to a programme of continuous research and development that strives to deliver efficiency gains, innovation advances, and to minimise the impact of our operations.
Preparing mined uranium for use in a nuclear reactor is a complex process. In order to sustain nuclear fission in a reactor, uranium in its natural state needs to be enriched. In practical terms this means that the concentration of a particular isotope – U235 – needs to be increased. Since the start of commercially-supplied nuclear power, several technologies have been employed to enrich uranium to the necessary concentration (known as ‘the Assay’).
In general, these technologies have required the use of huge amounts of electrical energy to achieve the required level of enrichment. Before the development of gas centrifuge technology, the most widely employed process for enrichment was called gas diffusion.
Why gas diffusion is inefficient
The gas diffusion process relies on the use of a permeable membrane to separate lighter molecules from heavier ones, on the premise that lighter molecules move faster and are therefore more likely to hit the permeable membrane more often. Because the two isotopes of uranium are extremely similar in weight, the enrichment achievable in one container is not nearly enough, and in practice thousands of steps are required to produce uranium that is sufficiently enriched. In addition, the need to pump the gaseous uranium through multiple steps, plus the need to maintain the gas at a certain temperature involves enormous energy consumption. This makes plants using gas diffusion technology extremely high users of electricity.
A more efficient technology
Centrifuge technology on the other hand requires only around 2% of the energy used by the diffusion process. The centrifuge approach employs large numbers of cylinders spun by rotors at ultra-high speed within vacuums, in special casings. The centrifugal force within the cylinders separates the heavier and lighter molecules, allowing them to be drawn off at different parts of the cylinder. These cylinders are connected in series and in parallel to achieve the required enrichment level. The net result of this technology is significantly less energy use.
As well as offering much-reduced energy consumption, Enrichment Technology’s centrifuge technology also offers an unparalleled level of scalability and flexibility in deployment. This has significant benefits in the development and implementation of new enrichment plants, a factor which positions it well for the future. Enrichment Technology strongly believes that demand for uranium enrichment will increase as the world seeks to move to an energy mix that can sustain global economic development without over-reliance on diminishing fossil fuels.
With this future requirement in mind, Enrichment Technology is ensuring that our technology is continually refined and improved. We are committed to delivering innovation through continual research and development, and we look to deliver efficiency and minimise any impact our technology may have. For example, innovations in dealing with dirty water left over from the cooling process for depleted uranium have delivered a reduction in dirty water production of over 30% in two years.
This approach, coupled with the possibilities for future development, a strictly controlled emphasis on security of supply, and the inherent advantages over other technologies make centrifuge technology the most efficient and most flexible technology currently available for uranium enrichment.
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