Target irradiation systems for the production of radioisotopes

A target irradiation system for irradiating a radioisotope target in a vessel penetration of a fission reactor containing a moderator, comprising:

• a target delivery assembly including a body defining a central bore, a basket that is slidably receivable within the central bore of the body, and a winch that is connected to the basket by a cable, the target delivery assembly being affixed to the vessel penetration of the reactor;
• a target passage that is in fluid communication with the target delivery assembly;
• and
• a substantially cylindrical target capsule in which the radioisotope target is disposed, wherein the target capsule includes a pair of annular side bulges extending radially-outwardly therefrom,
• wherein the basket is configured to receive the radioisotope target therein via the target passage and be lowered through the vessel penetration into the moderator of the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target, and the target delivery assembly forms a portion of the pressure boundary of the reactor when in fluid communication with the reactor.

A target irradiation system for irradiating a radioisotope target in a vessel penetration of a fission reactor containing a moderator, comprising:

• a target delivery assembly including a body defining a central bore, a basket that is slidably receivable within the central bore of the body, and a winch that is connected to the basket by a cable, the target delivery assembly being affixed to the vessel penetration of the reactor;
• and
• a target passage that is in fluid communication with the target delivery assembly,
• wherein the basket is configured to receive the radioisotope target therein via the target passage and be lowered through the vessel penetration into the moderator of the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target, and the target delivery assembly forms a portion of the pressure boundary of the reactor when in fluid communication with the reactor, and
• wherein the basket further comprises a cylindrical side wall including a plurality of apertures so that the moderator fluid of the fission reactor may enter the basket when the basket is disposed in the moderator of the fission reactor.