Abstract

Gas centrifuges are used for enrichment of uranium for reactor fuel. Due to the corrosive medium (UF₆ gas), high speeds, and inaccessibility of the flow field, these machines present a challenging environment in which to perform flow and associated measurements. Several specialized remote techniques employing lasers, fiber optics, and electrooptics have been and are being developed to interrogate this unique gasdynamic situation. The goal of this program is to be able to characterize the gas pressure, temperature, and velocity inside a centrifuge under a wide range of operation conditions, in any desired region of interest, and to be able to monitor the temperature of surfaces important to the flow.

© 1984 Optical Society of America