Device and method for producing radioisotopes
First Claim
1. A device which produces a radioisotope from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device including a circulation circuit, the circulation circuit comprising:
- an irradiation cell which comprises a metallic insert;
a pump effective for generating flow of the target fluid and circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit;
an external heat exchanger; and
a pressurizing device which pressurizes the circulation circuit,the pump and the external heat exchanger forming a cooling device external to the irradiation cell, the cooling device effective for cooling the target fluid and retaining the target fluid inside the cavity during irradiation a liquid state,the metallic insert comprising a cavity which receives the target fluid, an inlet conduit and two outlet conduits which permit the inflow and outflow, respectively, of the target fluid into and out of the cavity as the target fluid moves in the circulation circuit,an irradiation window which is substantially planar and positioned perpendicularly to the accelerated particle beam, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis generally central to the insert and perpendicular to the substantially planar irradiation window, and the inlet configured to direct the target fluid inflow through the center of the insert and (1) perpendicular to the irradiation window and (2) to an impact point of the accelerated charged particle beam in the irradiation window so that the inflow hits the window head-on with the beam, the outlet conduits to either side of the inlet conduit, each outlet having a cavity exit portion extending from the cavity, the cavity exit portion of each outlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis, each longitudinal central axis of the cavity exit portion of the outlet conduits intersecting the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and forming angles with the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and which angles cause a turbulent vortex in the flow of the target fluid inside the cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is related to a device and a method for producing a radioisotope of interest from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device includes in a circulation circuit (17): an irradiation cell (1) having a metallic insert (2) able to form a cavity (8) designed to house the target fluid and closed by an irradiation window (7), the cavity (8) including at least one inlet (4) and at least one outlet (5); a pump (16) for circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit (17); an external heat exchanger (15); the pump (16) and the external heat exchanger (15) forming external cooling means of the target fluid; the device means for pressurizing (14) of the circulation circuit (17) and the external cooling means of the target fluid are arranged in such a way that the target fluid remains inside the cavity (8) essentially in the liquid state during the irradiation.
64 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A device which produces a radioisotope from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device including a circulation circuit, the circulation circuit comprising:
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an irradiation cell which comprises a metallic insert; a pump effective for generating flow of the target fluid and circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit; an external heat exchanger; and a pressurizing device which pressurizes the circulation circuit, the pump and the external heat exchanger forming a cooling device external to the irradiation cell, the cooling device effective for cooling the target fluid and retaining the target fluid inside the cavity during irradiation a liquid state, the metallic insert comprising a cavity which receives the target fluid, an inlet conduit and two outlet conduits which permit the inflow and outflow, respectively, of the target fluid into and out of the cavity as the target fluid moves in the circulation circuit, an irradiation window which is substantially planar and positioned perpendicularly to the accelerated particle beam, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis generally central to the insert and perpendicular to the substantially planar irradiation window, and the inlet configured to direct the target fluid inflow through the center of the insert and (1) perpendicular to the irradiation window and (2) to an impact point of the accelerated charged particle beam in the irradiation window so that the inflow hits the window head-on with the beam, the outlet conduits to either side of the inlet conduit, each outlet having a cavity exit portion extending from the cavity, the cavity exit portion of each outlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis, each longitudinal central axis of the cavity exit portion of the outlet conduits intersecting the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and forming angles with the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and which angles cause a turbulent vortex in the flow of the target fluid inside the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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12. A device which produces a radioisotope from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device including a circulation circuit, the circulation circuit comprising:
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an irradiation cell which comprises a metallic insert; a pump effective for generating a flow of the target fluid and circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit; an external heat exchanger; and a pressurizing device which pressurizes the circulation circuit, the pump and the external heat exchanger forming a cooling device which cools the target fluid to retain the target fluid inside the cavity during irradiation in the liquid state, and the metallic insert comprising a cavity which receives the target fluid, an inlet and two outlet conduits which permit inflow and outflow, respectively, of the target fluid into and out of the cavity as the target fluid moves in the circulation circuit, an irradiation window which is substantially planar and positioned perpendicularly to the accelerated charged particle beam, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis generally perpendicular to the substantially planar irradiation window, and the inlet conduit configured to direct the target fluid inflow (1) perpendicular to the irradiation window and (2) to an impact point of the accelerated charged particle beam in the irradiation window so that the inflow of the target fluid hits the window head-on with the beam, the outlet conduits on opposite sides of the inlet conduit, each outlet having a cavity exit portion that exits the cavity, the cavity exit portion of each outlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis intersecting the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and forming an angle with the longitudinal central axis of the inlet conduit, each angle between the central axis of the inlet conduit and the central axis of each of the outlet conduits less than 25°
to cause a turbulent vortex in the flow of the target fluid inside the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 23)
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24. A device which produces a radioisotope from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device including a circulation circuit, the circulation circuit comprising:
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an irradiation cell which comprises a metallic insert; a pump effective for generating flow of the target fluid and circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit; an external heat exchanger; and a pressurizing device which pressurizes the circulation circuit, the pump and the external heat exchanger forming a cooling device external to the irradiation cell, the cooling device effective for cooling the target fluid and retaining the target fluid inside the cavity during irradiation a liquid state, the metallic insert comprising a cavity which receives the target fluid, an inlet conduit and two outlet conduits which permit the inflow and outflow, respectively, of the target fluid into and out of the cavity as the target fluid moves in the circulation circuit, an irradiation window which is substantially planar and positioned perpendicularly to the accelerated particle beam, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis generally central to the insert and perpendicular to the substantially planar irradiation window, and the inlet configured to direct the target fluid inflow through the center of the insert and (1) perpendicular to the irradiation window and (2) to an impact point of the accelerated charged particle beam in the irradiation window so that the inflow hits the window head-on with the beam, the outlet conduits to either side of the inlet conduit, each outlet having a cavity exit portion that exits the cavity, the cavity exit portion of each outlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis, each longitudinal central axis of the cavity exit portion of the outlet conduits forming acute angles with the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and which acute angles cause a turbulent vortex in the flow of the target fluid inside the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification