System and method for producing radionuclides

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) and a method (200) for producing radionuclides. The system (100) comprises: a container unit (110) for receiving a liquid compound (V) that contains constituents from which radionuclides are producible by way of an irradiation (B) with projectiles, the container unit (110) being designed to be at least partially transmissive to the irradiation (B); a cooling unit (120) for cooling the compound (V) such that the compound (V) received in the container unit (110) can be cooled to a freezing point of the compound (V) and / or to below the freezing point.

Description

[0001] System and method for the generation of radionuclides

[0002] The invention relates to a system and a method for the production of radionuclides.

[0003] Radionuclide production at a cyclotron is based on the irradiation of a specific material (target) with accelerated particles (projectiles). The target contains an element to be irradiated, either in pure form or in a compound form, which is converted into various, often radioactive, nuclides upon irradiation with, for example, protons / deuterons. The irradiation introduces thermal energy into the target, which must be dissipated to prevent the target from melting and / or evaporating. The radionuclides produced by irradiation are radiochemically separated from the target and further processed. Generally, there are two options for preparing the target in a beam path for irradiation.

[0004] One option is so-called solid-target technology. The target to be irradiated is fixed directly to a carrier plate (usually Al or Cu). This involves electroplating or other coating processes, which require both considerable technical complexity and, in some cases, very specific sample preparation. In many cases, the prepared target must also be covered with a protective layer / film to prevent evaporation and thus contamination of the irradiation system. The thermal energy generated by irradiation must be continuously dissipated. This can lead to problems with heat transfer on the various material surfaces (especially at the transitions between the target and the carrier plate), especially during longer irradiation times.Both the carrier material and the protective layer must be completely removed during further processing before isolation of the produced radionuclide can begin.

[0005] The general problem with solid-target technology is applying a thin layer of the element to be irradiated to the carrier plate. Various processes such as electroplating, sedimentation, and CVD (chemical vapor deposition) are used for this purpose, but these are often associated with technical difficulties and a non-homogeneous layer thickness of the element to be irradiated. Furthermore, these processes are sometimes very costly.

[0006] Cooling the target can be problematic, especially when using metal targets with a low melting point, which can lead to melting of the target and radionuclides.

[0007] For example, to prevent radon from outgassing from the radium during irradiation of a target with 226Ra, the target must be placed within a containment chamber, which is technically difficult to achieve. The risk of contamination of the irradiation facility (target failure) must be prevented at all costs. Undesirable incidents can occur, for example, due to insufficient cooling and / or leaky containment chambers.

[0008] The carrier plate onto which the target to be irradiated is applied is usually made of metals that are strongly activated by the irradiation (e.g. in the case of Cu carrier plates, long-lived Zn isotopes are formed, which lead to a considerable radiation exposure).

[0009] Extremely high dose rates are to be expected from irradiated targets, as short-lived radionuclides can also be produced. Technical transfer to so-called hot cells is therefore usually only possible via pneumatic tubes or other remotely controlled systems. Here, the liquid target technology mentioned below has the advantage that the radionuclide product is already in liquid form, making transfer much easier in very small, shielded lines.

[0010] In so-called liquid target technology, the element to be irradiated is suspended in a liquid (for this purpose, a salt can be dissolved in water) and filled into a container or chamber, a so-called target chamber. The target chamber has a chamber wall that defines the internal volume of the target chamber for holding the liquid. The chamber wall can be made of a film. The liquid together with the suspended element to be irradiated forms the target. Once placed in the target chamber, the target can be irradiated. The disadvantage is that the concentration of target nuclei in the liquid target is significantly lower than in the solid target (element or salt solubility), thus greatly reducing the interaction of the irradiation projectiles with the element to be irradiated. The chamber wall can have entry films in sections through which the radiation can enter the target chamber.The energy of the projectiles (e.g. protons, alpha particles) is reduced as the beam passes through the entrance foil of the chamber wall due to inelastic collisions with the electrons (energy loss per path). For example, even with very thin entrance foils, complete absorption in the entrance foil can occur during irradiation with He nuclei, meaning that the He nuclei cannot reach the target and induce nuclear reactions. The thickness of the chamber wall must be selected such that the target chamber is protected against bursting of the target chamber or melting of the entrance foil due to the heat generated. The irradiation can cause the target to become at least partially gaseous and / or pressurized, so that predetermined temperature and pressure resistance must be provided. On the other hand, the thickness should be selected as small as possible so as not to reduce the entry energy of the projectiles too much when passing through the entrance foil.The risk of contamination from thermal overheating resulting in chamber wall rupture is much higher compared to solid-target technology. The advantage of liquid-target technology lies in the much simpler sample preparation and the subsequent, comparatively simple transfer of the radionuclide mixture for further processing.

