Device and method for producing medical isotopes
AssigneeSHINE Technologies, LLC
InventorGregory Piefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid nuclear reactor that is operable to produce a medical isotope includes an ion source operable to produce an ion beam from a gas, a target chamber including a target that interacts with the ion beam to produce neutrons, and an activation cell positioned proximate the target chamber and including a parent material that interacts with the neutrons to produce the medical isotope via a fission reaction. An attenuator is positioned proximate the activation cell and selected to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level, a reflector is positioned proximate the target chamber and selected to reflect neutrons toward the activation cell, and a moderator substantially surrounds the activation cell, the attenuator, and the reflector.
Claims20
A hybrid reactor comprising:
- a fusion portion comprising a gas target neutron generator having an annular target chamber,
- the annular target chamber encircling a space, the gas target neutron generator operable to produce a neutron flux within the space;
- and
- a fission portion comprising a cylindrical activation cell disposed within the space and adjacent the annular target chamber, the cylindrical activation cell comprising:
- an outer annular vessel comprising a parent material in aqueous solution, the parent material configured to react with a portion of the neutron flux to produce a medical isotope during a fission reaction, and
- an inner cylindrical volume comprising an attenuator configured to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level.
A hybrid reactor comprising:
- a fusion portion comprising a gas target neutron generator having an annular target chamber,
- the annular target chamber encircling a space, the gas target neutron generator operable to produce a neutron flux within the space;
- and
- a fission portion comprising an activation cell disposed within the space and adjacent the annular target chamber, the activation cell comprising a parent material in aqueous solution, the parent material configured to react with a portion of the neutron flux to produce a medical isotope during a fission reaction;
- a reflector positioned outside of the annular target chamber and arranged to reflect a portion of the neutron flux toward the space;
- and
- a moderator surrounding the activation cell and the reflector.
A hybrid reactor comprising:
- a fusion portion comprising a gas target neutron generator having an annular target chamber,
- the annular target chamber encircling a space, the gas target neutron generator operable to produce a neutron flux within the space;
- and
- a fission portion comprising an activation cell disposed within the space and adjacent the annular target chamber, the activation cell comprising a parent material in aqueous solution, wherein the parent material is configured to react with a portion of the neutron flux to produce a medical isotope during a fission reaction;
- an attenuator surrounded by the activation cell, wherein the attenuator is configured to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level;
- a reflector positioned outside the annular target chamber;
- and
- a moderator surrounding the activation cell and the reflector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.