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Title: Gas dynamic reaction process and system for laser chemistry
Claims: I claim: 1. An apparatus comprising (A) a chamber; (B) means for producing a unidirectional stream of an isotopically mixed gas moving across said chamber. the individual members of which have a forward component of velocity at least 10 times greater than their lateral component of velocity; (C) means for producing a substantially monochromatic light beam directed at said stream in said chamber, said light having a frequency which preferentially activated an isotopic species of said gas to an excitation state suitable for chemical reaction, said light beam being incapable of significantly deflecting activated members from non-activated members in said stream; (D) a single exit from said chamber for said stream, whereby said activated members and said non-activated members travel intermixed through said exit; and (E) means for collecting said stream after it has passed through said exit, said apparatus being free of means for non-gaseous material contact with said stream other than said means for collecting. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light beam is normal to said unidirectional stream. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said unidirectional stream species moves at a supersonic forward velocity. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said unidirectional gas stream is UF.sub.6 which is activated to produce UF.sub.5 and F.sup.-. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein hydrogen is used to scavange the F.sup.- ions by forming HF. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said activation is a vibrational excitation. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said light has a wavelength of about 2 to about 20 microns. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for producing said second gas stream and directing it at said unidirectional stream after light has activated some of its members, said second gas stream being capable of reacting with the activated members of said unidirectional stream. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 including a reaction zone where said gas streams can react, and means for removing the product of the reaction from the reaction zone. 10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for removing said product is a cooled moving belt upon which at least part of said product condenses. 11. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the angle between said gas streams is 0.degree. to 90.degree.. 12. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said gas streams are different and are selected from the groups consisting of carbon dioxide and water vapor, and the product of their reaction is formaldehyde. 13. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a mirror opposite said light beam which reflects said light beam back upon itself. 14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing a substantially monochromatic light beam is a laser. 15. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for ionizing and said unidirectional gas stream and an electric field for accelerating the ions to obtain and forward component of velocity. 16. A method of preferentially activating an isotopic species in an isotopically mixed gas comprising producing a moving, unidirectional stream of said gas, the individual members of which have a forward component of velocity at least 10 times greater than their lateral component of velocity, directing a substantially monochromatic light beam at said stream, said light having a frequency which preferentially activates an isotopic species of said gas to an excitation state suitable for chemical reaction, said light beam being incapable of significantly deflecting activated members from non-activated members in said stream, and permitting said activated members and said non-activated members to travel intermixed together as a single stream without contact with non-gaseous matter until collected. 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said unidirectional stream moves at a supersonic forward velocity. 18. A method according to claim 16 wherein said unidirectional gas stream is UF.sub.6 which is activated to produce UF.sub.5 and F.sup.-. 19. A method according to claim 18 wherein hydrogen is used to scavenge the F.sup.- ions by forming HF. 20. A method according to claim 16 wherein said activation is a vibrational excitation. 21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the wavelength of said light is about 2 to about 20 microns. 22. A method according to claim 16 including directing a second gas stream at said unidirectional gas stream after light has activated some of its members, said second gas stream being capable of reacting with the activated members of said unidirectional stream. 23. A method according to claim 22 wherein said gas streams react in a reaction zone and the product of the reaction is removed from the reaction zone. 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said product is removed from said reaction zone by a cooled moving belt upon which said product condenses. 25. A method according to claim 22 wherein the angle between said gas stream is 0.degree. to 90.degree.. 26. A method according to claim 16 wherein said light beam is reflected back upon itself. 27. A method according to claim 16 wherein said gas streams are different and are selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide and water vapor. 28. A method according to claim 16 wherein said unidirectional gas stream is ionized and accelerated in an electric field. Other info: Inventors: Garbuny, Max (Wilkinsburg, PA, US) Application Number: 599494 Filing Date: 1975-07-28 Publication_date: 1979-11-27 Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA) Primary Class(es): 204/157.22 204/157.48, 422/186, 422/186.04 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Williams, Howard S. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Fuerle; R. D. |
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