Optimization design research for 89Sr production in China Experimental Fast Reactor

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Radiochemistry
• Reactor Physics

Background:

• China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) is China's first sodium-cooled fast reactor.
• CEFR features high power, high neutron flux, and significant neutron leakage due to its hard spectrum.
• Neutron leakage presents an opportunity for radioisotope production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of producing strontium-89 (Sr-89) in the CEFR.
• To optimize designs for enhancing the specific activity of Sr-89.
• To utilize neutron leakage for valuable radioisotope generation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the MCNP code coupled with the ORIGEN2 procedure for calculations.
• Designed an optimized target assembly for Sr-89 production.
• Selected appropriate irradiation locations and cycle lengths within the CEFR fuel region.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that higher specific activity of Sr-89 can be achieved through optimized design parameters.
• Calculations confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed methods for Sr-89 production.
• Identified feasible conditions for producing Sr-89 within the CEFR.

Conclusions:

• It is feasible to produce Sr-89 in the fuel region of the CEFR.
• Optimized target assembly, irradiation location, and cycle length significantly improve Sr-89 specific activity.
• CEFR's characteristics, particularly neutron leakage, can be leveraged for radioisotope production.