Target-fueled nuclear reactor for medical isotope production
US9691511B1 · kind B1 · utility
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5References
21Claims
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21G2001/0036
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A small, low-enriched, passively safe, low-power nuclear reactor comprises a core of target and fuel pins that can be processed to produce the medical isotope 99Mo and other fission product isotopes. The fuel for the reactor and the targets for the 99Mo production are the same. The fuel can be low enriched uranium oxide, enriched to less than 20% 235U. The reactor power level can be 1 to 2 MW. The reactor is passively safe and maintains negative reactivity coefficients. The total radionuclide inventory in the reactor core is minimized since the fuel/target pins are removed and processed after 7 to 21 days.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.