Gradient shielding and modular fast neutron protective apparel

Abstract

The application discloses a gradient shielding and modular fast neutron protective clothing, which comprises a protective clothing base, wherein the protective clothing base is in a vest type structure, and the lower hem of the front opening of the protective clothing base is designed in a convex shape at the position corresponding to the gonads; two main shielding module standardized installation groove positions and three reinforced shielding module standardized installation groove positions are arranged on the protective clothing base; an inner layer neutron absorption module and a middle layer elastic scattering module are detachably installed in the main shielding module standardized installation groove positions, wherein the inner layer neutron absorption module is made of boron rubber material, and the middle layer elastic scattering module is made of hydrogel material; and an outer layer inelastic scattering module is detachably installed in the reinforced shielding module standardized installation groove positions, and the outer layer inelastic scattering module is made of tungsten rubber material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of neutron protection, specifically to a gradient shielding and modular fast neutron protective suit. Background Technology

[0002] In high-radiation scenarios such as nuclear reactor operation, neutron source term disposal, and spent fuel processing, fast neutrons with high energy and strong penetrating power can pose a significant radiation exposure risk to operators on-site, threatening their health.

[0003] Existing neutron protective suits and related patents primarily target the thermal or slow neutron energy range, using polymer-based composite materials as the main protective material. Their physical mechanisms mainly rely on elastic scattering and slowing down of neutrons between them and hydrogen-containing materials, as well as the absorption of thermal neutrons by elements such as boron and lithium. However, for faster neutrons with higher energies, the aforementioned protective mechanisms, primarily based on elastic scattering and thermal neutron absorption, fail to adequately utilize the inelastic scattering process. This results in generally low shielding efficiency for fast neutrons in existing neutron protective suits, with the protective effect decreasing significantly as neutron energy increases.

[0004] On the other hand, due to limitations in manufacturing processes and structural design, traditional neutron protective suits typically adopt a design with uniform thickness throughout, making it difficult to take into account the differences in radiation sensitivity of different organs in the human body and the needs of joint movement. This can easily lead to problems such as weight redundancy, difficulty in precisely strengthening the protection of key organs, and insufficient comfort and flexibility under the condition of limited total weight. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To achieve the above and other related objectives, this invention discloses a gradient shielding and modular fast neutron protective suit, comprising: The protective suit base is a vest-style structure, and the hem of its front placket at the position corresponding to the gonads adopts a convex design. The protective suit base is provided with two standardized installation slots for the main shielding module and three standardized installation slots for the reinforced shielding module; The inner neutron absorption module and the middle elastic scattering module are detachably installed in the standardized mounting slot of the main shielding module, wherein the inner neutron absorption module is made of boron rubber material and the middle elastic scattering module is made of hydrogel material. An outer inelastic scattering module is detachably installed in the standardized mounting slot of the reinforced shielding module, and the outer inelastic scattering module is made of tungsten rubber material. Within the area covered by the outer inelastic scattering module, a tungsten rubber inelastic scattering module, a hydrogel elastic scattering module, and a boron rubber absorption layer are sequentially formed from the outside to the inside along the wearing direction to perform gradient shielding of fast neutrons through inelastic scattering slowing, elastic scattering slowing, and capture absorption.

[0006] Preferably, the tungsten rubber material uses EPDM rubber as a matrix and is uniformly filled with tungsten powder with a particle size of 1~5 μm, and the tungsten powder accounts for 70% of the total mass.

[0007] Preferably, the hydrogel material is a flexible hydrogel material, the main components of which are water and crosslinking agent, and the hydrogel thickness of the middle layer elastic scattering module is 1 cm or 1.5 cm.

[0008] Preferably, the boron rubber material uses EPDM rubber as a matrix and is uniformly filled with boron powder with a particle size of 200 nm, and the boron powder accounts for 40% of the total mass. The overall density of the material is 1.31 g / cm³. 3 .

[0009] Preferably, the standardized installation slot of the reinforced shielding module has an inner sealing design to prevent the module from falling off, and after the reinforced shielding module is installed, the installation gap is tightened by a zipper to prevent the module from moving.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a thyroid protection module, which completely covers the thyroid region of the neck, and its internal shielding material is composed of 1.5 cm thick hydrogel material and 0.2 cm boron rubber, and is encapsulated by Oxford cloth for easy wearing and removal and to ensure that the movement of the head and neck is not restricted.

[0011] Preferably, the inner neutron absorption module is an integrated boron rubber structure, fully sealed with Oxford cloth, and its size is adapted to the standardized installation slot of the main shielding module.

