Systems and methods for retaining and removing irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor

A system for delivering and retrieving irradiation targets through a nuclear reactor, the system comprising:

• a loading/offloading system providing irradiation targets, wherein the loading/offloading system is outside of an access barrier of the nuclear reactor;
• a penetration pathway extending completely through the access barrier and connecting the loading/offloading system to one of a plurality of instrumentation tubes outside the nuclear reactor, wherein the penetration pathway is traversable by the irradiation targets to the instrumentation tube;
• a retention mechanism including a mechanical hold inside the access barrier and coupled to the penetration pathway at a flange of the instrumentation tube immediately outside the reactor, wherein the mechanical hold is configured to block access to or from the instrumentation tube to hold the irradiation targets within the instrumentation tube;
• a plurality of the irradiation targets, wherein the irradiation targets and the mechanical hold are sized to prevent movement of the irradiation targets out of the instrumentation tube past the mechanical hold when the penetration pathway is evacuated;
• and
• a drive positioned outside the access barrier, wherein the drive includes a plunger configured to extend through the access barrier in the penetration pathway and past the mechanical hold.