Neutron sources from Nuclear Reactors

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1 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Neutron sources from Nuclear Reactors Alfonso Santagata alfonso.santagata@enea.it ENEA * Via Anguillarese, Rome Italy * Agezia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 1

2 C.R. Casaccia TAPIRO TRIGA November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 2

3 TRIGA RC-1 (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics Reattore Casaccia 1) Core Biological shielding (average thickness ~2.2 m) Reflector (graphite) Water demineralizzata Pool reactor type It was built at beginning of 60th by General Atomics, with a nominal power of 100 kw, its power was upgrated at 1 MW in The thermal power produced during the operation is removed by water natural convention meant of heat excanging termoidraulic circuit and air cooling tower. November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 3

4 TRIGA RC-1 TRIGA RC-1 November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 4

5 TRIGA RC-1 Core #1 Core diameter= 56.5 cm height= 72 cm 127 different positions in seven concentric rings: fuel rods; 4 control rods; graphite rods; Am-Be source two channels (central and peripheral position) for irradiation experiments. November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 5

6 TRIGA RC-1 Core #2 Graphite Grafite D=3.73 cm D=72 cm AISI-304 Fuel Ternary alloy U-Zr-H (8.5 weight % U and 20 % of enrichment) Control rods 1 regulation rod: neutron absorber (graphite with powdered boron carbide) 2 shim rod + 1 safety rod: fuel followed (fuel rod + absorbed rod) November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 6

7 TRIGA RC-1 Irradiation positions #1 Rotary Specimen Rack Position: in the graphite reflector Number of samples: 40 cylindrical containers (d=2.5 cm h=9 cm) Ensamples of irradiated materials: biological samples, geological and agricultural samples, targets for radioisotope production. Pneumatic Transfer System consist of metal tubing, a blower, and assorted valves, can transfer a sample container from the reactor core to a remote laboratory within few seconds. the fast transport system is most useful for the investigation of irradiated samples wich contain short-lived radioisotopes. Central Thimble 3.3 cm inside diameter, is used to perform irradiations at the center of the reactor core, in the highest neutron flux position. November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 7

8 TRIGA RC-1 Irradiation positions #2 Tangential channel D Radial Channel A Vertical Channel Thermal Column Rotary Specimen Rack Thermalizing Column Water pool Thermal Column Canale orizzontale colonna termica Central Thimble Tangential channel Radial Channel C Radial Channel B November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 8

9 TRIGA RC-1 Neutron flux Position Rotary Specimen Rack (40 positions) Pneumatic Transfer System Central Thimble Flux (n/cm 2 /s) Thermal column collimator Tangential channel collimator ~ ~ November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 9

10 TRIGA RC-1 Last activities From 2000 to 2005: TRADE (TRiga Accelerator Driven Experiment) project with the aim of solving the nuclear waste problem burning them in a ADS (Accelerator Driver System) system. December 2006: The reactor management decides to start a preliminary design for the thermal column modification in view of the Boron Capture Therapy (BNCT) roadmap for ex situ treatment of cancer metastasis in liver. February 2007: Analytical and Experimental Benchmark Analyses of Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 10

TRIGA RC-1 Neutron Radiography and Tomography Station A neutron tomography system is operating at the Tangential Port 2 (TP2) of the reactor A cooled CCD (1344x1024 pixels) collects light from a

11 TRIGA RC-1 Neutron Radiography and Tomography Station A neutron tomography system is operating at the Tangential Port 2 (TP2) of the reactor A cooled CCD (1344x1024 pixels) collects light from a scintillator (LiF + ZnS(Ag) [96% 6Li] ) through a traditional optical coupling performing the imaging with a typical acquisition time of about 6 s/frame. AA complete set of 200 tomographic projections is acquired in about 1800 seconds. November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 11

TRIGA RC-1 Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Activities (BNCT) Objective Modification of the

6 m 3 of graphite) in order to treat an explanted human liver for cancer treatment by

systems (used up to now in the first treatments in Pavia) for the homogenization of the

12 TRIGA RC-1 Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Activities (BNCT) Objective Modification of the thermal Column (1.6 m 3 of graphite) in order to treat an explanted human liver for cancer treatment by BNCT. Optimization of the cavity internal shape is oriented to suppression of motion systems (used up to now in the first treatments in Pavia) for the homogenization of the absorbed doses. The first MCNP evaluations a volume of about 400x500 mm is considered November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 12

