A lance unit (32) for usage in a nuclear reactor core (15) includes a nuclide activation system (22), a nuclear monitoring system (14), a tube system (28) and a yoke (34) holding the tube system (28). The nuclear monitoring system (14) has at least one nuclear monitoring tube (16) for accommodating monitoring members (18) that monitor the nuclear reactor core (15). The nuclide activation system (22) has a nuclide activation tube (24) for accommodating at least one irradiation target (26) to be exposed to neutron flux in the nuclear reactor (12) to form a radionuclide. The at least one nuclear monitoring tube (16) and the nuclide activation tube (24) are part of the tube system (28). The nuclide activation tube (24) has an internal stop (40) configured to stop the at least one irradiation target (26). The internal stop (40) of the nuclide activation tube (24) is located at a different height with regard to the lower end of the nuclear monitoring tube (16).

A lance unit (32) for usage in a nuclear reactor core (15) includes a nuclide activation system (22), a nuclear monitoring system (14), a tube system (28) and a yoke (34) holding the tube system (28). The nuclear monitoring system (14) has at least one nuclear monitoring tube (16) for accommodating monitoring members (18) that monitor the nuclear reactor core (15). The nuclide activation system (22) has a nuclide activation tube (24) for accommodating at least one irradiation target (26) to be exposed to neutron flux in the nuclear reactor (12) to form a radionuclide. The at least one nuclear monitoring tube (16) and the nuclide activation tube (24) are part of the tube system (28). The nuclide activation tube (24) has an internal stop (40) configured to stop the at least one irradiation target (26). The internal stop (40) of the nuclide activation tube (24) is located at a different height with regard to the lower end of the nuclear monitoring tube (16).

The invention relates to a method for eliminating neutrons from fission, fusion or aneutronic nuclear reactions in a reactor (100), in particular in a laser-driven nuclear fusion reactor (100) which operates with hydrogen and the boron-11 isotope, in which method at least some moderated neutrons are made to undergo a nuclear reaction with tin (11). As a result of the nuclear reactions with tin, the neutrons convert the tin nuclei into stable nuclei having a higher atomic weight resulting from neutron capture. The invention also relates to a reactor (100) which is designed for energy conversion by means of fission, fusion or aneutronic nuclear reactions and for generating electric energy, wherein the reactor contains a neutron elimination device (50) which contains tin and is arranged such that at least some moderated neutrons are made to undergo a nuclear reaction with the tin.

A reactor irradiation method is provided that can include irradiating Np or Am spheres within a target assembly of a nuclear reactor to form reacted spheres comprising Pu. The target assembly can define a solid core within an exterior housing, and a void between the exterior housing and the solid core, wherein the spheres occupy at least a portion of the void. The irradiating can include exposing the spheres to a neutron energy spectrum while the spheres are in the void of the target assembly to form irradiated spheres.

A reactor irradiation method is provided that can include irradiating Np or Am spheres within a target assembly of a nuclear reactor to form reacted spheres comprising Pu. The target assembly can define a solid core within an exterior housing, and a void between the exterior housing and the solid core, wherein the spheres occupy at least a portion of the void. The irradiating can include exposing the spheres to a neutron energy spectrum while the spheres are in the void of the target assembly to form irradiated spheres.

A device that will enable material to be irradiated as needed to produce a desired transmutation product inside the core of a nuclear reactor. The device provides a means for monitoring neutron flux in the vicinity of the material being irradiated to allow determination of the amount of transmutation product being produced. The device enables the irradiated material to be inserted into the reactor and held in place at desired axial positions and to be withdrawn from the reactor when desired without shutting down the reactor. The majority of the device may be re-used for subsequent irradiations. The device also enables the simple and rapid attachment of unirradiated target material to the portion of the device that transmits the motive force to insert and withdraw the target material into and out of the reactor and the rapid detachment or the irradiated material from the device for processing.

A device that will enable material to be irradiated as needed to produce a desired transmutation product inside the core of a nuclear reactor. The device provides a means for monitoring neutron flux in the vicinity of the material being irradiated to allow determination of the amount of transmutation product being produced. The device enables the irradiated material to be inserted into the reactor and held in place at desired axial positions and to be withdrawn from the reactor when desired without shutting down the reactor. The majority of the device may be re-used for subsequent irradiations. The device also enables the simple and rapid attachment of unirradiated target material to the portion of the device that transmits the motive force to insert and withdraw the target material into and out of the reactor and the rapid detachment or the irradiated material from the device for processing.

A process for the separation of .sup.99mTc from molybdenum targets is described. The method for separation of .sup.99mTc isotope from molybdenum targets includes: i) providing an initial multicomponent mixture of elements, the mixture containing .sup.99mTc; ii) dissolving the multicomponent mixture of elements with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the mixture of elements; iii) heating the mixture of elements at a temperature sufficiently high enough to sublimate a vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc; iv) condensing the vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc to form a reaction product; v) adding a base to the condensed reaction product to dissolve the .sup.99mTc containing reaction product to form sodium pertechnetate (Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4); and vii) purifying the crude solution of sodium pertechnetate Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4 using column chromatography to provide the .sup.99mTc isotope as a radiochemical compound.

A process for the separation of .sup.99mTc from molybdenum targets is described. The method for separation of .sup.99mTc isotope from molybdenum targets includes: i) providing an initial multicomponent mixture of elements, the mixture containing .sup.99mTc; ii) dissolving the multicomponent mixture of elements with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the mixture of elements; iii) heating the mixture of elements at a temperature sufficiently high enough to sublimate a vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc; iv) condensing the vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc to form a reaction product; v) adding a base to the condensed reaction product to dissolve the .sup.99mTc containing reaction product to form sodium pertechnetate (Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4); and vii) purifying the crude solution of sodium pertechnetate Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4 using column chromatography to provide the .sup.99mTc isotope as a radiochemical compound.

A method including providing a nuclear reactor neutron source that includes an enclosure delimiting a chamber, a nuclear reactor core arranged inside the chamber and 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.