[0012] Preferably, the middle layer elastic scattering module is an integrated boron rubber structure, fully sealed with Oxford cloth, and its size is adapted to the standardized installation slot of the main shielding module.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the fast neutron protective suit of the present invention utilizes a gradient shielding link of "outer layer inelastic scattering—middle layer elastic scattering—inner layer capture and absorption" to progressively slow down and ultimately absorb fast neutrons in different energy regions, thereby improving the overall adaptability and stability of protection against fast neutron radiation fields. Simultaneously, the modular protective structure places the reinforced shielding modules only in areas corresponding to highly radiation-sensitive organs such as the gonads, chest, spine, and thyroid gland, optimizing weight distribution, reducing weight redundancy, and balancing wearing comfort and mobility. The shielding modules are detachable and configurable, allowing for flexible adjustment of the protection level by adding or removing different modules to adapt to different neutron energies and operational scenarios, improving versatility and practicality. Furthermore, the modular design allows components with different lifespans to be replaced as needed, avoiding the scrapping of the entire protective suit due to localized failure, thereby extending the overall service life and reducing resource waste and operating costs. In terms of structural reliability, the protective suit base uses neck Velcro, reinforced slot inner sealing structure, and zipper tightening to limit and fix the modules, reducing the risk of module displacement and detachment during wearing and movement, and improving the stability and safety of long-term use. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. The drawings are provided for a better understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, wherein: Figure 1 These are the overall three-view diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the protective suit base according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inner neutron absorption module in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layer elastic scattering module in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 These are three views of the thyroid protection module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the outer inelastic scattering module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the installation of various modules in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Reference numerals: 1. Protective suit base; 2. Inner neutron absorption module; 3. Middle elastic scattering module; 4. Thyroid protection module; 5. Velcro; 6. Neck fixing snap; 7. Hem fixing snap; 8. Chest module; 9. Gonad module; 10. Spine module; 11. Outer non-elastic scattering module; 12. Fixing snap. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] Reference Figure 1 This invention provides a gradient shielding and modular fast neutron protective suit, comprising: Reference Figure 2 The protective clothing base 1 is a vest-style structure, and the hem of its front placket at the position corresponding to the gonads adopts a convex design. The protective suit base 1 is provided with two standardized installation slots for the main shielding module and three standardized installation slots for the reinforced shielding module; Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The inner neutron absorption module 2 and the middle elastic scattering module 3 are detachably installed in the standardized installation slot of the main shielding module. The inner neutron absorption module 2 is made of boron rubber material, and the middle elastic scattering module 3 is made of hydrogel material. The outer inelastic scattering module 11 is detachably installed in the standardized mounting slot of the reinforced shielding module, and the outer inelastic scattering module 11 is made of tungsten rubber material. Within the area covered by the outer inelastic scattering module 11, a tungsten rubber inelastic scattering module, a hydrogel elastic scattering module, and a boron rubber absorption layer are sequentially formed from the outside to the inside along the wearing direction to perform gradient shielding of fast neutrons through inelastic scattering slowing, elastic scattering slowing, and capture absorption.

[0018] Preferred, refer to Figure 7In this embodiment of the invention, the protective clothing base 1 is made of high-strength waterproof Oxford cloth, which has the characteristics of being wear-resistant, waterproof, and not easily soiled. It can be used for the overall structural support and outer protection of the protective clothing. Two standardized installation slots for the main shielding modules are opened in the protective clothing base 1, with the openings of the standardized installation slots for the main shielding modules facing the hem. The inner neutron absorption module 2 and the middle elastic scattering module 3 can be installed in the standardized installation slots for the main shielding modules, so that the protective clothing base 1 wraps around the inner neutron absorption module 2 and the middle elastic scattering module 3. The standardized installation slot of the main shielding module is fixedly equipped with snaps for fixing the inner neutron absorption module 2 and / or the middle elastic scattering module 3 to the protective clothing base 1. In this embodiment of the invention, a neck fixing snap 6 and a hem fixing snap 7 are preferably provided. After the inner neutron absorption module 2 and / or the middle elastic scattering module 3 are inserted into the standardized installation slot of the main shielding module, the whole is fixed by snapping on the neck fixing snap 6 and the hem fixing snap 7 to prevent the inner neutron absorption module 2 and / or the middle elastic scattering module 3 from moving within the protective clothing base 1.

[0019] The protective suit base 1 is equipped with Velcro 5, which is used to secure the front and back of the protective suit after the staff put it on.

