OPTIMAL PLATE ASPECT RATIO FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE ENRICHMENT OF HEAVY WATER IN THERMAL-DIFFUSION COLUMNS OF A COUNTERCURRENT-FLOW FRAZIER SCHEME

The effect of plate aspect ratio on the performance of enrichment of heavy water in thermal-diffusion columns of a countercurrent-flow Frazier scheme was investigated. The equation for the optimal plate aspect ratios and the corresponding best performance were derived. Considerable improvement in performance is obtained when thermal-diffusion columns are operated at the optimal plate aspect ratio. Further improvement can be achieved if the scheme is connected and operated in countercurrent flow, instead of concurrent flow.