On ideal and optimum cascades of gas centrifuges with variable overall separation factors

It is demonstrated that the total flow in the optimum cascade composed of three different types of gas centrifuges with varied separative performance levels and overall separation factors varying over the cascade stages is less than that in the corresponding ideal (non-mixing) cascade. The data obtained make it possible to use the parameters of the optimum cascade to find the operational mode for the cascade stages that provides the minimum total flow in a separation cascade. •We compare the model optimum and ideal cascades of gas centrifuges.•The overall separation factors of gas centrifuges vary over cascade stages.•We examine gas centrifuges with various separation performances.•The reduction in a total flow in the optimum cascades is demonstrated.