Gas Target System Frustoconical Cavity High Pressure Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current target systems for producing radioisotopes are inefficient due to limitations in cooling and pressure handling, leading to reduced effectiveness and increased complexity in radiation protection equipment.

Innovation Solution

A gas target system with a frustoconical cavity and an improved cooling circuit that surrounds the cavity, including a permeable window and support grid to withstand pressure differences, allowing for higher pressure operation and reduced cavity length, enhancing nuclear reaction efficiency and radiation protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional target system is used, then the system can operate at standard pressures, but the system lacks efficiency and requires larger cavity depth to stop particle beams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradioisotope production efficiencyVSAvoidcavity depth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter from standard to high pressure operation. By increasing the target gas pressure, the density of target atoms increases, which enhances the probability of nuclear reactions with incident particles. This allows achieving the same production efficiency in a shorter cavity depth, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and cavity length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the cavity is cooled adequately, then stable operation at high pressure is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling circuit is integrated directly into the cavity structure itself, merging the cooling function with the cavity body. This eliminates the need for separate external cooling systems and complex heat exchangers, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective cooling for stable high-pressure operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A cooling fluid acts as an intermediary substance that absorbs heat generated during high-pressure operation. The cooling circuit circulates this fluid through channels in the cavity, efficiently transferring heat away from the target gas region and maintaining operational stability without requiring complex active cooling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If radiation protection equipment is positioned closer to the reaction zone, then protection effectiveness increases, but the required space for equipment installation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation protection effectivenessVSAvoidequipment installation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The frustoconical cavity shape optimizes the spatial arrangement in three dimensions. The conical geometry allows radiation protection equipment to be positioned strategically closer to the reaction zone along the particle beam axis, utilizing the tapered space to accommodate shielding materials effectively. This dimensional optimization enables closer positioning without proportionally reducing the available installation area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves stable radioisotope production at higher pressures, reduces the depth required to stop particle beams, and allows for more compact and effective radiation protection by positioning equipment closer to nuclear reaction zones.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling circuit comprising at least one channel which comprises an inlet and an outlet and surrounds at least a part of the cavity, the channel being positioned closest to the parts heated by an interaction of the particle beam with the gas contained in the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a cooling circuit comprising at least one channel which comprises an inlet and an outlet and surrounds at least a part of the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

enables the necessary nuclear reactions between said target gas and the incident protons

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNuclear reactions: Nuclear Fission

Implementation Method 4

a window, positioned opposite the entrance to the cavity to close the cavity, permeable to protons to allow introduction of protons from the particle beam emitted by the particle accelerator into the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProton penetration: Ion Beam

Data Source

PatentEP3560302B1Gas targeting system for producing radioisotopes
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 PMB
  • EP3560302B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3560302B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3560302B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention concerns a gas targeting system (100) comprising a body (110), which has a frustoconical cavity; a cooling circuit comprising at least one channel which surrounds at least one portion of the cavity; a window, positioned facing an inlet of the cavity in order to close the cavity, comprising a fine sheet that is permeable to at least a portion of a beam of particles emitted by a particle accelerator and a support grid configured to support pressure differences between and inside of the cavity and an outside of the targeting system (100), with the fine sheet positioned between the support grid and the cavity (120); and a support flange (160) which holds the window and is hermetically secured on the body, and which comprises a mechanical attachment interface at the outlet of a particle accelerator (170).