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{{:Infobox:Kovarex enrichment process}}
{{:Infobox:Kovarex enrichment process}}


The '''Kovarex enrichment process''' is a method for reprocessing uranium in a [[centrifuge]]. Although the process requires a large amount of (much rarer) Uranium-235 to start, it can be a good way to get more use out of the available [[uranium ore]].
The '''Kovarex enrichment process''' is a method for reprocessing uranium in a [[centrifuge]]. Although the process requires a large amount of the much rarer [[uranium-235]] to start, it can be a good way to get more use out of the available [[uranium ore]].
 
It is highly recommended to avoid consuming nuclear fuel until the Kovarex process has been initiated. Once it is active, the abundance of U-238 can be converted to U-235 to ensure a steady supply of fuel rods. Automating this process requires a bit of thought because the output materials are also the input materials.


== Purpose ==
== Purpose ==
[[Uranium processing]] takes 10 uranium ore and returns 1 [[Uranium-235]] with 0.007 (0.7%) probability, or 1 [[Uranium-238]] with 0.993 (99.3%) probability, leading to an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_distribution expected] (not guaranteed!) 1 unit of Uranium-235 per approximately 143 processing cycles (or about a 1:142 ratio of U-235 to U-238). This is currently the only probability-based crafting recipe in the game.
[[Uranium processing]] takes 10 uranium ore and returns 1 uranium-235 with 0.007 (0.7%) probability, or 1 [[uranium-238]] with 0.993 (99.3%) probability, leading to an [[:Wikipedia:Binomial_distribution|expected]] (though not guaranteed) 1 unit of uranium-235 per approximately 143 processing cycles (or about a 1:142 ratio of U-235 to U-238). This is currently the only probability-based crafting recipe in the game.
 
Uranium-235 is necessary to create [[Uranium fuel cell]]s and [[Atomic bomb]]s, in considerable quantities for the latter, but the probability distribution of uranium processing leads to it being produced slowly and creating large stockpiles of U-238 as a byproduct. The Kovarex process thus provides the player with a considerably faster (and deterministic) method of producing U-235, as well as a use for the surplus U-238.
 
It should be noted that U-238 is not useless; it is necessary (and sufficient) to manufacture [[Uranium rounds magazine]]s, [[Uranium cannon shell]]s, and [[Explosive uranium cannon shell]]s, and is required as a secondary ingredient in Uranium fuel cells. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the Kovarex process to convert ''all'' stockpiled U-238 into U-235. (Although, in case of shortage, [[Used up uranium fuel cell]]s can be [[Nuclear fuel reprocessing|reprocessed]] into a modest amount of U-238.)
 
== Requirements for initiation (Uranium processing) ==
Unlike all other crafting processes in the game, Uranium processing creates U-235 and U-238 based on probability, rather than in guaranteed deterministic amounts. Additionally, the Kovarex process requires a bulk stockpile of 40 units of the rare Uranium-235 isotope to initiate in a single centrifuge. Therefore, planning uranium mining and processing for the Kovarex process takes certain considerations not encountered elsewhere in the game.


=== Expected value ===
Uranium-235 is necessary to create [[uranium fuel cell]]s and [[atomic bomb]]s, in considerable quantities for the latter, but the probability distribution of uranium processing leads to it being produced slowly and creating large stockpiles of U-238 as a byproduct. The Kovarex process thus provides the player with a considerably faster (and deterministic) method of producing U-235, as well as a use for the surplus U-238.
As U-235 is created in centrifuges running Uranium processing with ''p = 0.007'', the expected number of processing cycles to gain a single unit is ''E(1,p) = 1 ÷ p = ~143''. The expected number of cycles to gain 40 units is then ''E(40,p) = 40 × E(1,p)'' = '''~5,714 cycles'''. Note that running this many cycles requires mining 57,140 Uranium ore, a non-trivial task.