[0020] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 Three standardized installation slots for reinforced shielding modules are respectively located in the gonad module 9, chest module 8, and spine module 10 of the protective suit base 1. The openings of the three standardized installation slots all face the neck area. Each standardized installation slot is equipped with a fixing snap 12. When the outer non-elastic scattering module 11 is inserted into the standardized installation slot, the fixing snap 12 secures the outer non-elastic scattering module 11 to prevent movement. The standardized installation slots for reinforced shielding modules have an inner sealing design to prevent the modules from falling off. After the reinforced modules are installed, the installation gap is tightened by a zipper to prevent the reinforced shielding modules from moving.

[0021] The modular design, by concentrating shielding materials in areas of highly radiation-sensitive organs, avoids the weight redundancy of traditional uniform-thickness designs, thus improving the mass utilization rate of neutron protective suits. The modular design of each functional layer allows users to flexibly adjust the configuration of the protective suit according to fast neutron fields of different energies and intensities. In addition, different materials have different service lives, and the modular design facilitates the timely replacement of aging or damaged modules without scrapping the entire protective suit. This design can extend the overall service life of the protective suit and reduce resource waste.

[0022] Preferably, in this embodiment of the invention, the outer inelastic scattering module 11 uses EPDM rubber as a matrix, uniformly filled with tungsten powder with a particle size of 1~5 μm, the tungsten rubber has a tungsten mass ratio of 70%, and the overall density of the material is approximately 3.00 g / cm³. 3 The role of this layer is to synergistically moderate the interaction between hydrogen-rich materials and metallic tungsten. The inelastic scattering interaction between neutrons and tungsten can rapidly reduce the energy of high-energy fast neutrons.

[0023] Preferably, in this embodiment of the invention, the middle layer elastic scattering module 3 is made of a 1.5 cm thick flexible hydrogel material, mainly composed of water and a crosslinking agent, with an overall material density of approximately 1.00 g / cm³. 3 Hydrogel materials possess excellent flexibility and are rich in hydrogen atoms, which can effectively slow down fast neutrons through the elastic scattering interaction between neutrons and hydrogen atoms.

[0024] Preferably, in this embodiment of the invention, the inner neutron absorption module 2 uses EPDM rubber as a matrix, uniformly filled with boron powder with a particle size of 200 nm, the boron powder accounts for 40% of the mass of the boron rubber, and the overall density of the material is 1.31 g / cm³. 3 B-10 has a large thermal neutron absorption cross section, which can pass through... 10 B(n,α) 7 The Li reaction captures and absorbs the moderated neutrons.

[0025] The three-layer material of tungsten rubber-hydrogel-boron rubber forms a complete fast neutron shielding layer through gradient shielding effects of inelastic scattering-elastic scattering-capture absorption, thereby achieving efficient protection against neutrons in different energy ranges.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner boron rubber layer of the inner neutron absorption module 2 is an integrated design, with an effective protection area of ​​0.6 m². 2 The boron rubber module is 0.2 cm thick and weighs approximately 1570 g. It is fully sealed with Oxford cloth and its size is precisely matched to the mounting slot of the main shielding module. According to simulation calculations, this specification of boron rubber can shield approximately 99.47% of thermal neutrons; actual test results show that this specification of boron rubber can shield 97.9942% of thermal neutrons.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hydrogel material in the middle layer elastic scattering module 3 is an integrated design, with an effective protection area of ​​0.6 m². 2 The thickness can be designed to be 1 cm or 1.5 cm; the hydrogel material is also fully sealed with Oxford cloth, and its size is precisely matched to the installation slot of the main shielding module. The simulation calculation results of the shielding effect of the elastic scattering module combined with the neutron absorption module for the Cf-252 fast neutron radiation field are shown in Table 1.

[0028] Table 1. Dose attenuation rate of Cf-252 neutron radiation field by elastic scattering module + neutron absorption module

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer inelastic scattering module 11 is designed with an easily detachable tungsten rubber reinforced shielding module for highly radiation-sensitive organs in the human body, such as red bone marrow, gonads, and breasts, to achieve precise protection of these organs in a high-energy neutron field. The tungsten rubber reinforced shielding module can be divided into a gonad module 9, a chest module 8, and a spine module 10. Taking into account the body size of Chinese adults and the comfort of wearing protective clothing, the dimensions of the outer inelastic scattering module 11 are as follows: Gonad module 9 is 15×12 cm in size, with a thickness of 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, or 1 cm, covering the human gonadal area and part of the iliac bone; Chest module 8 is 24×18 cm in size, with a thickness of 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, or 1 cm, covering the breasts and most of the red bone marrow distribution area in the chest; Spine module 10 is 45×8 cm in size, with a thickness of 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, or 1 cm, designed along the spine to specifically protect the red bone marrow within the spine. The simulation results of the shielding effect of the inelastic scattering module + elastic scattering module + neutron absorption module for the Cf-252 fast neutron radiation field are shown in Table 2.

