Multicomponent isotope separation in a gas centrifuge - the approximate solution of diffusion equations and the analysis of some separative characteristics

Method of solution of equations of multicomponent isotope mixture transport in a gas centrifuge is described. The solution is found relative to the radius-average concentration of components. To linearize the problem an iterative refinement of nonlinear terms is used. The method permits taking into account the dependence of generalized diffusion coefficients on the composition of mixture under separation. An increase in average molecular mass of the mixture is shown to result in a decrease of centrifuge efficiency. Approximation formulas are suggested which may be used for calculation of separation factors in a cascade of gas centrifuges.