Abstract: A decay station includes a housing comprising a radiation shielding. The housing delimits a decay conduit intended for containing the irradiation targets in the predetermined linear order. The decay conduit includes a decay conduit inlet, intended to be connected to the structure of the core of the nuclear reactor for receiving the irradiation targets therefrom; and a decay conduit outlet, intended to be connected to an irradiation target discharge system for discharging the irradiation targets from the decay station. The decay station further includes an inlet distributor, located at the decay conduit inlet, and configured for releasing only a predetermined amount of irradiation targets at a time from the decay station towards the structure of the core of the nuclear reactor. The inlet distributor is configured for releasing the irradiation targets closest to the decay conduit inlet, while retaining the remaining irradiation targets in the decay conduit.

Abstract: A radionuclide generation system including a tube system configured to permit insertion and removal of irradiation targets into an instrumentation finger of a nuclear reactor, and an irradiation target drive system configured to insert the irradiation targets into the instrumentation finger and to remove the irradiation targets from the instrumentation finger. The radionuclide generation system further includes an instrumentation and control unit which is linked to an online core monitoring system and being configured to calculate optimal irradiation locations for the irradiation targets based on the actual state of the reactor as provided by the online core monitoring system.

Abstract: A method for harvesting activated irradiation targets from an instrumentation tube system of a nuclear reactor comprises: Coupling the instrumentation tube system to a discharge tube having an apex, exit port and lock element between the apex and exit port; Passing the activated irradiation targets from the instrumentation tube system into the discharge tube and blocking movement of said targets out of the discharge tube using the lock element; Separating a predefined quantity of the targets from another quantity of targets in the discharge tube by passing the predefined quantity of targets over the apex, retaining the remainder in the discharge tube by means of the apex; Coupling the exit port to a storage container and releasing the lock element to pass via gravity the predefined quantity of targets into the storage container. Systems for generating radionuclides and harvesting activated irradiation targets adapted to the above method are also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing radionuclides from irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor uses at least one instrumentation tube system of a commercial nuclear reactor. Irradiation targets and dummy targets are inserted into an instrumentation finger and the irradiation targets are activated by exposing them to neutron flux in the nuclear reactor core to form a radionuclide. The dummy targets hold the irradiation targets at a predetermined axial position in the reactor core corresponding to a pre-calculated neutron flux density sufficient for converting the irradiation targets to the radionuclide. Separating the dummy targets from the activated irradiation targets includes exposure to a magnetic field to retain either the dummy targets or the activated irradiation targets in the instrumentation tube system and release the other one of the activated irradiation target or the dummy target from the instrumentation tube system. An apparatus adapted to the above method is also provided.

Abstract: An irradiation target processing system for insertion and retrieving irradiation targets into and from an instrumentation tube in a nuclear reactor core comprises, a target retrieving system, target insertion system and transport gas supply system, mounted on a movable support, wherein: the target retrieving system comprises a target exit port coupled to a target storage container and exhaust system; the target insertion system comprises a target filling device, target retention tubing with target supply junction connectable to the instrumentation tube, and a target diverter coupled to the target filling device, target retention tubing and target retrieving system; and the transport gas supply system comprises a first gas supply tubing coupled to the exit port of the target retrieving system, a second gas supply tubing coupled to a junction for supplying gas to the instrumentation tube, and a transport gas supply junction coupled to the first and second gas supply tubing.

Abstract: A method for harvesting activated irradiation targets (16) from an instrumentation tube system (12) of a nuclear reactor comprises the steps of: Coupling the instrumentation tube system (12) to a discharge tube (38) having an apex (50), an exit port (40) and a lock element (44) between the apex (50) and the exit port (40); Passing the activated irradiation targets (16) from the instrumentation tube system (12) into the discharge tube (38) and blocking movement of the activated irradiation targets (16) out of the discharge tube (38) by means of the lock element (44); Separating a predefined quantity (16?) of the activated irradiated targets (16) from another quantity (16?) of the targets (16) in the discharge tube (38); Coupling the exit port (40) to a storage container (42) and releasing the lock element (44) to pass the predefined quantity (16?) of the activated irradiation targets (16) under action of gravity into the storage container (42); wherein said separating step comprises passing the predefined quan

Abstract: A method of producing radionuclides from irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor uses at least one instrumentation tube system of a commercial nuclear reactor. Irradiation targets and dummy targets are inserted into an instrumentation finger and the irradiation targets are activated by exposing them to neutron flux in the nuclear reactor core to form a radionuclide. The dummy targets hold the irradiation targets at a predetermined axial position in the reactor core corresponding to a pre-calculated neutron flux density sufficient for converting the irradiation targets to the radionuclide. Separating the dummy targets from the activated irradiation targets includes exposure to a magnetic field to retain either the dummy targets or the activated irradiation targets in the instrumentation tube system and release the other one of the activated irradiation target or the dummy target from the instrumentation tube system. An apparatus adapted to the above method is also provided.

Abstract: An irradiation target processing system for insertion and retrieving irradiation targets into and from an instrumentation tube in a nuclear reactor core comprises, a target retrieving system, target insertion system and transport gas supply system, mounted on a movable support, wherein: the target retrieving system comprises a target exit port coupled to a target storage container and exhaust system; the target insertion system comprises a target filling device, target retention tubing with target supply junction connectable to the instrumentation tube, and a target diverter coupled to the target filling device, target retention tubing and target retrieving system; and the transport gas supply system comprises a first gas supply tubing coupled to the exit port of the target retrieving system, a second gas supply tubing coupled to a junction for supplying gas to the instrumentation tube, and a transport gas supply junction coupled to the first and second gas supply tubing.

Abstract: A radionuclide generation system comprises a tube system configured to permit insertion and removal of irradiation targets into an instrumentation finger of a nuclear reactor, and an irradiation target drive system configured to insert the irradiation targets into the instrumentation finger and to remove the irradiation targets from the instrumentation finger. The radionuclide generation system further comprises an instrumentation and control unit which is linked to an online core monitoring system and being configured to calculate an optimum irradiation time for the irradiation targets based on the actual state of the reactor as provided by the online core monitoring system.