Reactivity analysis of solution reactors for medical-radioisotope production

Abstract

One of the primary methods to produce medical isotopes, such as 99Mo, is by irradiation of uranium targets in heterogeneous reactors. Solution reactors present a potential alternative to produce medical isotopes. The medical isotope production reactor concept has been proposed to produce medical isotopes with lower uranium consumption and waste than the corresponding fuel consumption and waste in heterogeneous reactors. Commercial production of medical isotopes in solution reactors requires steady-state operation at about 200 kW. At this power regime, fuel-solution temperature increase and radiolytic-gas bubble formation introduce a negative reactivity feedback that has to be mitigated. This work analyzes the reactivity effects on the operation of solution reactors for the production of medical isotopes and provides some reactor characteristics that may mitigate the negative reactivity feedback introduced by the increase in the fuel-solution temperature and the formation of radiolytic-gas bubbles.