Particle Beam Target with Segmented Coolant Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radionuclide production systems face inefficiencies in heat removal during particle beam irradiation, leading to low radionuclide production yield and risk of target structural failure due to inadequate heat management.
Innovation Solution
A particle beam target design featuring numerous high-velocity, multi-stage coolant flow paths arranged in parallel and closely spaced to the target cavity, maximizing heat transfer from the target material to the coolant, thereby enhancing heat removal capacity and preventing structural failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling methods with limited coolant flow paths are used, then the target structure remains simple, but heat removal capacity is insufficient leading to target structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant system is segmented into multiple parallel flow paths with numerous closely spaced coolant inlet bores and outlet bores distributed across the target body. This segmentation allows heat to be removed from multiple locations simultaneously, dramatically increasing overall heat removal capacity while distributing the thermal load across many small channels rather than relying on a single complex cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from conventional single-stage or two-stage flow paths to a multi-stage three-dimensional network of coolant channels. The inlet bores, outlet bores, and intermediate connection bores create a spatially distributed cooling architecture that penetrates deep into the target structure, enabling heat removal from the interior volume rather than just the surface
2Productivity
If higher beam energy is inputted to increase radionuclide production, then production yield increases, but heat deposition increases causing target structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful heat deposition from high-energy particle beam irradiation into a manageable thermal load by distributing it through numerous closely spaced coolant flow paths. The high beam power that would normally cause structural failure is instead utilized productively because the segmented cooling architecture efficiently carries away the heat, allowing the harmful thermal effect to be transformed into a controllable parameter that supports higher production yields
3Temperature
If conventional single-stage or two-stage coolant flow paths are used, then the cooling system remains simple, but heat transfer capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant system is segmented into multiple parallel flow paths with numerous closely spaced coolant inlet bores and outlet bores distributed across the target body. This segmentation allows heat to be removed from multiple locations simultaneously, dramatically increasing overall heat removal capacity while distributing the thermal load across many small channels rather than relying on a single complex cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from conventional single-stage or two-stage flow paths to a multi-stage three-dimensional network of coolant channels. The inlet bores, outlet bores, and intermediate connection bores create a spatially distributed cooling architecture that penetrates deep into the target structure, enabling heat removal from the interior volume rather than just the surface
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
This design significantly increases radionuclide production yield by effectively managing heat, preventing void formation, and allowing higher beam power without target failure, thus improving the efficiency and reliability of radionuclide production.
Implementation Method 1
The target body has a plurality of coolant flow paths formed therein... the plurality of coolant flow paths arranged in parallel and in close proximity to the target cavity... maximizing heat transfer from the target material to the coolant
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of coolant flow paths arranged in parallel and in close proximity to the target cavity... high-velocity, multi-stage coolant flow paths... maximizing heat transfer from the target material to the coolant
Implementation Method 3
The particle beam deposits a significant amount of heat into the target material residing in the target during bombardment... only about one of every 2,000 protons stopping in the target water actually produces the desired nuclear reaction, with the rest of the proton beam merely depositing heat
Implementation Method 4
The particle beam deposits a significant amount of heat into the target material residing in the target during bombardment
Data Source
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AI summary
A particle beam target for producing radionuclides includes a target body, a target cavity, parallel grooves, peripheral bores, and radial outflow bores. The parallel grooves are formed in a back side of the target body and include respective first and second groove ends. The peripheral bores extend through the target body from the plurality of grooves generally toward the front side that receives a particle beam. Each groove communicates with a peripheral bore at the first groove end and another peripheral bore at the second groove end. The radial outflow bores extend radially from the plurality of peripheral bores. The target body defines a plurality of liquid coolant flow paths. Each liquid coolant flow path runs from a respective groove to at least one of the first groove end and the second groove end of the respective groove, through at least one peripheral bore, and through at least one radial outflow bore.