Modular radioisotope production capsules and related method
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorMichael D. Heibel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radioisotope production capsule is described. Each capsule includes generally an inner container for housing one of a target material and a neutron moderator, an outer container surrounding the inner container for housing the one of the target material and the neutron moderator not housed by the inner container, and cladding for isolating the target material from the neutron moderator. One or more modular capsules are placed in each of a plurality of plug fingers. Each single plug finger loaded with one or more capsules is inserted into a guide thimble of an array of guide thimbles in a fuel assembly.
Claims14
A radioisotope production assembly, comprising:
- a plug finger that is insertable into a guide thimble of a nuclear reactor, wherein the plug finger comprises at least one hole configured to allow coolant from the nuclear reactor to enter and exit the plug finger;
- and
- a capsule configured to be positioned within the plug finger, the capsule comprising:
- an inner cladding;
- an outer cladding;
- an inner container defined by the inner cladding, wherein the inner container is for housing one of a target material and coolant from the nuclear reactor;
- an outer container defined by the inner cladding and the outer cladding, wherein the outer container surrounds the inner container and is for housing the one of the target material and coolant not housed by the inner container;
- and
- an opening to allow the coolant from the nuclear reactor that has entered the plug finger to enter the inner container or the outer container that is for housing the coolant.
A radioisotope production assembly, comprising:
- a plug finger configured to be inserted into a guide thimble of a nuclear reactor, wherein the plug finger defines an axis, and wherein the plug finger comprises holes configured to allow coolant from the nuclear reactor to enter and exit the plug finger;
- and
- a plurality of capsules configured to be positioned within the plug finger in an axially-stacked arrangement, wherein the plurality of capsules comprise locks for joining axially-adjacent capsules, and wherein each of the plurality of capsules comprises:
- an inner cladding;
- an outer cladding;
- an inner container defined by the inner cladding, wherein the inner container is for housing one of a target material and coolant from the nuclear reactor;
- an outer container defined by the inner cladding and the outer cladding, wherein the outer container surrounds the inner container and is for housing the one of the target material and coolant not housed by the inner container, wherein the inner container or the outer container that is for housing the coolant comprises open ends configured to allow the coolant from the nuclear reactor that has entered the plug finger to enter the inner container or the outer container that is for housing the coolant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.