[0030] Table 2. Shielding effect of inelastic scattering module + elastic scattering module + neutron absorption module on neutrons emitted from Cf-252.

[0031] Based on Tables 1 and 2, the thickness and materials of each shielding module can be designed and adjusted according to the neutron energy level and dose rate requirements of different radiation fields. The matrix material can be replaced with tungsten rubber or boron rubber, and can be natural latex, EPDM rubber, or nitrile rubber, etc. If the inner neutron absorption module 2 uses a material with high B-10 enrichment as filler, it can achieve a better shielding effect. With the same boron content, 1 mm thick boron rubber with 40% B-10 enriched boron carbide filler can have a comparable thermal neutron absorption effect to 2 mm thick boron rubber with natural boron carbide filler. In addition to metal-rubber composite materials, the outer inelastic scattering module 11 can also be made solely of hydrogen-rich materials to adapt to the slowing requirements of fast neutrons with different energies, achieving precise protection for highly radiation-sensitive organs. Boron-containing hydrogel can be used to replace the middle elastic scattering module 3 and the inner neutron absorption module 2, achieving the effect of simplifying the production process and reducing costs.

[0032] Preferred, refer to Figure 5In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a thyroid protection module 4 is also provided. The thyroid protection module 4 completely covers the thyroid region of the neck. The internal shielding material is composed of 1.5 cm thick hydrogel material and 0.2 cm boron rubber, and is encapsulated by Oxford cloth. It can be easily put on and taken off, providing neck protection while ensuring that the movement of the head and neck is not restricted.

[0033] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the prior art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless specifically defined.

[0034] For the sake of simplicity, the method embodiments are described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of the present invention, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions involved are not necessarily essential to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] As can be seen from the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that this application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in various embodiments or some parts of the embodiments of this application.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gradient shielding and modular fast neutron protective suit, characterized in that, include: The protective suit base is a vest-style structure, and the hem of its front placket at the position corresponding to the gonads adopts a convex design. The protective suit base is provided with two standardized installation slots for the main shielding module and three standardized installation slots for the reinforced shielding module; The inner neutron absorption module and the middle elastic scattering module are detachably installed in the standardized mounting slot of the main shielding module, wherein the inner neutron absorption module is made of boron rubber material and the middle elastic scattering module is made of hydrogel material. An outer inelastic scattering module is detachably installed in the standardized mounting slot of the reinforced shielding module, and the outer inelastic scattering module is made of tungsten rubber material. Within the area covered by the outer inelastic scattering module, a tungsten rubber inelastic scattering module, a hydrogel elastic scattering module, and a boron rubber absorption layer are sequentially formed from the outside to the inside along the wearing direction to perform gradient shielding of fast neutrons through inelastic scattering slowing, elastic scattering slowing, and capture absorption.

2. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tungsten rubber material uses EPDM rubber as a matrix and is uniformly filled with tungsten powder with a particle size of 1~5 μm, and the tungsten powder accounts for 70% of the mass.

3. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrogel material is a flexible hydrogel material, and its main components are water and crosslinking agent. The hydrogel thickness of the middle layer elastic scattering module is 1 cm or 1.5 cm.

4. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The boron rubber material uses EPDM rubber as a matrix and is uniformly filled with boron powder with a particle size of 200 nm, and the boron powder accounts for 40% of the total mass. The overall density of the material is 1.31 g / cm³. 3 .

5. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The standardized installation slot for the reinforced shielding module is designed with an inner seal to prevent the module from falling off, and after installation, the installation gap is tightened by a zipper to prevent the module from moving.

6. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a thyroid protection module that completely covers the thyroid region of the neck. Its internal shielding material consists of 1.5 cm thick hydrogel material and 0.2 cm boron rubber, and is encapsulated in Oxford cloth for easy donning and doffing while ensuring unrestricted head and neck movement.

7. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner neutron absorption module is an integrated boron rubber structure, fully sealed with Oxford cloth, and its size is adapted to the standardized installation slot of the main shielding module.

8. The fast neutron protective suit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The middle layer elastic scattering module is an integrated boron rubber structure, fully sealed with Oxford cloth, and its size is adapted to the standardized installation slot of the main shielding module.

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