CALCULATION OF ISOTOPE PRODUCTION BY THE CYCLIC IRRADIATION OF THORIUM

Technical Report · Thu Mar 26 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4244254

Nisle, R G

Irradiation products of natural Th at flux levels of 10/sup 12/, 10/sup 13/, 5 x 10/sup 13/ and 10/sup 14/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/sec were calculated by the IBM-650 for the continuous and two cyclic irradiation cases. Production graphs of U/sup 233/ and Pa/sup 233/ are given. The calculations show that the eventual production of U/sup 233/ is not materially altered by cyclical irradiation at fluxes below 10/sup 13/. At fluxes of 10/sup 14/ the loss in U/sup 233/ after about 25 MTR cycles is about 4% of what would have been produced in continuous irradiation. It is shown that continuous irradiation is preferable when the first consideration is the production of U/sup 233/ for later separation from thorium. In a powerbreeder system, on the other hand, where energy production is of prune importance, cyclic irradiation is acceptable since the loss in U/sup 233/ production is more than compensated by an increase in the number of fissions. (auth)

• Research Organization: Phillips Petroleum Co. Atomic Energy Div., Idaho Falls, Idaho
• DOE Contract Number: AT(10-1)-205
• NSA Number: NSA-13-014599
• OSTI ID: 4244254
• Report Number(s): IDO-16504
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BREEDING
COMPUTERS
DIAGRAMS
ENERGY
FISSION
IBM 650
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
LOSSES
NEUTRONS
PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS
PRODUCTION
PROTACTINIUM 233
THORIUM
URANIUM 233