Drift tube linear accelerator

Abstract

The invention provides a drift tube linear accelerator, and relates to the field of linear accelerators. The drift tube linear accelerator comprises a cavity structure, wherein the cavity structure comprises a ridge structure; the drift tube is connected with the ridge structure; and the water path assembly penetrates through the ridge structure and is connected with the drift tube, and the water path assembly is used for cooling the drift tube. According to the method, the water path assembly is communicated with the drift tube, and the drift tube can be cooled in the water cooling process, so that the thermal stability of the drift tube linear accelerator is remarkably improved, and the problem that the drift tube is prone to thermal deformation to affect stable operation of the drift tube linear accelerator can be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the technical field, and more particularly to a drift tube linear accelerator. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous growth in demand for medical and industrial isotopes, linear accelerators are increasingly widely used in isotope production. The drift tube linear accelerator (IH-DTL) is a commonly used mid-to-low energy acceleration structure, possessing advantages such as mature structure and high acceleration efficiency, and is widely used for accelerating high-current particle beams. To improve isotope yield, drift tube linear accelerators are developing towards higher duty cycles and higher average current, which places higher demands on the thermal management and structural stability of high-performance drift tube linear accelerators.

[0003] Under high duty cycle and high current intensity operating conditions, drift tube linear accelerators generate a large amount of heat due to radio frequency loss, which leads to temperature rise and thermal deformation inside the drift tube linear accelerator, and in turn causes frequency drift, affecting the stable operation of the accelerator.

[0004] Current drift tube linear accelerators typically use water cooling, which cools the crossbeam, drift tube support rod, and cavity wall, but not the drift tube itself. This causes the drift tube to heat up and deform, affecting frequency drift and the stable operation of the accelerator. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, embodiments of this disclosure provide a drift tube linear accelerator, including: a cavity structure, the cavity structure including: a ridge structure; a drift tube connected to the ridge structure; and a water channel assembly that passes through the ridge structure and is connected to the drift tube, the water channel assembly being used to cool the drift tube.

[0006] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the drift tube includes: an inlet, an outlet, and an inner ring; wherein the inner ring is connected to the inlet and the outlet respectively, and the inlet, the outlet, and the inner ring together constitute an annular waterway within the drift tube.

[0007] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the water circuit assembly includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the inlet pipe being connected to an inlet, and the outlet pipe being connected to an outlet. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are used to introduce water flow into the annular water circuit to cool the drift pipe.

[0008] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the cavity structure further includes: a cavity shell, which is connected to the ridge structure and together with the ridge structure constitutes the resonant cavity of the drift tube linear accelerator.

[0009] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the cavity shell includes: a positioning step, on which a plurality of first screw holes and solder grooves are provided, and the cavity shell is sealed and welded to the ridge structure through the plurality of first screw holes and solder grooves on the positioning step; and a cooling water passage, which is used to transport cooling medium to cool the cavity shell.

[0010] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the ridge structure includes a plurality of second screw holes, the spacing between the plurality of second screw holes being the same, and the ridge structure being sealed and welded to the cavity shell through the second screw holes.

[0011] According to embodiments of this disclosure, there are multiple cavity structures, and the multiple cavity structures are connected by a vacuum seal using rubber.

[0012] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the drift tube is arranged along the central axis of the cavity structure.

[0013] According to embodiments of this disclosure, there are two ridge structures, and the two ridge structures are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the inner wall of the cavity structure.

[0014] According to embodiments of this disclosure, drift tubes are alternately arranged on different ridge structures along the direction of the incident particle beam of the drift tube linear accelerator.

[0015] The method disclosed herein can cool the drift tube during the water cooling process by connecting the water circuit assembly to the drift tube, thereby significantly improving the thermal stability of the drift tube linear accelerator and solving the problem that the drift tube is prone to thermal deformation, which affects the stable operation of the drift tube linear accelerator. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The foregoing contents, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure, will become clearer from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a drift tube linear accelerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a drift tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a ridge structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cavity shell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a ridge structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] [Explanation of Labels in the Attached Image]

