2026, Issue 1
RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES
Authors & Affiliations
Povarov P.V., Rukin I.S.
Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant, a branch of Rosenergoatom Concern, Novovoronezh, Russia
Authors & Affiliations
Kolesov V.V., Kochnov O.Yu.
Karpov Research and Development Institute for Physical Chemistry, Obninsk, Russia
Kochnov O.Yu. — Chief Engineer, Dr. Sci. (Tech.). Contacts: 6, Kievskoye sh., Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia. Tel.: +7 (910) 912-36-45, e-mail:
Kolesov V.V. — Engineer of 1st Category, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.).
Abstract
The work is devoted to the possibility of producing the isotope Pu-238 in the experimental channel of the VVR-ts research reactor. The reactor has been adapted for the production of radionuclides for medical and technical purposes since 1980. The simplest version of the target, consisting of neptunium dioxide, is considered, which is practically the same size as the displacer in the experimental channel and is a tube with a hexagonal cross-section and a more complex version of the flow target — the so-called “tube in tube” target, similar to the target for producing Mo-99. The considered block container models make it possible to technically implement both options without upgrading existing irradiation devices. The targets are placed in an experimental loop channel with forced cooling with desalinated water or in a core cell instead of a vertical experimental channel. In this case, the coolant flow washes the block container from both the inside and outside. The optimal target irradiation time is set at the nominal reactor power level of 360 days. Neutron flux densities and energy release in two types of targets are compared. The nuclear concentrations of various Pu isotopes obtained during irradiation are estimated and a conclusion is made about the acceptability of the level of natural radionuclides. Calculations have shown that for the cases of both targets, it is possible to accumulate a significant amount of the target radionuclide Pu-238 of good quality. In the future, it is necessary to carry out thermal, hydraulic and strength calculations confirming the integrity of the structure within 1 year (50 campaigns of 120 hours) of the installation in the irradiation device of the reactor, as well as the sufficiency of the intensity of heat removal from the target.
Keywords
VVR-ts reactor, MAK-2 research channel, Pu-238 operating time, energy release, reactor campaign, neutron physics calculation, nuclear concentrations, experimental channel, core cell, isotope, irradiation device, radionuclide generation, block container, radioactive decay, “tube in tube” target
Article Text (PDF, in Russian)
UDC 621.039
Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants, 2026, no. 1, 1:12
Authors & Affiliations
Isachenkov I.A., Alekseev P.A.
A.I. Leypunsky Institute for Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk, Russia