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
1-13. (canceled)
A method for producing a desired radioisotope comprising:
- providing at least one capsule, each capsule having an inner container and an outer container surrounding the inner container and a cladding material isolating the inner container from the outer container;
- inserting a target material that will produce the desired radioisotope upon irradiation into one of the inner or the outer container;
- surrounding the target material with the cladding material to isolate the target material within the capsule;
- inserting a neutron moderator into one of the remaining inner or outer container in which the target material was not inserted;
- inserting the least one capsule having target material and neutron moderator-filled inner and outer containers into an insert component of a nuclear fuel assembly;
- irradiating the target material to form the radioisotope for such target material;
- and,
- removing the capsule from the insert component.
A method for producing a desired radioisotope, the method comprising:
- inserting a target material that will produce the desired radioisotope upon irradiation into one of an inner container or an outer container of a capsule, wherein the outer container surrounds the inner container;
- inserting the capsule into a plug finger;
- inserting the plug finger 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, wherein the inner container is for housing one of the target material or the coolant from the nuclear reactor, wherein the outer container is for housing the other one of the target material or the coolant not housed by the inner container, and wherein the capsule comprises 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;
- irradiating the target material to form the desired radioisotope;
- removing the plug finger from the guide thimble of the nuclear reactor;
- and
- removing the capsule from the plug finger.
A method for producing a desired radioisotope comprising:
- inserting a target material into an inner container or an outer container of each of a plurality of capsules, the target material to produce the desired radioisotope upon irradiation, wherein the outer container surrounds the inner container;
- inserting the plurality of capsules into a plug finger;
- inserting the plug finger into a guide thimble of a nuclear reactor, wherein the inner container of each of the plurality of capsules is for housing one of the target material and coolant from the nuclear reactor, wherein the outer container of each of the plurality of capsules is for housing the other one of the target material and the coolant not housed by the inner container;
- irradiating the target material to form the desired radioisotope;
- removing the plug finger from the guide thimble;
- and
- removing the plurality of capsules from the plug finger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.