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

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.49177· OSTI ID:21156182

Jongen, Yves ^[1]

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1. Ion Beam Applications s.a. Chemin du Cyclotron, 2 B-1348 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, we propose to use a spallation neutron source, with neutron multiplication by fission. A 150 MeV, H{sup -} 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 keff of 0.8, yielding a fivefold neutron multiplication. The thermal neutron flux at the targets location would be 2 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.

• OSTI ID: 21156182
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 346; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ACCELERATOR DRIVEN TRANSMUTATION
FISSION NEUTRONS
FISSION PRODUCTS
GRAPHITE
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION REACTORS
LEAD 206 TARGET
LEAD 208 TARGET
MOLYBDENUM 99
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRON SOURCES
PROTON BEAMS
PROTON REACTIONS
RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS
SPALLATION
SUBCRITICAL ASSEMBLIES
TECHNETIUM 99
THERMAL NEUTRONS
URANIUM 235