[0011] The main problem of liquid target technology, in addition to the lower radionuclide production yield (low density of the target material), is the risk to the facility due to rupture of the chamber wall due to temperature-related pressure build-up.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for generating radionuclides that at least improve one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to make the generation of radionuclides safer and more efficient.

[0013] According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a system for generating radionuclides, comprising: a container unit for holding a liquid compound having components from which radionuclides can be generated by irradiation with projectiles, the container unit being designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation; a cooling unit for cooling the compound such that the compound held in the container unit can be cooled to a freezing point of the compound and / or below the freezing point. The system can be referred to as a frozen target technology system. Furthermore, the proposed system can be understood as a further development of liquid target technology. The compound to be irradiated can be referred to as a target or target material. The container unit can be referred to as a target chamber.Irradiation can be achieved by irradiating the components of the compound. Irradiation can be a process in which the compound is exposed to accelerated projectiles.

[0014] The container unit can be designed such that it seals and / or closes the frozen connection in a fluidic and / or gas-tight manner. The container unit can be designed to contain the frozen connection. The container unit can be designed such that it seals the received connection, in particular in a fluidic and / or gas-tight manner, from the external environment of the container unit. For this purpose, the container unit can be designed such that it is at least partially permeable to the irradiation and seals itself fluidic and / or gas-tight from the external environment. Thus, the connection cannot escape from the container unit and can still be irradiated in the container unit.

[0015] The cooling unit can be designed to cool the compound received in the container unit in such a way that it is at least partially, in particular completely, frozen.

[0016] The freezing point of the compound may be determined such that the freezing point of the compound is lower than a freezing point of a cooling liquid of the cooling unit.

[0017] The container unit can be designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation, such that the projectiles can at least partially penetrate the container unit during irradiation and interact with the connection.

[0018] The inventors have recognized that freezing the compound in the container unit significantly reduces the risk of outgassing. The frozen state of the compound increases the density of the compound and enables the use of thinner container walls, particularly protective films for the container unit, compared to liquid target technology. Furthermore, any gases that form (e.g., Rn from Ra) can be directly bound in the frozen compound.

[0019] The container unit may comprise and / or consist of a container wall and an irradiation window. The container wall and the irradiation window may comprise or consist of different materials. The container wall may have a thickness or wall thickness that is greater than the thickness or wall thickness of the irradiation window. The container wall and the irradiation window may define an interior volume of the container unit into which the connection can be accommodated.

[0020] The container wall and / or the irradiation window can be foil-like and / or a protective film.

[0021] The irradiation of the compound can occur at least through the irradiation window. The container unit can be designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation, so that the irradiation of the compound accommodated in the container unit occurs at least through the irradiation window.

[0022] The further the joint is cooled below its freezing point, the lower the risk of breakage of the container unit, especially the container wall. A cooling medium for cooling the joint can have a cooling temperature and the joint can have a joint temperature. A temperature difference between the cooling temperature and the joint temperature can be referred to as Delta T. The cooling of the joint can further depend on a flow velocity of the cooling medium. Known cooling systems only dissipate thermal energy through a flow velocity of the cooling medium with a low Delta T (approx. 30 °C). In the proposed system, cooling can be carried out with liquid air or liquid nitrogen, which can lead to a Delta T of approx. 250 °C. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling unit can comprise a heat energy transfer system.

