Question

An enrichment plant has a throughput of 32,000 kg U/day and produces 26,000 kg U as tails. What is the enrichment of the product if the feed is natural uranium and the tails are 0.25%

Answer 1

1.10 %

Step-by-step explanation:

The enrichment of the product can be calculated using the following equation:

`(W)/(P) = (x_(p) - x_(f))/(x_(f) - x_(w))` (1)

where W: is waste or tails = 26000, P: is the product = 32000, xp: is the wt. fraction of ²³⁵U in product, xf: is the wt. fraction of ²³⁵U in feed = 0.72% and xw: is the wt. fraction of ²³⁵U in waste or tails = 0.25%.

By solving equation (1) for xp, we can find the enrichment of the product:

`x_(p) = \frac {W}{P} \cdot (x_(f) - x_(w)) + x_(f)`

`x_(p) = \frac {26000}{32000} \cdot (0.72 - 0.25) + 0.72 = 1.10%`

Therefore, the enrichment of the product is 1.10 %.

I hope it helps you!