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| In the early 1980s, the U.S. Department
of Energy needed to fabricate a large Materials Handling Development Module
for its Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) technology, which
enriched uranium by selectively ionizing uranium-235 isotopes in a uranium
vapor stream. The module was designed to contain a number of major subsystems,
including a vacuum chamber for vaporizing uranium metal and separating
uranium-235 via laser excitation.
Even at 3/4 scale, the module required a double-walled stainless steel vessel that was 22 ft long and weighed 70,000 lbs. The module also featured four large coils for producing a magnetic field. Because uranium enrichment was involved, this huge module had to be manufactured in a secure environment. Y-12 National Security Complex personnel fabricated the module in 15 months at the plant's Alpha-1 machine shop. Testing for vacuum integrity was also performed at Y-12. The successfully completed module served as a prototype component for AVLIS development and demonstration. |
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In recognition
of Y-12's diverse, integrated capabilities and its
commitment
For information,
phone 1-800-356-4USA or visit our web site: http://orcmt.oakridge.org/npc.html
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