[0023] With liquid-target technology, outgassing can occur during irradiation of the compound due to the decay of its isotopes. Even small amounts of this outgassing pose a significant contamination risk. The further the compound is cooled below freezing and / or the higher the delta T, the more the outgassing can be immobilized. This can further prevent the gas from diffusing into, for example, a cyclotron bunker.

[0024] Furthermore, with liquid target technology, outgassing can occur during irradiation of the compound due to a transition from the frozen and / or solid phase to the vapor phase. During this transition, the partial pressure can change, thus increasing the pressure within the container unit. This pressure increase can lead to the container unit breaking and / or bursting.

[0025] Furthermore, with liquid target technology, outgassing can occur during irradiation of the compound due to chemical reactions, for example, the formation of CO2. In addition to pressure issues, defects in the target can lead to reduced yield.

[0026] In general, the compound can have a predetermined diffusion enthalpy, which is temperature-dependent and also safety-critical.

[0027] The aforementioned possibilities of outgassing and the diffusion enthalpy are safety-critical, especially with liquid target technology. Freezing the compound can not only reduce the risk of outgassing but also at least reduce the diffusion enthalpy, thus providing improved safety.

[0028] The system can be used for a particle accelerator and / or a cyclotron. For this purpose, the system can be arranged in and / or on the particle accelerator and / or the cyclotron. The particle accelerator or cyclotron can be configured to provide and accelerate the projectiles.

[0029] The irradiation can proceed along an irradiation direction. The container unit, in particular an entrance or irradiation surface of the container unit, can be arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the irradiation direction, such that the irradiation of the compound is possible, in particular via the irradiation window. The irradiation window can have the irradiation surface. The predetermined angle can be 90° or an angle other than 90°, for example, 170°. In particular, a larger irradiation area can be achieved at the angle other than 90°.

[0030] The container unit can have at least one inlet, which, when open, allows the compound to be fed into the container unit, particularly in the liquid state, and / or blocks the feed when closed. A line can be connected to this inlet. Furthermore, the inlet can be designed for fluidic and / or gas-tight sealing and / or closure, particularly when blocked.

[0031] The container unit can have at least one outlet that, when opened, allows the compound to be discharged from the container unit, particularly in the liquid state, and / or blocks the discharge when closed. A line can be connected to this outlet. Furthermore, the outlet can be designed for fluidic and / or gas-tight sealing and / or closure, particularly when blocked.

[0032] The system may comprise at least one of the inlet and outlet lines. The inlet and / or the inlet line may be configured to pre-cool the liquid compound during filling of the container unit in order to reduce the time until the compound freezes by means of the cooling unit. The outlet and / or the outlet line may be configured to heat the compound.

[0033] The system can be designed such that, prior to irradiation, the liquid compound is supplied to the container unit via the inlet in the open state. If the container unit has a vacuum, the outlet can seal when closed and thus prevent any possible discharge of the compound. If the container unit contains a gas, for example air, the outlet can discharge the gas when open. For this purpose, the outlet can be arranged above the inlet so that the liquid compound displaces the gas upwards towards the outlet. After a predetermined fill level has been reached, in particular when the compound in the container unit is completely filled, the inlet can change to the closed state. The cooling of the compound introduced into the container unit by means of the cooling unit can take place during filling and / or after filling the container unit.Cooling by means of the cooling unit can be carried out such that the compound is at least partially, in particular completely, frozen before irradiation with the projectiles. The frozen compound can then be irradiated. During irradiation, the compound can be further cooled by means of the cooling unit. During and / or after irradiation, cooling by means of the cooling unit can be interrupted so that the frozen compound assumes an ambient temperature and thaws. This procedure can be particularly advantageous if the ambient temperature is a temperature at which the compound is in the liquid phase. Alternatively or additionally, the compound can be heated to a predetermined temperature by means of the cooling unit and / or a subsequently mentioned heating unit. The predetermined temperature can be a temperature at which the compound is in the liquid phase.As soon as the compound is at least partially, or especially completely, liquid, the outlet can be opened and the liquid compound can be drained away.

