ASP Technology

The Aerodynamic Separation Process (ASP) is Klydon's proprietary technology for separating components of a gas mixture or different isotopes of a specific gaseous compound based on the mass difference of the gas components or the isotopes. This is achieved by a high-speed centrifugal rotation of the said gas mixture or isotope mixture where the separation obtained is the net effect of the centrifugal forces and the versatility in deployment of Stokes forces acting on the mass particle.
A lesser-known embodiment of the principles of centrifugal separation is the stationary wall centrifuge that has no moving mechanical parts. ASP principles relate to a device for the separation of gas components and isotopic species, which utilizes novel extensions of the genesis concepts and the stationary wall centrifuge that are in the public domain.
Follow the link to an article in the World Nuclear News (WNN) in 2008 with the announcement of the ASP technology for more information.

Test work in Klydon's laboratories was done starting with the isotopes of 'lighter' elements (ie elements with lighter atomic mass) like silicon, carbon and oxygen and based on the highly successful results the Company embarked on the construction of a commercial demonstration plant (the 'Alpha plant') for 28-silicon production. The most recent plant constructed was for the production of highly enriched oxygen-18-isotopic water for nuclear medicine.

Klydon continues experimentation with the ASP technology on a wider atomic mass range and confidently claims that the process proves even more effective for the 'heavier' isotopes.

For more information download a publication of the paper that was delivered at the 12th International Workshop on Separation Phenomena in Liquids and Gases, Basic phenomena and new trends in separation, in June 2012 in Paris.

Competitive Edge
The accrued isotope separation experience of key Klydon personnel on various separation processes (Vortex, Centrifuge, MLIS, AVLIS, CHEMLIS and ASP) is in excess of 500 man years. This experience qualifies Klydon to benchmark the ASP technology against the reference of emerging technologies of the previous and existing decades and to deliver an authoritative opinion on the ASP technology's competitive edge. The ASP technology offers a lower-than-benchmark cost alternative for isotope separation. One of the major benefits of employing this technology is the reduced capital costs enabling smaller plants to be economically viable. In addition, the ASP technology has a wide application because of its ability to efficiently and economically separate isotopes of lower mass. This opens the door for ASP to be applied to the separation of the following stable isotopes: oxygen, silicon, zirconium, boron etc.
ASP Commercialization
Klydon takes cognizance of the fact that it operates in a highly regulated environment with technologies classified as "dual-use technologies" in terms of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that the legal framework for doing business internationally is still in the process of being established. Despite this, Klydon has put in place a number of strategic initiatives to accelerate the development of the ASP technology towards commercial realization and to gear the organization for the exciting opportunities that beckon.