Separation, energy requirement filters

This production-integrated recovery could not be achieved by process redesign new, separate process units had to be added to the essentially unchanged conventional manufacturing plant. Thus, not only did closing of the acid cycle require substantial investment, but energy requirements increased considerably as well. A substantial amount of fossil fuel is required as such—for thermal decomposition of the filter... 

The main advantages of dense phase transport arise from the low gas requirements and low solids velocities. Low gas volume requirements generally mean low energy requirements per kilogram of product conveyed, and also mean that smaller pipelines and recovery and solids-gas separation are required. Indeed in some cases, since the solids are not suspended in the transport gas, it may be possible to operate without a filter at the receiving end of the pipeline. Low solids velocities means that abrasive and friable materials may be conveyed without major pipeline erosion or product degradation. 

In this experiment a week of target bombardment was required to produce a single fused nucleus. The team confirmed the existence of element 109 by four independent measurements. The newly formed atom recoiled from the target at predicted velocity and was separated from smaller, faster nuclei by a newly developed velocity filter. The time of flight to the detector and the striking energy were measured and found to match predicted values. 

A mass-energy filter may be included to remove contaminant ions, and multiply charged and clustered ions of the main beam species. Ions of the required mass and energy pass through the filter, while unwanted species are deflected out of the beam. Prior to final focussing, the beam is deflected through a few degrees, and any neutral particles will be undeviated and are therefore separated out. 

A chemical process consists of four reactors, 25 pumps, and a number of compressors, distillation columns, mixing tanks, evaporators, filter presses, and other materials handling and separation units. Each individual unit either requires or releases energy. 

---