[0034] The compound may comprise or be an aqueous salt solution. Alternatively or additionally, the compound may comprise one or more hydrophilic or hydrophobic solvents.

[0035] The components of the compound may include one or more of the following: radium chloride (RaCh), radium bromide (RaBr2), radium iodide (Ra^), radium sulfate (RaSC), radium nitrate (Ra(NOs)2), radium acetate (Ra(C2HsO2)2), radium carbonate (RaCCh), radium phosphate (Ra3(PO4)2); radium hydroxide (Ra(OH)2), bismuth nitrate (Bi(NOs)3), bismuth chloride (BiCh), bismuth bromide (BiBr3), bismuth iodide (Bih), bismuth oxide (Bi2Os), bismuth carbonate (Bi2(COs)3), bismuth sulfate (Bi2(SO4)3), bismuth phosphate (BiPO4), bismuth arsenate (BiAsO4), bismuth arsenite (BiAsO3).

[0036] The liquid compound may consist of or comprise the components and water. Alternatively or additionally, the components may be dissolved in water.

[0037] The irradiation can be provided by accelerating the projectiles using an electric and / or magnetic field. The accelerated projectiles can comprise and / or be protons, deuterons, alpha particles, gamma particles, He and / or heavy nuclei. The projectiles can arise from and / or be provided by photonuclear reactions induced by intense y-radiation.

[0038] The freezing point can characterize a freezing temperature at which the compound, in particular with all components of the compound, transitions into the frozen state and / or is in such a state. Different substances can have different freezing points, so that for a compound with different components, the freezing point can be selected such that all components of the compound freeze. Alternatively, the freezing point can be selected such that the compound at least partially transitions into the frozen state.

[0039] The cooling unit may be configured to cool the recorded compound before and / or during irradiation of the recorded compound.

[0040] The cooling unit may be designed to cool one or the container wall of the container unit for cooling the received compound.

[0041] The cooling unit may be arranged at least partially on an inner surface and / or within the container unit and configured to cool the compound in the container unit.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, the cooling unit can be arranged at least partially within the container wall and designed to cool the connection in the container unit, in particular indirectly via the container wall.

[0043] The cooling unit can further be designed to cool the contained compound to a target freezing point, wherein the target freezing point lies below the freezing point. A target freezing point below the freezing point can ensure that even if thermal energy is generated in the container unit and / or the compound, this thermal energy does not lead to liquefaction and / or no or very little gas formation. The target freezing point can be predetermined by a user and / or a composition of the compound. With regard to temperatures, "below" can mean that this temperature represents a lower thermal energy than another related temperature. For example, a temperature below 0°C can mean a temperature of -10°C. "Above" can therefore mean that this temperature represents a greater thermal energy than the related temperature.For example, a temperature above 0°C can mean a temperature of +10°C.

[0044] The cooling capacity of the cooling unit can be based on the irradiation power and / or the heating of the compound based on the irradiation power. Accordingly, the cooling capacity can be determined to freeze the compound and further to remove heat energy from the compound in such a way that liquefaction of the compound and / or gas formation are prevented and / or reduced.

[0045] The cooling unit may comprise and / or be a thermal energy transfer system. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling unit may comprise and / or be at least one cryostat. Cryostats with a low-temperature medium and / or liquefied air may be used.

[0046] The cooling unit and / or a subsequently mentioned heating unit can have a cooling liquid for cooling and / or heating. The cooling liquid can consist of and / or comprise light elements. Light elements can be heavy hydrogen, helium, or lithium.

