In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets (320) within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles (10) that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.
G21G 1/02 - Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation, or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes in nuclear reactors
A fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor core is provided. The fuel bundle may include a plurality of rods comprised of nuclear fuel rods and/or isotope production rods. Each rod includes a plurality of interconnected rod segments, wherein at least two of the rod segments of at least one rod have different outside diameters. The fuel bundle may additionally include a plurality of rod spacer grids securely retained between axially adjacent, interconnected rod segments. The rod spacer grids interconnected between axially adjacent rod segments form an array of substantially equally spaced rods. The fuel bundle may further include an elongate tubular channel in which the arrayed rods are housed.
G21C 3/326 - Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements comprising fuel elements of different compositionComprising, in addition to the fuel elements, other pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped elements, e.g. control rods, grid support rods, fertile rods, poison rods or dummy rods
G21C 3/344 - Spacer grids formed of assembled tubular elements
G21C 23/00 - Adaptations of reactors to facilitate experimentation or irradiation
An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.
Example embodiments and methods are directed to irradiation target positioning devices and systems that are configurable to permit accurate irradiation of irradiation targets and accurate production of daughter products, including isotopes and radioisotopes, therefrom. These include irradiation target plates having precise loading positions for irradiation targets, where the targets may be maintained in a radiation field. These further include a target
plate holder for retaining and positioning the target plates and irradiation targets therein in the radiation field. Example embodiments include materials with known absorption cross-sections for the radiation field to further permit
precise, desired levels of exposure in the irradiation targets. Example methods configure irradiation target retention systems to provide for desired amounts of irradiation and daughter product production.
G21G 1/00 - Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation, or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes
G21K 5/08 - Holders for targets or for objects to be irradiated
H05H 6/00 - Targets for producing nuclear reactions
5.
METHOD OF PRODUCING ISOTOPES IN POWER NUCLEAR REACTORS
In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets (320) within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles (10) that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.
G21C 3/326 - Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements comprising fuel elements of different compositionComprising, in addition to the fuel elements, other pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped elements, e.g. control rods, grid support rods, fertile rods, poison rods or dummy rods
G21G 1/02 - Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation, or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes in nuclear reactors
6.
FUEL ROD DESIGNS USING INTERNAL SPACER ELEMENT AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME
Example embodiments may include a nuclear fuel rod and/or segment design using fuel element spacers. Fuel element spacers may be placed at intervals within fuel rods and/or segments in order to manipulate operating characteristics of the fuel rods and/or segments and/or decrease consequences of fretting of the fuel rod and/or segment. Example methods may include using fuel rods and/or segments having fuel element spacing elements by adjusting intervals of the spacing elements so as to affect the mechanical, neutronic, and/or thermal properties of the fuel rod and/or segment.
Example embodiments and methods are directed to irradiation target retention devices that may be inserted into conventional nuclear fuel rods and assemblies. Example embodiment devices may hold several irradiation targets for irradiation during operation of a nuclear core containing the assemblies and fuel rods having example embodiment irradiation target retention devices. Irradiation targets may substantially convert to useful radioisotopes upon exposure to neutron flux in the operating nuclear core and be removed and harvested from fuel rods after operation.
G21C 3/326 - Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements comprising fuel elements of different compositionComprising, in addition to the fuel elements, other pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped elements, e.g. control rods, grid support rods, fertile rods, poison rods or dummy rods
G21C 23/00 - Adaptations of reactors to facilitate experimentation or irradiation
G21G 1/02 - Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation, or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes in nuclear reactors
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