Systems and methods for harvesting and storing materials produced in a nuclear reactor

A system for delivering and harvesting 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 connecting the loading/offloading system to one of a plurality of instrumentation tubes extending into the nuclear reactor inside the access barrier, wherein the penetration pathway is traversable by the irradiation targets to the instrumentation tube;
• a storage cask connected to the penetration pathway via a tubing to the loading/offloading system such that irradiation targets may be deposited in the storage casks from the instrumentation tube, wherein the storage cask includes,
• an irradiation target receiving facility sealed inside of and separate from the storage cask,
• a removable surface that seals the storage cask and the facility within the storage cask when not removed,
• a hood secured about the removable surface, wherein the hood includes a top opening with a flange, and wherein the removable surface and hood are shaped so that the removable surface forms a seal about the flange when drawn up through the hood, and
• an engagement hole, and wherein the facility can be reached via the engagement hole only when the removable surface is drawn up through the hood and seated against the flange;
• and
• an exhaust system configured to clean and vent gas, wherein the tubing is connected to the exhaust system.