[0023] 1-Cavity shell; 11-Positioning step; 12-Cooling water passage; 2-Spine structure; 21-Drift tube; 211-Inlet; 212-Outlet; 213-Drift tube inner ring; 22-Water passage assembly; 221-Inlet pipe; 222-Outlet pipe; 23-Second screw hole. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0025] It should be noted that similar or identical parts are referred to by the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings or description. The technical features of the various embodiments exemplified in the specification can be freely combined to form new solutions without conflict. Furthermore, each claim can stand alone as an embodiment, or the technical features in the various claims can be combined to form new embodiments. In the drawings, the shape or thickness of the embodiments may be enlarged and indicated in a simplified or convenient manner. Moreover, elements or implementations not shown or described in the drawings are those known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, although this document provides examples of parameters containing specific values, it should be understood that the parameters need not be exactly equal to the corresponding values, but can approximate the corresponding values ​​within acceptable error tolerances or design constraints.

[0026] Unless there are technical obstacles or contradictions, the various embodiments described above in this disclosure can be freely combined to form other embodiments, all of which are within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0027] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure. The dimensions in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.

[0028] While some embodiments of the general concept of this disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general concept of this disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a drift tube linear accelerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0030] like Figure 1As shown, an embodiment of this disclosure provides a drift tube linear accelerator, including: a cavity structure, the cavity structure including: a ridge structure 2; a drift tube 21, the drift tube 21 being connected to the ridge structure 2; and a water channel assembly 22, the water channel assembly 22 penetrating the ridge structure 2 and being connected to the drift tube 21, the water channel assembly 22 being used to cool the drift tube 21.

[0031] A drift tube linear accelerator is a device that causes charged particles to move in a straight line and gain increased energy. The cavity structure is the main frame of the drift tube linear accelerator, with an internal vacuum environment for mounting and housing other components. The ridge structure 2 is a supporting component inside the cavity, typically extending longitudinally, used to fix and position the drift tube 21. The drift tube 21 is a hollow tubular part mounted on the ridge structure 2, through which the charged particle beam passes, receiving energy boosts in specific areas. The water circuit assembly 22 is a fluid circulation system containing pipes and connectors for transporting the cooling medium.

[0032] In some embodiments, the ridge structure 2 is fixed inside the cavity structure, providing a stable mechanical foundation. The drift tube 21 is physically attached to the ridge structure 2, ensuring precise alignment. The water channel assembly 22 is embedded inside the ridge structure 2, with pipes running the entire length of the ridge structure 2 and communicating with the interior of the drift tube 21. Cooling medium flows in from the water channel assembly 22, passes through the pipes within the ridge structure 2, enters the drift tube 21, absorbs the heat generated by the drift tube 21 during operation, and then flows out from the water channel assembly 22, forming a loop.

[0033] This integrated design allows the cooling path to directly cover the drift tube 21, and the entire cavity structure maintains a vacuum through sealing. Simultaneously, the water circuit assembly 22 is isolated from the vacuum area to prevent leakage. Connections between components utilize fastening and welding processes to ensure structural robustness and sealing.

[0034] In some embodiments, there may be two ridge structures 2 in the drift tube linear accelerator, and the two ridge structures 2 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the inner wall of the cavity structure. Each ridge structure 2 may be provided with multiple drift tubes 21. The multiple drift tubes 21 may be arranged along the central axis of the cavity structure, and the drift tubes 21 may be alternately arranged on different ridge structures 2 along the direction of the incident particle beam of the drift tube linear accelerator.

[0035] The drift tube linear accelerator in this embodiment achieves direct and efficient cooling of the drift tube 21 through the integrated water circuit assembly 22. The cooling medium circulates and absorbs heat, effectively controlling the operating temperature of the drift tube 21 and reducing deformation and positional shift caused by thermal expansion. This helps maintain the geometric accuracy and electric field distribution stability of the drift tube linear accelerator, thereby ensuring the acceleration efficiency and quality of the particle beam. Simultaneously, good thermal management supports continuous operation of the equipment under high power and high duty cycle conditions, extending its service life and reducing the risk of failure due to overheating, thus improving the overall reliability of the drift tube linear accelerator.

[0036] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a drift tube according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0037] like Figure 2 The drift tube in this embodiment includes: an inlet 211, an outlet 212, and an inner ring 213; wherein the inner ring 213 is connected to the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 respectively, and the inlet 211, the outlet 212, and the inner ring 213 together form an annular waterway inside the drift tube.