However, given the nature of probability, it is impossible to guarantee that 40 units will be reached in this number of cycles; as a matter of fact, some mathematics yields that the probability that 5,714 cycles will produce ''at least'' 40 units of U-235 is only about 52%.
It should be noted that U-238 is not useless; it is needed to manufacture [[uranium rounds magazine]]s, [[uranium cannon shell]]s, and [[explosive uranium cannon shell]]s, and is required as a secondary ingredient in uranium fuel cells. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the Kovarex process to convert ''all'' stockpiled U-238 into U-235. (Although, in case of shortage, [[Used up uranium fuel cell]]s can be [[Nuclear fuel reprocessing|reprocessed]] into a modest amount of U-238.)
 
=== Confidence levels ===
[[File:Kovarex-prob-chart.png|300px|thumb|right|Probability of reaching 40 U-235 from Uranium processing by number of cycles (click to enlarge)]]
 
Some further mathematics enables one to calculate the number of Uranium processing cycles one must run to obtain ''at least'' 40 units of U-235 (given ''p = 0.007'') with a given level of confidence (probability of achieving the set goal).
 
As discussed in the previous section, the level of confidence corresponding to 5,714 cycles (for which the ''expected value'' of U-235 gained is 40) happens to be about 52% (or, in other words, with this number of cycles, one can expect to fail to reach 40 U-235 a bit less than once out of every 2 tries).
 
Some further example confidence levels that may be of interest to players are given in the table below. Consult the chart to the right for custom values.
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!style="width: 120px;" |Confidence level
!style="width: 100px;" |Failures
!Cycles required
|-
| 10% || 9 out of 10 || 4,595
|-
| 50% || 1 out of 2 || 5,667
|-
| 90% || 1 out of 10 || 6,894
|-
| 95% || 1 out of 20 || 7,272
|-
| 99% || 1 out of 100 || 8,015
|-
|}


== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
* The Kovarex enrichment process is named after [[development-team|Michal Kovařík]], lead designer of Factorio and co-owner of Wube, whose online nick is ''kovarex'' (which he usually spells lowercase). [https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/67bj3p/015_kovarex_uranium_enrichment_is_too_good_with/dgq2ij3/?context=1]
* The Kovarex enrichment process is named after [https://www.factorio.com/game/about Michal Kovařík], lead designer of Factorio and co-owner of Wube, whose online nick is ''kovarex'' (which he usually spells lowercase). [https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/67bj3p/015_kovarex_uranium_enrichment_is_too_good_with/dgq2ij3/?context=1]


* In the real world, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-235 uranium-235] is the only fissile isotope of uranium and makes up approximately 0.72% of naturally-occurring uranium, with the other 99.28% being [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-238 uranium-238]. The in-game representation is thus highly accurate in this regard. Uranium is commonly [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enriched_uranium enriched] in centrifuges to increase the percentage of 235U for use in fission reactions.
* In the real world, [[:Wikipedia:Uranium-235|uranium-235]] is the most common fissile isotope of uranium and makes up approximately 0.72% of naturally-occurring uranium, with the other 99.28% being [[:Wikipedia:Uranium-238|uranium-238]]. The in-game representation is thus highly accurate in this regard. Uranium is commonly [[:Wikipedia:Enriched_uranium|enriched]] in centrifuges by merely separating isotopes to increase the percentage of <sup>235</sup>U for use in fission reactions. As the Kovarex enrichment process produces more fissile material than its input, the process is more akin to [[:Wikipedia:breeder reactor|plutonium breeding]]. [https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/187kupm/kovarex_enrichment_is_plutonium_breeding_right/ Reddit discussion: Kovarex enrichment is plutonium breeding… right? ]
* Uranium munitions are made from [[:Wikipedia:depleted uranium|depleted uranium]], a byproduct of uranium enrichment, which is mostly <sup>238</sup>U whose natural admixture of the <sup>235</sup>U isotope has been lowered even further through the enrichment process. Depleted uranium is minimally radioactive and the reason for its use in munitions is its very high density and other mechanical properties, not radioactivity/toxicity.


