An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, having at least one plate defining a central opening, and a first elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the first elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.

Reactor target assemblies are provided that can include a housing defining a perimeter of at least one volume and Np or Am spheres within the one volume. Reactor assemblies are provided that can include a reactor vessel and a bundle of target assemblies within the reactor vessel, at least one of the target assemblies comprising a housing defining a volume with Np or Am spheres being within the volume. Irradiation methods are also provided that can include irradiating Np or Am spheres within a nuclear reactor, then removing the irradiated spheres from the reactor and treating the irradiated spheres.

Reactor target assemblies are provided that can include a housing defining a perimeter of at least one volume and Np or Am spheres within the one volume. Reactor assemblies are provided that can include a reactor vessel and a bundle of target assemblies within the reactor vessel, at least one of the target assemblies comprising a housing defining a volume with Np or Am spheres being within the volume. Irradiation methods are also provided that can include irradiating Np or Am spheres within a nuclear reactor, then removing the irradiated spheres from the reactor and treating the irradiated spheres.

A fuel bundle surrogate for the irradiation of a target material, having a plurality of tube sheaths, each tube sheath being parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the fuel bundle surrogate, a plurality of end caps, a pair of end plates, wherein the end plates are disposed at opposing ends of the plurality of tube sheaths, and a first target comprised of a first target material suitable for producing the isotope by way of a neutron capture event, wherein the first target is disposed in a first tube sheath, and wherein the first tube sheath of the plurality of tube sheaths comprises an elongated thickened wall portion and a pair of annular end portions, each annular end portion being disposed on a corresponding end of the thickened wall portion and having a wall thickness that is less than a wall thickness of the thickened wall portion.

A fuel bundle surrogate for the irradiation of a target material, having a plurality of tube sheaths, each tube sheath being parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the fuel bundle surrogate, a plurality of end caps, a pair of end plates, wherein the end plates are disposed at opposing ends of the plurality of tube sheaths, and a first target comprised of a first target material suitable for producing the isotope by way of a neutron capture event, wherein the first target is disposed in a first tube sheath, and wherein the first tube sheath of the plurality of tube sheaths comprises an elongated thickened wall portion and a pair of annular end portions, each annular end portion being disposed on a corresponding end of the thickened wall portion and having a wall thickness that is less than a wall thickness of the thickened wall portion.

A target irradiation system including an irradiated target removal system having a body defining a central bore, an elevator received within the central bore, and a docking surface for placing the irradiated target removal system in fluid communication with a vessel penetration of a reactor. A target canister slidably receives the radioisotope target therein, and the elevator is configured to receive the target canister. The elevator is lowered into the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target, and the irradiated target removal system forms a portion of a pressure boundary of the reactor during target irradiation.

A target irradiation system including an irradiated target removal system having a body defining a central bore, an elevator received within the central bore, and a docking surface for placing the irradiated target removal system in fluid communication with a vessel penetration of a reactor. A target canister slidably receives the radioisotope target therein, and the elevator is configured to receive the target canister. The elevator is lowered into the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target, and the irradiated target removal system forms a portion of a pressure boundary of the reactor during target irradiation.

A method for joint measuring argon-argon age and cosmic ray exposure age of an extraterrestrial sample is provided. The method for joint measuring determining argon age and cosmic ray exposure age may include: step A, sample packaging; step B, placing the packaged samples into a neutron reactor for irradiation; and step C, determining Ar isotopes of the packaged samples after being performed with a neutron irradiation and thereby calculating argon-argon age and cosmic ray exposure age. The method can overcome the defects of the prior art, and achieve high-precision simultaneous determination of the argon-argon age and the cosmic ray exposure age of samples.

A method for joint measuring argon-argon age and cosmic ray exposure age of an extraterrestrial sample is provided. The method for joint measuring determining argon age and cosmic ray exposure age may include: step A, sample packaging; step B, placing the packaged samples into a neutron reactor for irradiation; and step C, determining Ar isotopes of the packaged samples after being performed with a neutron irradiation and thereby calculating argon-argon age and cosmic ray exposure age. The method can overcome the defects of the prior art, and achieve high-precision simultaneous determination of the argon-argon age and the cosmic ray exposure age of samples.

A transportable nuclear power system is provided. The system includes a nuclear power generator. The nuclear power generator includes one or more fuel cartridges configured to form a critical core during a power generation operation, each of the one or more fuel cartridges containing a nuclear fuel. The nuclear power generator also includes a reactivity controller and one or more working fluid conduits, each work fluid conduit containing a working fluid circulating within each of the one or more fuel cartridges to cool the nuclear fuel and execute a thermodynamic cycle. The system also includes an ISO transport container including a support structure mounted inside the ISO transport container to support at least the one or more fuel cartridges of the nuclear power generator. The one or more fuel cartridges of the nuclear power generator are contained in the ISO transport container during the power generation operation.