[0047] In the proposed method, the container unit, in particular the irradiation window, can be designed with relatively thin walls similar to and / or identical to the liquid target technology in order to achieve the smallest possible reduction in irradiation of the compound in the container unit. However, with the liquid target technology, it must be noted that bursting of the container unit should be avoided as far as possible due to the risk of gas formation and the associated pressure. By freezing the compound, the risk of bursting is significantly reduced, so that a comparatively thin container wall can be selected. The wall thickness of the container wall and / or the irradiation window can be predetermined based on a safety aspect, thermal load capacity and / or compressive strength. The wall thickness of the container wall and / or the irradiation window can be predetermined between 5 pm and 1 mm.The wall thickness can be chosen to be larger, but this is associated with a higher radiation loss at the container unit. The container wall and the irradiation window can have different wall thicknesses.

[0048] The container unit, in particular the container wall, can have an irradiation window or the irradiation window for at least partially passing the irradiation, wherein the cooling unit is designed to cool at least one container section of the container unit opposite the irradiation window. Alternatively or additionally, further container sections of the container unit can be cooled by means of the cooling unit.

[0049] The irradiation window may have the predetermined wall thickness.

[0050] The container unit can extend along a depth direction with a predetermined depth. Furthermore, the container unit can have a predetermined length along a longitudinal direction extending perpendicular to the depth direction and / or a predetermined width along a width direction extending perpendicular to the depth and / or longitudinal directions, wherein the predetermined length and / or width is / are greater than the depth.

[0051] The container unit can be plate-shaped, cylindrical, annular, and / or plate-shaped. The cylindrical container unit can have a longitudinal cylinder axis that extends parallel to the depth direction.

[0052] The system can further comprise at least one pressure sensor and / or a volume flow sensor. The pressure sensor can be designed to determine a pressure in the container unit and to provide pressure information to a subsequently mentioned controller. The volume sensor can be designed to determine a volume flow of the liquid fluid into the container unit and to provide volume flow information to the controller. The volume flow information can characterize a volume per unit of time. Based on the volume flow information and a time specification, a volume of the connection taken up into the container unit can be determined. The system can further comprise at least one leakage sensor which is designed to determine a tightness of the container unit. The system can additionally or alternatively comprise one or more further control sensors for detecting one or more further parameters of the system.the several additional parameters may indicate an intensity of the irradiation, a radiation of the irradiated container unit and / or compound.

[0053] The system may further comprise at least one first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the compound in the container unit and providing temperature data characterizing the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the system may comprise at least one second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the container wall, in particular of the container section, and providing temperature data characterizing the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor.

[0054] The system may further comprise a controller configured to control the system, in particular the cooling unit, the container unit, and / or a subsequently mentioned heating unit. The controller may be configured to control the cooling unit, the heating unit, the inlet, and / or the outlet based on the provided temperature data and / or the further mentioned data and / or parameters.

[0055] The cooling unit can further be designed to heat the compound to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined heating period. Alternatively or additionally, the system can further be designed to include a heating unit or the heating unit for heating the compound in the container unit to the predetermined temperature for the predetermined heating period. The predetermined temperature can be a temperature at which the compound is liquid. The predetermined heating period can in particular be predetermined such that the compound has an at least partially, preferably completely, liquid state during and / or upon completion of the heating period. For this purpose, the heating unit can be arranged on the container unit and / or spaced from it. Alternatively or additionally, the heating unit can be arranged at least partially within the container unit.The system may further comprise a containment chamber, wherein the container unit, the cooling unit, and / or the heating unit, and / or other units of the system are arranged within the containment chamber, and the containment chamber provides contamination protection. Alternatively or additionally, the containment chamber may provide radiation protection.

[0056] The cooling unit and / or the heating unit can be comprised by the container unit and / or arranged on and / or in it.

[0057] The object is achieved according to a second aspect by a method for the production of radionuclides, comprising

[0058] Feeding a liquid compound into a container unit, the compound comprising components from which radionuclides can be produced by means of irradiation, the container unit being designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation;

[0059] Cooling the compound such that the compound received in the container unit is cooled to a freezing point of the compound or below the freezing point.

[0060] The method may be an at least partially computer-implemented and / or computer-implementable method.

[0061] Features implemented with respect to the system may be implemented as method features of the method according to the second aspect.