:* Uranium munitions are made from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium depleted uranium], a byproduct of uranium enrichment, which is mostly 238U whose natural admixture of the 235U isotope has been lowered even further through the enrichment process. Depleted uranium is minimally radioactive and the reason for its use in munitions is its very high density and other mechanical properties, not radioactivity / toxicity.
== History ==
{{History|0.17.0|
* Can be used with productivity modules once again.
* Use with productivity modules now gives correct amount of bonus items.}}


== History ==
{{History|0.15.2|
{{History|0.15.2|
* No longer usable with productivity modules.}}
* No longer usable with productivity modules.}}

Latest revision as of 01:33, 23 November 2024

Kovarex enrichment process.png
 Kovarex enrichment process

Recipe

Time.png
60
+
Uranium-235.png
40
+
Uranium-238.png
5
→
Uranium-235.png
41
+
Uranium-238.png
2

Total raw

Time.png
60
+
Uranium-235.png
40
+
Uranium-238.png
5

Prototype type

recipe

Internal name

kovarex-enrichment-process

Required technologies

Kovarex enrichment process (research).png

Produced by

Centrifuge.png

The Kovarex enrichment process is a method for reprocessing uranium in a centrifuge. Although the process requires a large amount of the much rarer uranium-235 to start, it can be a good way to get more use out of the available uranium ore.

Purpose

Uranium processing takes 10 uranium ore and returns 1 uranium-235 with 0.007 (0.7%) probability, or 1 uranium-238 with 0.993 (99.3%) probability, leading to an expected (though not guaranteed) 1 unit of uranium-235 per approximately 143 processing cycles (or about a 1:142 ratio of U-235 to U-238). This is currently the only probability-based crafting recipe in the game.

Uranium-235 is necessary to create uranium fuel cells and atomic bombs, in considerable quantities for the latter, but the probability distribution of uranium processing leads to it being produced slowly and creating large stockpiles of U-238 as a byproduct. The Kovarex process thus provides the player with a considerably faster (and deterministic) method of producing U-235, as well as a use for the surplus U-238.

It should be noted that U-238 is not useless; it is needed to manufacture uranium rounds magazines, uranium cannon shells, and explosive uranium cannon shells, and is required as a secondary ingredient in uranium fuel cells. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the Kovarex process to convert all stockpiled U-238 into U-235. (Although, in case of shortage, Used up uranium fuel cells can be reprocessed into a modest amount of U-238.)

Trivia

  • The Kovarex enrichment process is named after Michal Kovařík, lead designer of Factorio and co-owner of Wube, whose online nick is kovarex (which he usually spells lowercase). [1]
  • In the real world, uranium-235 is the most common fissile isotope of uranium and makes up approximately 0.72% of naturally-occurring uranium, with the other 99.28% being uranium-238. The in-game representation is thus highly accurate in this regard. Uranium is commonly enriched in centrifuges by merely separating isotopes to increase the percentage of 235U for use in fission reactions. As the Kovarex enrichment process produces more fissile material than its input, the process is more akin to plutonium breeding. Reddit discussion: Kovarex enrichment is plutonium breeding… right?
  • Uranium munitions are made from depleted uranium, a byproduct of uranium enrichment, which is mostly 238U whose natural admixture of the 235U isotope has been lowered even further through the enrichment process. Depleted uranium is minimally radioactive and the reason for its use in munitions is its very high density and other mechanical properties, not radioactivity/toxicity.

History

  • 0.17.0:
    • Can be used with productivity modules once again.
    • Use with productivity modules now gives correct amount of bonus items.
  • 0.15.2:
    • No longer usable with productivity modules.

See also

Intermediate products

Resources

Materials

Crafting components

Uranium processing

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