[0038] In some embodiments, the inlet 211 is the channel inlet for the cooling medium to enter the drift tube 21, and the outlet 212 is the channel outlet for the cooling medium to leave the drift tube 21. The inner ring 213 of the drift tube is an annular cavity or channel formed inside the drift tube 21, used to guide the flow path of the cooling medium.

[0039] The inlet 211 and outlet 212 are located on the inner wall of the drift tube 21 and are connected to the inner ring 213 of the drift tube via pipes or internal openings. The inner ring 213 of the drift tube is designed as a closed loop distributed around the inner wall of the drift tube 21. After entering through the inlet 211, the cooling medium flows directly into the inner ring 213 of the drift tube and circulates along the annular path, covering the main heat-generating area of ​​the drift tube, and finally exits from the outlet 212. The inner ring 213 of the drift tube can be embedded and sealed as an independent component. The connection between the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 adopts a sealed structure to prevent cooling medium leakage. The entire annular water circuit is fully integrated inside the drift tube 21, without occupying additional space, and is coordinated with the structural strength of the drift tube 21 to ensure its stability under thermal load and mechanical stress.

[0040] The drift tube linear accelerator in this embodiment forms a closed annular water channel inside the drift tube, allowing the cooling medium to flow directly and uniformly through the core region of the drift tube. This design enhances cooling efficiency, rapidly dissipating the heat generated by the drift tube during operation and effectively controlling its temperature rise. This reduces the risk of thermal deformation, maintains the geometric accuracy and positional stability of the drift tube, and thus ensures the accuracy and consistency of the particle acceleration process. Simultaneously, the internal water channel avoids the complex layout of an external cooling system, simplifies the overall architecture, improves system reliability and maintenance convenience, and supports continuous operation of the accelerator under long-term high-load conditions.

[0041] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a ridge structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, the water circuit assembly 22 includes: an inlet pipe 221 and an outlet pipe 222. The inlet pipe 221 is connected to the inlet 211, and the outlet pipe 222 is connected to the outlet 212. The inlet pipe 221 and the outlet pipe 222 are used to introduce water into the annular water circuit to cool the drift pipe 21.

[0043] In some embodiments, the inlet pipe 221 is a conduit for conveying cooling medium into the internal loop of the drift pipe 21. The outlet pipe 222 is a conduit for guiding the cooling medium out of the internal loop of the drift pipe and back to the outside.

[0044] One end of the inlet pipe 221 is connected to the supply end of the external cooling system, and the other end is connected to and sealed to the inlet 211 on the side wall of the drift pipe 21. One end of the outlet pipe 222 is connected to the outlet 212 of the drift pipe 21, and the other end is connected to the return end of the external cooling system. The diameters of the inlet pipe 221 and outlet pipe 222 match the dimensions of the inlet 211 and outlet 212 to ensure that the flow rate meets the heat dissipation requirements. The connection between the pipes and the inlets can be welded to ensure reliable sealing at the joint and prevent leakage of the cooling medium under high pressure circulation.

[0045] The drift tube linear accelerator in this embodiment establishes a direct flow path from the external cooling system to the heated area of ​​the drift tube by setting independent inlet and outlet water pipes that are connected to the internal loop of the drift tube. This enables directional flow and efficient heat exchange of the cooling medium in the target area, helps maintain the stability of the drift tube's size and position, and ensures the accelerator's working accuracy.

[0046] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cavity shell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0047] like Figure 4As shown, multiple first screw holes are distributed on the positioning step 11. During assembly, screws are used to pass through the screw holes to initially fix and tighten the cavity shell 1 and the ridge structure 2. A solder groove is opened in the welding area of ​​the positioning step 11. After assembly, solder is filled into the groove and high-temperature welding is performed to form a sealed connection between the cavity shell 1 and the ridge structure 2. The cooling water channel 12 is machined inside the cavity shell 1 along a preset path. When the cooling medium flows through the water channel, it can evenly remove the heat generated by the cavity shell 1. The entire cavity, through the rigid structure and sealed connection of the cavity shell 1, ensures the stability of the internal vacuum environment and electromagnetic field. The shape of the cavity shell 1 is not limited and can be of various shapes.

