Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC

Jennifer M Bowie

William Earl Russell, Ii

Bradley D Bloomquist

David Grey Smith

Nicholas R Gilman

Melissa Allen

Heather Hatton

David Allan Rickard

William Earl Russell

Bradley Bloomquist

Ii Russell William Earl

William Earl Russell Ii

Example embodiments are directed to methods of producing desired isotopes in commercial nuclear reactors and associated apparatuses using instrumentation tubes conventionally found in nuclear reactor vessels to expose irradiation targets to neutron flux found in the operating nuclear reactor. Example embodiments include irradiation targets for producing radioisotopes in nuclear reactors and instrumentation tubes thereof. Example embodiments include one or more irradiation targets useable with example delivery systems that permit delivery into instrumentation tubes. Example embodiments may be sized, shaped, fabricated, and otherwise configured to successfully move through example delivery systems and conventional instrumentation tubes while producing desired isotopes.

Irradiation targets for isotope delivery systems

A capsule for holding, irradiating, and eluting a material is provided. Methods of fabricating and using the capsule are also provided. The capsule may include a multidiameter tube with a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region. Washers and filters are provided in the end regions and the end regions may be sealed using various methods and materials with the end caps press fit into the end regions. The middle region is designed to store a material to be irradiated by a neutron flux source. The capsule components may be made from materials having a low nuclear cross section so that the capsule may be handled safely after an irradiation step is performed. The capsule is also designed to have a symmetric configuration as an elution and irradiation column so that the same capsule may be used to elute the material within the middle region of the capsule after an irradiation step is performed.

Method and system for simultaneous irradiation and elution capsule

Provided is an isotope delivery system and a method for irradiating a target and delivering the target to an extraction point. The isotope delivery system may include a cable including at least one target for irradiation, a drive system configured for moving the cable, and a first guide configured to guide the cable for insertion and extraction from a nuclear reactor. The method for irradiating a target and delivering a target may include pushing a cable with an attached target through a first guide and into a nuclear reactor using a drive system, irradiating the target in the nuclear reactor, pulling the cable with the attached irradiated target towards the drive system, pushing the cable with the irradiated target towards a loading/unloading area using the drive system, and placing the irradiated target into a transfer cask, wherein the cable is pulled and pushed by the drive system.

Cable driven isotope delivery system

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Leland, NC, United States of America

Jennifer M Bowie