Abstract: In a method of producing isotopes in a light water power reactor, one or more targets within the reactor may be irradiated under a neutron flux to produce one or more isotopes. The targets may be assembled into one or more fuel bundles that are to be loaded in a core of the reactor at a given outage. Power operations in the reactor irradiate the fuel bundles so as to generate desired isotopes, such as one or more radioisotopes at a desired specific activity or stable isotopes at a desired concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an irradiation device for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly and provides the irradiation device for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly wherein an irradiation device for material test to achieve a radiation effect evaluation is manufactured to be movable upward, downward and horizontally in order to study the hardening phenomenon of the frail materials to the radiation among the atomic power facilities using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly, thereby it is possible to adjust a position of the spent nuclear fuel used for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel and a test material, identify a distance between the spent nuclear fuel and the test material easily with a scale and evaluate the radiation effects on the materials used at facilities handling a spent nuclear fuel under the same situation as they are really exposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus of assembling a capsule for neutron-irradiation experiments. The capsule may contain test specimens to develop nuclear fuel, and may comprise a capsule main body and protection tube that may be assembled and disassembled using separate joining means. The present invention provides a capsule assembling apparatus that may enable safe and easy assembly/disassembly of the capsule placed at a given depth in a working pool through remote working. The capsule assembling apparatus may comprise a base structure loading the capsule main body, a guiding pipe of a given length extending from the base structure to provide a pathway through which the capsule main body is loaded on the base structure, a damper fixing the capsule main body to the guiding pipe, and a coupler coupling the capsule main body with the protection tube.

Abstract: An instrumented capsule for nuclear fuel irradiation tests in research reactors includes an outer shell; a rod tip assembly assembled to a lower end plate of the shell, thus absorbing impact; fuel rod assemblies supported in the shell by means of support tubes and housing therein, sintered fuel bodies and in-capsule instruments, such as thermocouples and self-powered neutron detectors (SPND); a protective tube connected to the upper end plate and protecting instrument control cables; and a guide pipe connected to the inclined extension part of a junction tree and guiding the instrument control cables to a control unit provided outside the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a remote-controlled in-pile creep test system used in in-pile creep tests for measuring and determining mechanical properties of nuclear materials irradiated in research reactors.

Abstract: A device for carrying out a surveillance program to monitor the environmental effect of radiation and high-temperature oxygenated water on the shroud material in an operating reactor. The device is a holder containing shroud material specimens and encapsulated neutron flux monitors. The holder is installed on the shroud wall and left in place for a predetermined period of reactor operation time for the purpose of monitoring the neutron fluence effect on the shroud material specimens housed in the holder. The specimen holder is later removed from the reactor. The specimens are removed from the holder and examined in a laboratory to determine any changes in material properties. The specimen holder comprises a bolt-like device having a hollow head and a threaded shaft. The hollow head provides space for material specimens and neutron flux monitors. The specimen holder is attached to the shroud wall by screwing the threaded shaft into a threaded hole in shroud wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inspection of nuclear fuel pins to determine fiss loading and uniformity. The system includes infeed mechanisms which stockpile, identify and install nuclear fuel pins into an irradiator. The irradiator provides extended activation times using an approximately cylindrical arrangement of numerous fuel pins. The fuel pins can be arranged in a magazine which is rotated about a longitudinal axis of rotation. A source of activating radiation is positioned equidistant from the fuel pins along the longitudinal axis of rotation. The source of activating radiation is preferably oscillated along the axis to uniformly activate the fuel pins. A detector is provided downstream of the irradiator. The detector uses a plurality of detector elements arranged in an axial array. Each detector element inspects a segment of the fuel pin.