[0062] The method may further comprise, after at least partial, in particular complete freezing of the compound, irradiation with the radiation.

[0063] After and / or during the irradiation, the method may further comprise heating the compound to a predetermined temperature at which the compound becomes or is liquid.

[0064] The method may include removing the liquid compound from the container unit after irradiation and / or heating. According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by a computer program product comprising instructions that cause the system according to the first aspect to execute the method steps according to the second aspect. The computer program product may be storable and / or stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0065] Preferred embodiments are explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0066] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a cross-section of a system for the production of radionuclides;

[0067] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a container unit of the system; and

[0068] Fig. 3 shows a process for the production of radionuclides.

[0069] In the figures, identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0070] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 100 for generating radionuclides. The system 100 can be used in a particle accelerator.

[0071] The system 100 comprises a container unit 110 for holding a liquid compound V, which contains components from which the radionuclides can be generated by irradiation B with projectiles. The projectiles can be protons, for example. The projectiles can be accelerated by means of an electric and / or magnetic field of the particle accelerator.

[0072] According to Fig. 1, the container unit 110 has an irradiation window 111. The irradiation unit 110, in particular the irradiation window 111, is designed such that it is at least partially permeable to the irradiation B, in particular the projectiles. Additional container sections can be at least partially permeable to the irradiation B. The container unit 110 extends along a depth direction TR with a predetermined depth. A longitudinal direction LR extends perpendicular to the depth direction TR, and a width direction BR extends perpendicular to the depth and longitudinal directions TR, LR.

[0073] The irradiation window 111 has a length L1 along the longitudinal direction LR that is smaller than a predetermined length of the container unit 110 along the longitudinal direction LR. Alternatively, the length L1 can be selected to be smaller or larger.

[0074] Furthermore, the container unit 110 has a predetermined width along the width direction BR. According to Fig. 1, the predetermined depth is smaller than the length and smaller than the width of the container unit 110. Due to the smaller depth, the irradiation cross-section for the irradiation is larger. Furthermore, the irradiation cross-section can be increased by a predetermined angle, here less than 20°.

[0075] The container unit 110 has a container wall and the irradiation window 111, which define an internal volume of the container unit 110. The container wall can have a predetermined wall thickness. The wall thickness can be predetermined based on a safety aspect, a thermal load capacity, and / or a compressive strength. The wall thickness, in particular of the irradiation window, can be selected to be particularly thin-walled in order to slow down and / or absorb the projectiles as little as possible. For this purpose, the wall thickness of the irradiation window 111 can be designed to be smaller than the wall thickness of the container wall.

[0076] The container unit 110 has, see also Fig. 2, a round cross-section, with the irradiation window 111 arranged centrally.

[0077] Furthermore, the container unit 110 has an inlet 112 and an outlet 113, which are fluidically connected to respective lines L. Furthermore, a connection flow direction VR is marked in Fig. 1, which indicates a flow direction of the fluid. Alternatively or additionally, the container unit 110 can have a single fluid interface via which the connection can be supplied and discharged. The inlet 112 and the outlet 113 can each have an open and a closed state. In the open state, the inlet 112 is designed to supply the liquid connection V into the container unit 110 and the outlet 112 is designed to discharge the liquid connection V from the container unit 110. In the closed state, the inlet 112 is designed to block the supply and the outlet 113 is designed to block the discharge.The liquid compound V can be supplied via line L of the inlet 112 and removed via line L of the outlet 113. At the fluid interface, the compound V can be supplied and removed via a single line.

[0078] The system 100 further comprises the cooling unit 120 for cooling the compound V such that the compound V accommodated in the container unit 110 can be cooled to a freezing point of the compound V or below the freezing point. The compound V preferably completely fills the container unit 110.

