LIQUID METAL TARGET FOR NEUTRON GENERATOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compensate temperature difference between a proton beam window which becomes high-temperature and the low-temperature part of a vessel and reduce thermal stress and ensure strength integrity in a structure by not only working for lowering temperature of a high-temperature part of a target vessel storing liquid metal, but also elevating temperature of the low-temperature part of the target vessel. SOLUTION: A liquid metal stored in the target vessel is irradiated with a proton beam to generate neutron by a nuclear spallation reaction, so that the liquid metal is circulated in the liquid metal target for a neutron generator. Openings are provided on the inflow side and outflow side of liquid metal putting the proton beam irradiation part in the target vessel. Thermal energy generated by the nuclear spallation reaction is guided with a liquid metal flow to low-temperature part of a vessel side wall near the introduction part of the proton beam, a control means controlling the flow of the liquid metal is provided for decreasing the temperature difference from the introduction window which has a high-temperature by elevating the temperature of the low-temperature part of the vessel by heat transfer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT