Separation of Krypton from a Mixture of it and Nitrogen by the Thermal Diffusion Method (Part 2)

Abstract

The research reported preliminarily (This Journal, 1974, 1819) was extended in more detail, using three separating columns whose effective length is one meter however whose inner diameters are different (8, 10 and 12 mm). The results obtained under an atmospheric pressure are as follows: ( a ) As shown in Fig.2, a stationary state of separation was reached after about half an hour, irrespective of column diameter. ( b ) Separation degree showed a maximum at wire temperature of ca.450° C (Fig.3) ( c ) The 10 mm column showed the most effective separation and its qo value became ca.104 at wire temperature of 290° C (Fig.4), ( d ) When a reservoir was attached at the top of the column and the gas mixture was supplied continuously, krypton could be highly enriched, e. g., ca.99% in the case when the initial concentration was about 10% (Fig.5). (e) High separation could be possible for Kr/Ar system equally for Kr/N2 system. It may be concluded that this method is promising and can be applied for the separation of krypton from air.