[0079] The inventors have recognized that by freezing the compound V, the risk of gas and / or pressure buildup during, and especially before, irradiation B can be reduced. Consequently, the potential for bursting of the container unit 110 due to the gas and / or pressure buildup can be reduced. This allows for a thinner wall thickness of the container wall and / or the irradiation window 111 compared to the liquid target technology, resulting in reduced attenuation of the rays S. In addition, material costs for the container wall and / or the irradiation window can be reduced.

[0080] In Fig. 1, the cooling unit 120 is arranged on a rear side of the container unit 110, viewed along the depth direction TR, although the invention is not limited thereto. A front side of the container unit 110 is located on the side of the irradiation window. Consequently, by means of the cooling unit 120, this rear side of the container unit 110 and thus a container section opposite the irradiation window 111 can be cooled such that the compound V is cooled to the freezing point or below the freezing point. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling unit 120 can be arranged at a distance from the container unit 110 and / or at least partially in the container unit 110 and / or the container wall.

[0081] The cooling unit 120 is designed according to Fig. 1 such that the connection

[0082] V is frozen before exposure to the rays S. Freezing before irradiation ensures that the risk of gas and / or pressure formation is minimized.

[0083] The cooling unit 120 can be designed to already during the filling of the container unit 110 with the liquid compound V the connection

[0084] V so that the time until complete freezing and irradiation can be shortened.

[0085] The system 100 may comprise at least one first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the compound V in the container unit 110 and providing temperature data characterizing the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. Furthermore, the system 100 may comprise at least one second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the container wall, in particular of the container section, and providing temperature data characterizing the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor. The system 100 may comprise further sensors for detecting parameters that can be used to control the system 100, for example, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the compound V in the container unit 110.

[0086] After the irradiation B has ended, the cooling with the cooling unit 120 can be interrupted to allow the compound V to melt and thus change into the liquid phase. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling unit 120 and / or a heating unit (not shown) of the system 100 can be designed to heat the compound V to a predetermined temperature at which the compound V is liquid. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling can be interrupted and / or stopped before the irradiation B has ended and / or the heating can already take place before the irradiation B has ended. The system 100 can further comprise a controller (not shown) designed to control the system 100, in particular the inlet 112, the outlet 113, the cooling unit 120 and / or the heating unit.

[0087] The controller can be designed to control the inlet 112 and / or the outlet 113 such that, prior to irradiation B, the liquid compound V is supplied to the container unit 110 via the inlet 112 in the open state. If the container unit 110 has a vacuum, the outlet 113 can seal when closed and thus prevent any possible discharge of the compound V. If the container unit 110 has a gas, for example air, the outlet 113 can discharge the gas when open. For this purpose, the outlet 113 can be arranged above the inlet 112, see Fig. 1, so that the liquid compound V displaces the gas upwards towards the outlet 113.

[0088] After reaching a predetermined fill level, in particular a complete filling with the connection V of the container unit 110, the controller can be configured to change the inlet 112 to the closed state. The controller can further be configured to control the cooling unit 120 such that the cooling of the connection V introduced into the container unit 110 takes place during filling and / or after filling of the container unit 110. Cooling by means of the cooling unit 120 can be carried out such that the connection V is at least partially, in particular completely, frozen before the irradiation B. The frozen connection V can then be irradiated. During the irradiation B, the connection V can be further cooled by means of the cooling unit 120.

[0089] After irradiation B, cooling by means of the cooling unit 120 can be interrupted so that the frozen compound V assumes an ambient temperature. This procedure can be particularly advantageous if the ambient temperature is a temperature at which the compound V is in the liquid phase. Alternatively or additionally, the compound V can be heated to a predetermined temperature by means of the cooling unit 120 and / or the heating unit. The predetermined temperature can be a temperature at which the compound V is in the liquid phase. As soon as the compound V is at least partially, in particular completely, liquid, the outlet 113 can be opened and the liquid compound V can be discharged.

[0090] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a method 200 for the production of radionuclides. The method 200 comprises:

[0091] Feeding 210 a liquid compound V into a container unit 110, wherein the compound V comprises components from which radionuclides can be generated by means of irradiation B with projectiles, wherein the container unit 110 is designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation B;

[0092] Cooling 220 the compound V such that the compound V received in the container unit 110 is cooled to a freezing point of the compound V or below the freezing point.

