Back to results
US 10,332,646 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for generating medical isotopes
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsGregory Richard Piefer, Thad Alexander Heltemes, Eric Nicholas Van Abel, Ross Francis Radel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for generating medical isotopes provides an annular fissile solution vessel surrounding a neutron generator. The annular fissile solution vessel provides for good capture of the emitted neutrons and a geometry that provides enhanced stability in an aqueous reactor. A neutron multiplier and/or a neutron moderator may be used to improve the efficiency and control the criticality of the reaction in the annular fissile solution vessel.
Claims20
A nuclear reaction system comprising:
- an annular solution vessel having an inner wall defining an inner circumference and an opposed outer wall defining an outer circumference, the inner wall and outer wall defining a first volume therebetween and a second volume within the inner wall, both walls extending along a shared central axis;
- an aqueous fissile solution within the first volume;
- a first annular cooling jacket containing cooling fluid in thermal communication with the aqueous fissile solution through an inner intermediate wall, the first annular cooling jacket defined by the inner wall of the annular solution vessel and the inner intermediate wall;
- a second annular cooling jacket containing cooling fluid in thermal communication with the aqueous fissile solution through an outer intermediate wall, the second annular cooling jacket defined by the outer wall of the annular solution vessel and the outer intermediate wall;
- a particle emitter positioned within the second volume and configured to emit neutrons passing radially outward from the volume through the first annular cooling jacket to the aqueous fissile solution;
- and
- a neutron multiplier disposed within the first annular cooling jacket between the inner wall of the annular solution vessel and the inner intermediate wall and configured to absorb the neutrons from the particle emitter and provide more neutrons than it absorbs to the aqueous fissile solution, wherein the neutron multiplier material is selected from the group consisting of beryllium and depleted uranium and natural uranium.
4 more elements
A nuclear reaction system comprising:
- an annular solution vessel having an inner wall defining an inner circumference and an opposed outer wall defining an outer circumference, the inner wall and outer wall defining a first volume therebetween and a second volume within the inner wall, both walls extending along a shared central axis;
- an aqueous fissile solution within the first volume;
- a first annular cooling jacket containing cooling fluid in thermal communication with the aqueous fissile solution through an inner intermediate wall, the first annular cooling jacket defined by the inner wall of the annular solution vessel and the inner intermediate wall;
- a second annular cooling jacket containing cooling fluid in thermal communication with the aqueous fissile solution through an outer intermediate wall, the second annular cooling jacket defined by the outer wall of the annular vessel and the outer intermediate wall;
- a particle emitter positioned within second volume and configured to emit neutrons passing radially outward from the volume through the first annular cooling jacket to the aqueous fissile solution;
- and
- a feedback control system comprising temperature probes in thermal communication with at least one of the water jackets and a valve in fluid communication with the aqueous fissile solution, the feedback control system configured to actuate the valve and adjust a level of the aqueous fissile solution within the first volume based on a temperature sensed by the temperature probes.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.