Apparatuses and methods for production of radioisotopes in nuclear reactor instrumentation tubes
AssigneeGE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
InventorsWilliam Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for producing radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable from nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes.
Claims11
A method of producing radioisotopes, the method comprising:
- choosing at least one non-detector irradiation target with a known neutron cross-section;
- inserting the irradiation target into an instrumentation tube of a nuclear reactor, the instrumentation tube extending into the reactor and having an opening accessible from an exterior of the reactor, to expose the irradiation target to neutron flux encountered in the nuclear reactor when operating, the irradiation target substantially converting to a radioisotope when exposed to a neutron flux encountered in the nuclear reactor, the inserting including positioning the irradiation target at an axial position in the instrumentation tube for an amount of time corresponding to an amount of time required to convert the irradiation target to a radioisotope at a flux level corresponding to the axial position based on an axial neutron flux profile of the nuclear reactor;
- and
- removing the irradiation target and produced radioisotope from the instrumentation tube.
(canceled)
9-35. (canceled)
A method of producing radioisotopes, the method comprising:
- inserting at least one irradiation target into a sleeve inserted into an instrumentation tube of a nuclear reactor, the inserting including rotating a plurality of gears positioned at an opening of the sleeve, the gears having surfaces shaped to fit with the irradiation target, so as to insert the irradiation target into the sleeve;
- exposing the irradiation target to neutron flux encountered in the nuclear reactor when operating;
- and
- removing the irradiation target into an irradiation target storage and removal subsystem configured to store the irradiation target.
A method of producing radioisotopes, the method comprising:
- choosing at least one irradiation target with a known neutron cross-section;
- inserting the irradiation target into an instrumentation tube of a nuclear reactor, the instrumentation tube extending into the reactor and having an opening accessible from an exterior of the reactor, to expose the irradiation target to neutron flux encountered in the nuclear reactor when operating, the irradiation target substantially converting to a radioisotope when exposed to a neutron flux encountered in the nuclear reactor, the inserting including positioning the irradiation target at an axial position in the instrumentation tube for an amount of time corresponding to an amount of time required to convert a substantial portion of the irradiation target to a radioisotope at a flux level corresponding to the axial position based on an axial neutron flux profile of the nuclear reactor;
- and
- removing the irradiation target and produced radioisotope from the instrumentation tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.