A proton-driven, intense, subcritical, fission neutron source for radioisotope production

Conference · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.49177· OSTI ID:115679

Jongen, Y ^[1]

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1. Chemin du Cyclotron, Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)

{sup 99m}Tc, the most frequently used radioisotope in nuclear medicine, is distributed as {sup 99}Mo=>{sup 99m}Tc generators. {sup 99}Mo is a fission product of {sup 235}U. To replace the aging nuclear reactors used today for this production, the author proposes to use a spallation neutron source, with neutron multiplication by fission. A 150 MeV, H{sup {minus}} cyclotron can produce a 225 kW proton beam with 50% total system energy efficiency. The proton beam would hit a molten lead target, surrounded by a water moderator and a graphite reflector, producing around 0.96 primary neutron per proton. The primary spallation neutrons, moderated, would strike secondary targets containing a subcritical amount of {sup 235}U. The assembly would show a k{sub eff} of 0.8, yielding a fivefold neutron multiplication. The thermal neutron flux at the targets location would be 2 {times} 10{sup 14} n/cm{sup 2}.s, resulting in a fission power of 500 to 750 kW. One such system could supply the world demand in {sup 99}Mo, as well as other radioisotopes. Preliminary indications show that the cost would be lower than the cost of a commercial 10 MW isotope production reactor. The cost of operation, of disposal of radiowaste and of decommissioning should be significantly lower as well. Finally, the non-critical nature of the system would make it more acceptable for the public than a nuclear reactor and should simplify the licensing process.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• OSTI ID: 115679
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--95-1792; CONF-9407103--; ON: DE95014018
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ACCELERATORS
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
LEAD
MOLYBDENUM 99
NEUTRON SOURCES
RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS
RADIOISOTOPES
SUBCRITICAL ASSEMBLIES