The study of physics and thermal characteristics for in-hospital neutron irradiator (IHNI)

Appl Radiat Isot. 2009 Jul;67(7-8 Suppl):S234-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.117. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Abstract

The IHNI is designed for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) based on miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR). The reactor with thermal power 30 kW is an undermoderated reactor of pool-tank type, and UO(2) as fuel, light water as coolant and moderator, and metallic beryllium as reflector. The fission heat produced by the reactor is removed by the natural convection. The paper gives the calculating results of critical mass and the worths of central control rod, auxiliary control rod, reactivity regulator and neutron beam equipments. The parameters at thermal and small thermal ports and at epithermal port were calculated by optimizing combination of kinds of material by MCNP code. The dynamic feature research was done by RELAP5 code when the reactivities of 3, 4.5 and 6 mK were inserted, respectively. The results show that the reactor power can be limited to safe level by itself owing to the Doppler effect of fuel element and moderator negative temperature effect when the 6 mK reactivity was inserted into the reactor.

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / instrumentation*
  • Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / statistics & numerical data
  • China
  • Facility Design and Construction
  • Fast Neutrons / therapeutic use*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Reactors*
  • Uranium

Substances

  • Uranium