Neutron source, linear-accelerator fuel enricher and regenerator and associated methods

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864092

Steinberg, Meyer ^[1]; Powell, James R ^[2]; Takahashi, Hiroshi ^[3]; Grand, Pierre ^[4]; Kouts, Herbert ^[5]

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1. Huntington Station, NY
2. Shoreham, NY
3. Setauket, NY
4. Blue Point, NY
5. Brookhaven, NY

A device for producing fissile material inside of fabricated nuclear elements so that they can be used to produce power in nuclear power reactors. Fuel elements, for example, of a LWR are placed in pressure tubes in a vessel surrounding a liquid lead-bismuth flowing columnar target. A linear-accelerator proton beam enters the side of the vessel and impinges on the dispersed liquid lead-bismuth columns and produces neutrons which radiate through the surrounding pressure tube assembly or blanket containing the nuclear fuel elements. These neutrons are absorbed by the natural fertile uranium-238 elements and are transformed to fissile plutonium-239. The fertile fuel is thus enriched in fissile material to a concentration whereby they can be used in power reactors. After use in the power reactors, dispensed depleted fuel elements can be reinserted into the pressure tubes surrounding the target and the nuclear fuel regenerated for further burning in the power reactor.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-1)-16
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4309249
• OSTI ID: 864092
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

neutron
source
linear-accelerator
fuel
enricher
regenerator
associated
methods
device
producing
fissile
material
inside
fabricated
nuclear
elements
produce
power
reactors
example
lwr
placed
pressure
tubes
vessel
surrounding
liquid
lead-bismuth
flowing
columnar
target
proton
beam
enters
impinges
dispersed
columns
produces
neutrons
radiate
tube
assembly
blanket
containing
absorbed
natural
fertile
uranium-238
transformed
plutonium-239
enriched
concentration
whereby
dispensed
depleted
reinserted
regenerated
burning
reactor
associated method
power reactors
power reactor
material inside
proton beam
nuclear power
fuel elements
fuel element
nuclear fuel
fissile material
neutron source
tube assembly
beam enters
fertile fuel
vessel surrounding
flowing columnar
/376/976/