Targets for the Generation of Secondary Radiation from Primary Radiation, Device for the Transmutation of Radioactive Waste and Method for Operating

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This invention relates to advanced target designs and devices for generating secondary radiation (such as neutrons) by exposing an active material to primary radiation (like a proton beam), with specific applications for the transmutation of radioactive waste. The invention describes improved targets made of solid, liquid, or gaseous active materials that are arranged to allow effective cooling and deep penetration of the primary beam, resulting in a uniform and extended field of neutron emission. Novel aspects include the use of solid targets in multiple, cooled segments, movable solid pieces, or liquid/gaseous targets with transparent solid inclusions, all aimed at maximizing neutron production efficiency and enabling homogeneous irradiation of radioactive waste for its conversion into less harmful forms.

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• Transmutation of high-level radioactive nuclear waste into safer, shorter-lived isotopes in nuclear facilities or repositories.
• Design of spallation neutron sources for fundamental research in material science, physics, or medical isotope production.
• Neutron source design for advanced nuclear reactors or subcritical assemblies used for waste treatment.
• Target systems for particle accelerators used in industry, research, or medical applications involving high neutron fluxes.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables more efficient and deeper neutron emission within the target, leading to more uniform and effective irradiation.
• Improved thermal management and cooling of the active material, reducing the risk of damage and allowing higher power operation.
• Supports the use of high-performance target materials (e.g., tungsten), thanks to innovative segmentation and cooling arrangements.
• Homogenizes the neutron flux, ensuring even exposure of radioactive waste or other materials.
• Flexible design accommodates solid, liquid, or gas-phase targets, with options for moving elements to further enhance performance.
• Reduces operational bottlenecks between neutron field homogeneity and cooling efficiency found in previous technologies.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to targets for the generation of secondary radiation from a primary radiation, a device for the transmutation of radioactive waste, and operating methods. With the targets, the secondary radiation is generated in each case by an active material being bombarded with a primary radiation. A first embodiment of the target is characterized in that a plurality of portions of the active material are arranged one behind another in the beam direction of the primary beam such that a cooling medium can flow around each of them. In a further embodiment, the active material is present in a multiplicity of solid portions that are moveable through the primary beam. In a third embodiment, the active material contains at least one solid that is transparent to the primary radiation. These measures have the effect individually or else in combination that the primary radiation penetrates into the target more deeply, and a more homogeneous field of the secondary radiation is generated, than according to the previous prior art. The targets can be used, in particular, as neutron sources for transmutation of radionuclides.