Method and apparatus for producing radioisotopes
US6678344B2 · kind B2 · utility
44Cited by
8References
1Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for optimizing the production of Pu-238 in a nuclear reactor during normal reactor operation is disclosed wherein the production of Pu-238 is confined to one or more selectively replaced fuel cells with target cells located in the inside of the active volume of the reactor core to maximize the neutron flux for target irradiation. The target cells are modified existing nuclear fuel assembly cells having some fuel rods replaced with target rods of Np-237 forming a cluster array and having rings of water filled rods surrounding the target cluster to produce the desired optimal Pu-238 production.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.