A means for installing material, through a fuel assembly instrument thimble insert, into the existing instrument thimbles in nuclear fuel assemblies for the purpose of allowing the material to be converted to commercially valuable quantities of desired radioisotopes during reactor power operations during a remainder of a fuel cycle and removing the radioisotopes from the core through the reactor flange opening once the fuel assemblies have been removed for refueling. The invention also describes methods that can be used to harvest the irradiated material so it can be packaged for transportation from the reactor to a location where the desired radioisotope(s) can be extracted from the fuel assembly instrument thimble insert.

A method for providing a neutron source. The method including: providing a nuclear reactor neutron source, the nuclear reactor neutron source including: an enclosure delimiting a chamber, a nuclear reactor core arranged inside the chamber, the nuclear reactor core is configured to produce neutrons from a nuclear fuel element inside the nuclear reactor core; installing a beam generator arranged to generate a beam directed into the chamber; and installing, inside the chamber, a target arranged to eject neutrons upon impact of the beam such that neutrons are ejected from the target and emitted from the chamber.

A method for providing a neutron source. The method including: providing a nuclear reactor neutron source, the nuclear reactor neutron source including: an enclosure delimiting a chamber, a nuclear reactor core arranged inside the chamber, the nuclear reactor core is configured to produce neutrons from a nuclear fuel element inside the nuclear reactor core; installing a beam generator arranged to generate a beam directed into the chamber; and installing, inside the chamber, a target arranged to eject neutrons upon impact of the beam such that neutrons are ejected from the target and emitted from the chamber.

A valve block for a piggable and/or solid-state conducting line system of a process technical plant can include one or more rotary control valves. The rotary control valve(s) can include one or more line inputs, one or more line outputs, and a rotatable control member with one or more through-channels. In an open position, a line input of the one or more line inputs is connected to a line output of the one or more line outputs through a through-channel of the one or more through-channels. In a closed position, the first control member separates the one or more line inputs from the one or more line outputs. The rotary control valves are rotatable about a same rotation axis and the control members are non-rotatably connected to each other. The one or more through-channels of respective rotary control valves are offset plane-parallel relative to each other in an axial direction of the rotation axis.

A valve block for a piggable and/or solid-state conducting line system of a process technical plant can include one or more rotary control valves. The rotary control valve(s) can include one or more line inputs, one or more line outputs, and a rotatable control member with one or more through-channels. In an open position, a line input of the one or more line inputs is connected to a line output of the one or more line outputs through a through-channel of the one or more through-channels. In a closed position, the first control member separates the one or more line inputs from the one or more line outputs. The rotary control valves are rotatable about a same rotation axis and the control members are non-rotatably connected to each other. The one or more through-channels of respective rotary control valves are offset plane-parallel relative to each other in an axial direction of the rotation axis.

A mounting assembly that has no threaded connections. A rod with pins or machined features radially extending from a distal end is configured to rotate until the pins align with grooves in a hole through a base plate. The rod is inserted through the hole until the pins are through an opposite surface of the base plate, compressing spring components on the rod. Then the rod is rotated until the pins are aligned with slots that partially extend through the second side of the base plate and the pins become seated in the slots. To remove the rod a tool that engages an articulated feature on the distal end of the rod is installed. The tool rotates the rod until the pins are disengaged from the slots, aligned with the through grooves and passed through the base plate.

A method and apparatus for modifying an existing nuclear reactor moveable in-core detector system to insert and withdraw target specimens from a reactor core during reactor operation without practically impeding the moveable in-core detector system's ability to obtain flux maps of the core throughout the reactor's operation. The apparatus provides a separate drive unit and delivery cable that is independent of the detector drive system, but uses most of the same core delivery conduits to access the core. A specimen holder is remotely detachable from the delivery cable when appropriately positioned and can be remotely reattached for withdrawal after a scheduled period of radiation.

A system for measuring radiation activity of a target radioisotope being produced in a reactor core is disclosed. The system includes a cable assembly and a radiation detector. The cable assembly includes a housing, a target cable configured to position the housing, and a drive cable couplable and decouplable with the target cable. The target radioisotope is positioned within the housing. The drive cable is configured to drive the target cable. The radiation detector is configured to periodically measure the radiation activity of the target radioisotope being produced.

A system for measuring radiation activity of a target radioisotope being produced in a reactor core is disclosed. The system includes a cable assembly and a radiation detector. The cable assembly includes a housing, a target cable configured to position the housing, and a drive cable couplable and decouplable with the target cable. The target radioisotope is positioned within the housing. The drive cable is configured to drive the target cable. The radiation detector is configured to periodically measure the radiation activity of the target radioisotope being produced.

A target well of a target delivery assembly for use in an irradiation system operative to allow irradiation of a radioisotope target via a vessel penetration of a fission reactor. The target well includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed therein so that an annulus is formed therebetween. The target is positioned in the inner tube during irradiation. At least one flow channel extends between a bottom end of the outer tube and a bottom end of the inner tube. An elevation piston is slidably disposed within the inner tube to elevate the target, the elevation piston including a one-way check valve allowing flow in a downward direction and preventing flow in an upward direction.