High-Resolution Neutron Spectrum Regulation for Promoting Transuranic Isotope Production

It was applied to in-reactor transuranic isotope production. This method comprises four modules: a neutron spectrum perturbation module, a neutron spectrum calculation module, a neutron spectrum valuation module, and an intelligent optimization module.

It makes it possible to determine the optimal neutron spectrum for transuranic isotope production and a regulation scheme to establish this neutron spectrum within the reactor. The state-of-the-art production schemes for 252Cf and 238Pu in the High Flux Isotope Reactor were optimized, improving the yield of 252Cf by 12.16% and that of 238Pu by 7.53% to 25.84%. Moreover, the proposed optimization schemes only disperse certain nuclides into the targets without modifying the reactor design parameters, making them simple and feasible.