Apparatuses and methods for production of radioisotopes in nuclear reactor instrumentation tubes

US8437443B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC · US

Inventors

• William Earl Russell, II · Tunnel Hill, US
• Christopher J. Monetta · Wilmington, US
• David Smith · Leland, US
• Russell Edward Stachowski · Fremont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 2008
• Grant date: May 7, 2013
• Expiry date: Feb 25, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E30/30
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

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.