Abstract: A target irradiation system for irradiating a radioisotope target in a vessel penetration of a fission reactor, including a target elevator assembly including a body portion defining a central bore and an open bottom end, a center tube that is disposed within the central bore of the body portion, a target basket that is slidably receivable within the center tube, and a winch that is connected to the target basket by a cable, wherein the target basket is configured to receive the radioisotope target therein and be lowered into the vessel penetration of the reactor when irradiating the radioisotope target.

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: 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: 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.