Daily News Analysis ‘Centrifuge Device and Its Use in Uranium Enrichment’ : 31 March

What is Uranium Enrichment?

• Uranium enrichment is the process of increasing the proportion of Uranium-235 (U-235) in a sample of natural uranium.
• Natural uranium consists of:
  • 99.3% U-238 (non-fissile)
  • 0.7% U-235 (fissile and useful for nuclear reactions)
• Nuclear power reactors require 3–20% U-235, depending on reactor design.
• Nuclear weapons require ~90% U-235, referred to as weapons-grade uranium.

What is a Centrifuge and How Does It Work?

• A centrifuge is a device used to separate isotopes based on their mass difference using centrifugal force.
• Uranium is first converted into uranium hexafluoride (UF₆), a gas at moderate temperatures.
• UF₆ gas is spun in centrifuges at ~50,000 revolutions per minute (RPM).
• Heavier U-238 molecules move outward, while lighter U-235 molecules concentrate near the center.
• The enriched U-235 fraction is siphoned off and passed through multiple centrifuges to increase enrichment levels (cascade system).
• The centrifuge rotor is made of lightweight yet strong materials (e.g., carbon fibre) to withstand high-speed spinning.

Why in News?

• There has been a renewed focus  towards the nuclear energy in recent times in view of increasing carbon emissions.