13 TRIGA RC-1 Current Situation Temporary suspension of the reactor facility in order to perform building and electrical system maintenance. Staff: 1 plant director + 2 deputy directors 2 supervisors 3 operators Possible activities: activation analysis; neutronic radiography and tomography; BNCT; radioisotopes production ( 18 F, 166 Ho) Plant Director: Emilio Santoro (emilio.santoro@enea.it) November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 13

14 TAPIRO TAratura PIla Rapida di Potenza 0 It was built to support a experimental program on fast reactors: experiments for critical facilities o fast reactor prototypes. First criticality in April of 1971 Thermal power of 5 kw cooled by helium. November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 14

2 parts: one mobile (1/3) and one fixed (2/3) Reflector made of Copper with 30 cm of thickness Fixed part Mobile

15 TAPIRO: main characteristics Core: small and compact (11 cm height, 12 cm of diameter), Mo-U alloy (1.5% of Mo and 98.5% of U) 93.5% of 235 U enrichment. 2 parts: one mobile (1/3) and one fixed (2/3) Reflector made of Copper with 30 cm of thickness Fixed part Mobile part Biological Shielding made of borated concrete with 1.75 m of thickness Control Rods: 2 shim rods 2 safety rods and 1 regulation rod. Diametrical channel Legnaro November 17, 2009

TAPIRO: irradiation positions Horizontal channels: tangential channel; diametrical channel; Radial channel 1; Radial channel 2; Grand Horizontal Channel.

16 TAPIRO: irradiation positions Horizontal channels: tangential channel; diametrical channel; Radial channel 1; Radial channel 2; Grand Horizontal Channel. Grand Vertical Channel Thermal column (2 m 3 with horizontal section of 110x110 cm 2 ) Irradiation cavity November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 16

17 TAPIRO: irradiation positions November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 17

18 TAPIRO: neutron spectrum November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 18

19 TAPIRO: neutron flux At the maximum power of 5 kw Core center Neutron source intensity: n/s Total flux: n cm -2 s n cm -2 s -1 > 1.35 MeV Thermal column entrance Total flux: n cm -2 s n cm -2 s -1 > 1.35 MeV November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 19

20 TAPIRO: last activities BNCT HEPIX Designed with the University of Pisa collaboration. Epithermal neutron spectrum. Used for: animal sample of glioblastoma; dosimetry methods on anthropomorphic phantom. HYTOR Designed and realized by INFN of Legnaro. Thermal neutron spectrum. Utilized for: testing of boron compound and melanoma skin cancer; microdosimetry studies EPIMED Designed and realized with the University of Pisa collaboration. Provide an epithermal neutron spectrum for clinical experimentation on superficial tumors (brain tumors and glioblastomas). November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 20

21 TAPIRO: last activities BNCT/EPIMED November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 21

22 TAPIRO Current situation Staff: 1 deputy director/plant director/supervisor; 1 supervisor; 2 trainees. Current activities: upgrading of the Physical Protection system; maintenance of the cooling system; periodic controls. Possible activities: activation analysis; Experiments to support the generation IV nuclear reactors designing (HTGR); neutron damage analysis; testing of neutrons detectors and dosimetric devices; integral experiment to validate evaluated nuclear data libraries; BNCT experiments on cells and small animals. Plant director Orlando Fiorani (orlando.fiorani@enea.it) November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 22

23 Conclusions ENEA has a thermal research reactor (TRIGA) and a fast research reactor (TAPIRO) with are able to perform the following activities: activation analysis; radioisotopes production; experiments to support the design of generation IV nuclear reactors; experiments to be used for the development of the ADS systems; cross-section validation; neutron damage analysis; neutron radiography and tomography; testing innovative neutron detectors; testing of dosimetric devices; BNCT (with cells, small animals, explanted organs). Owing to its downsized staff the utilization of TAPIRO in experimental activities is extremely limited. November 17, 2009 Sorgenti di neutroni e loro applicazioni in ambito INFN Legnaro 23

Radiation Dosimetry at the BNL High Flux Beam Reactor and Medical Research Reactor

BNL-66807 1 1 1 1 2 Holden, N.E., Hu, J-P., Greenberg, D.D., Reciniello, R.N., Farrell, K. and Greenwood, L.R. Radiation Dosimetry at the BNL High Flux Beam Reactor and Medical Research Reactor Reference:Holden,N.E.,