[0093] Previously mentioned aspects of the system 100 can be embodied as method steps of the method 200.

[0094] The method 200 may be a computer-implemented and / or computer-implementable method stored in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product comprises instructions that cause the system 100 to execute the method steps of the method 200. For this purpose, the system 100 may have an optional memory on which the computer program product is stored. Furthermore, the system 100, in particular the controller, may comprise one or more processors for executing the computer program product.

[0095] REFERENCE SYMBOL

[0096] 100 System for the generation of radionuclides

[0097] 110 Container unit

[0098] 111 Irradiation windows

[0099] 112 Entrance

[0100] 113 Outlet

[0101] L Line

[0102] L1 Length of the irradiation window

[0103] B Irradiation with projectiles

[0104] 120 cooling unit

[0105] VR connection current direction

[0106] LR longitudinal direction

[0107] TR depth direction

[0108] BR latitude direction

[0109] 200 processes for the production of radionuclides

[0110] 210 Feeding a liquid compound into a container unit

[0111] 220 Cooling the connection

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system (100) for the production of radionuclides, comprising: a container unit (110) for holding a liquid compound (V) having components from which radionuclides can be produced by irradiation (B) with projectiles, wherein the container unit (110) is designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation (B); a cooling unit (120) for cooling the compound (V) such that the compound (V) held in the container unit (110) can be cooled to a freezing point of the compound (V) and / or below the freezing point.

2. System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit (120) is designed to cool the recorded compound (V) before and / or during the irradiation (B) of the recorded compound (V).

3. System (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling unit (120) is designed to cool a container wall of the container unit (110) for cooling the received compound (V).

4. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling unit (120) is arranged at least partially on an inner surface and / or within the container unit (110) and is designed to cool the connection (V) in the container unit (110).

5. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling unit (120) is designed to cool the received compound (V) to a desired freezing point, wherein the desired freezing point is below the freezing point.

6. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a cooling power of the cooling unit (120) is based on a power of the irradiation (B) and / or a heating of the connection (V) based on the power of the irradiation (B).

7. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling unit is designed to cool the connection such that it is at least partially, in particular completely, frozen.

8. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling unit (120) comprises and / or is a thermal energy transfer system, and / or wherein the cooling unit (120) comprises or is at least one cryostat.

9. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container unit (110), in particular the container wall, Irradiation window (111) for at least partially passing the irradiation (B), wherein the cooling unit (120) is designed to cool at least one container section of the container unit (110) opposite the irradiation window (111).

10. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: at least one first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the compound in the container unit (110) and providing temperature data characterizing the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor; and / or at least one second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the container wall, in particular of the container section, and providing temperature data characterizing the temperature detected by means of the second temperature sensor.

11. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling unit (120) is further designed to heat the compound (V) in the container unit (110) to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined heating period, and / or wherein the system is further designed to have a heating unit for heating the compound (V) in the container unit (110) to the predetermined temperature for the predetermined heating period, wherein the predetermined temperature is a temperature at which the compound (V) is liquid, wherein the predetermined heating period is in particular predetermined such that the compound (V) has a completely liquid state during and / or upon completion of the heating period.

12. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a controller configured to control the system (100), in particular the cooling unit (120), the container unit (110) and / or the heating unit.

13. System (100) according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling unit (120) and / or the heating unit based on the provided temperature data 14. A method (200) for the production of radionuclides, comprising: Feeding (210) a liquid compound (V) into a container unit (110), wherein the compound (V) has components from which radionuclides can be produced by means of irradiation (B) with projectiles, wherein the Container unit is designed to be at least partially permeable to the irradiation (B); Cooling (220) the compound (V) such that the compound (V) received in the container unit (110) is cooled to a freezing point of the compound (V) or below the freezing point.

15. A computer program product comprising instructions that cause the system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 to perform the method steps according to claim 14.

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