Numerical Solution of Argon 36–38-40 Concentration Profiles within Thermal Diffusion Column

Abstract

Axisymmetric concentration profiles of 3-component isotope separating thermal diffusion column with continuous feed and draw-offs were calculated by solving the convection-diffusion equations using Newton iterative method, where the flow variables were specified as input. An approximate expression of thermal diffusion coefficient in multi-component mixture in terms of binary thermal diffusion factors and binary diffusion coefficients was used for the analyses.

Analytical results were compared with experimental data of 3-component natural abundance argon 36–38-40 isotopes separated in a 95O mm-height, inner 15mmØ tube column with a 0.3mmØ hot wire in the axis. Validity of the analyses and the approximation in the thermal diffusion coefficient was ensured by close agreement with experimental results.

KEYWORDS:

• Newton method
• argon 36
• argon 38
• argon 40
• multi-component mixture
• Dymond-Alder intermolecular potential
• isotope separation
• separation factor
• separative power
• thermal diffusion
• thermal diffusion column
• numerical solutions