[0048] Please continue reading. Figure 1 In some embodiments, the cavity shell 1 can be divided into an upper cavity shell and a lower cavity shell. The upper cavity shell and the lower cavity shell are enclosed together by the positioning step 11 and the two ridge structures 2 to form a closed internal resonant cavity space.

[0049] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a ridge structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0050] like Figure 5 As shown, the ridge structure 2 includes a plurality of second screw holes 23, the spacing between the plurality of second screw holes 23 is the same, and the ridge structure 2 is sealed and welded to the cavity shell 1 through the second screw holes 23.

[0051] The drift tube linear accelerator in this embodiment achieves high-precision positioning and reliable sealing between the cavity shell and the ridge structure by incorporating positioning steps, a first screw hole, a second screw hole, and a solder groove, ensuring the accuracy of the internal dimensions and airtightness of the resonant cavity. Furthermore, the modular combination of the upper and lower cavity shells and the ridge structure provided in this embodiment reduces manufacturing and assembly difficulties while improving the overall structural rigidity and heat dissipation performance, thereby ensuring the consistency and reliability of the accelerator's performance during long-term operation.

[0052] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed process is an example of an exemplary method. Based on design preferences, it should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process may be rearranged without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The appended method claims provide elements of various steps in an exemplary order and are not intended to limit the scope to a specific order or hierarchy.

[0053] It should also be noted that the directional terms mentioned in the embodiments, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," and "right," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Throughout the drawings, the same elements are represented by the same or similar reference numerals. Conventional structures or constructions will be omitted when they may cause confusion in understanding this disclosure. Furthermore, the shapes, sizes, and positional relationships of the components in the drawings do not reflect their actual size, scale, or actual positional relationships.

[0054] In the detailed description above, various features are combined together in a single embodiment to simplify this disclosure. This approach to disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that embodiments of the claimed subject matter require more features than are explicitly stated in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the appended claims, this disclosure is in a state of having fewer features than all of the features of the single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the appended claims are hereby explicitly incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim representing a separate preferred embodiment of this disclosure.

[0055] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise expressly specified. The term "comprising" as used in the specification or claims is interpreted in a manner similar to the term "including," as "including" is used as a conjunction in the claims. The use of any term "or" in the specification or claims is intended to mean "non-exclusive or."

[0056] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this disclosure. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A drift tube linear accelerator, characterized in that, include: Cavity structure, the cavity structure comprising: Ridge structure (2); Drift tube (21), the drift tube (21) is connected to the ridge structure (2); Water channel assembly (22) passes through the ridge structure (2) and is connected to the drift tube (21). The water channel assembly (22) is used to cool the drift tube (21).

2. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drift tube (21) includes: Inlet (211), outlet (212) and drift pipe inner ring (213); The inner ring (213) of the drift tube is connected to the inlet (211) and the outlet (212) respectively. The inlet (211), the outlet (212) and the inner ring (213) of the drift tube together form an annular waterway in the drift tube (21).

3. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The waterway component (22) includes: The inlet pipe (221) and the outlet pipe (222) are connected to the inlet (211) and the outlet pipe (222) is connected to the outlet (212). The inlet pipe (221) and the outlet pipe (222) are used to introduce water into the annular water path to cool the drift pipe (21).

4. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cavity structure also includes: The cavity shell (1) is connected to the ridge structure (2) and together with the ridge structure (2) constitutes the resonant cavity of the drift tube linear accelerator.

5. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cavity shell (1) includes: The positioning step (11) is provided with a plurality of first screw holes and solder grooves. The cavity shell (1) is sealed and welded to the ridge structure (2) through the plurality of first screw holes and solder grooves on the positioning step (11). Cooling water passage (12) is used to transport cooling medium to cool the cavity shell (1).

6. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ridge structure (2) includes: Multiple second screw holes (23) are provided, with the same spacing between them. The ridge structure (23) is sealed and welded to the cavity shell (1) through the second screw holes (23).

7. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cavity structure comprises multiple structures, which are connected by a vacuum seal using rubber.

8. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drift tube (21) is arranged along the central axis of the cavity structure.

9. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are two ridge structures (2), and the two ridge structures (2) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the inner wall of the cavity structure.

10. The drift tube linear accelerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drift tubes (21) are alternately arranged on different ridge structures (2) along the direction of the incident particle beam of the drift tube linear accelerator.

Images