Industrial Applications of ECR-Based Neutron Generators 16th International Conference on Ion Sources New York, NY| August 28, 2015 Scott Christensen, Evan.

Industrial Applications of ECR-Based Neutron

Generators16th International Conference on Ion Sources

New York, NY| August 28, 2015

Scott Christensen, Evan Sengbusch, Greg Piefer, Ross Radel

“Business LogoTM”

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Versatile Technology

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Many opportunities exist in very disparate markets, but PNL’s

core technology does not change significantly across these

markets.

Ion Source Accelerator

Detection

Semiconductors

Imaging

Isotopes

80%+


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Neutron Source Overview

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Beam Profile


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Neutron Source Overview

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Vacuum Pumps

Solenoid Magnet

Ion Source Power Supplies

Ion Source

Waveguide Break

SF6 Pressure Vessel

Accelerator Column

Ti Target

Test Cavities

Moderator


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Example System

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Ion Source300 kV

Accelerator

5 ft.


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Microwave Ion Source

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2.45GHz microwaves generated by magnetron at ~1kW

ECR process ionizes gas in plasma chamber

Beam extraction at 30-60kV

Current density 40-250 mA/cm2

Measured 100mA of extracted D+ current (CW)

Very long lifetime (years)

High atomic ion fraction (~90%)

High gas efficiency (>25%)


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MWS Performance Performance evaluated over wide range of settings 99.99% uptime demonstrated for CW runs of 100’s of hours Mature technology with wide range of integrated diagnostics Applicable to more than just neutron generators

Proton source, CW H- source, etc.

60kV, 65mA Beam on calorimeter

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Gas Target

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Cylindrical gas target approximately 1m in length and 15cm in diameter

Deuterium or tritium gas

High pressure (10 – 30 Torr) maintained by differential pumping

Neutron source is effectively a “line source”


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Solid Target

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Gas target can be replaced with solid target to minimize size

Copper coated with titanium

Higher deuterium concentration

Excellent thermal properties

Targets are self-loading and self-replenishing

Proprietary, automated cleaning process for extremely long lifetime

High beam current and voltage create unique cooling challenges


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Applications

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NeutronRadiography

Explosives and SNM Detection

PNL Ion Beam

Silicon

Semiconductor Processing

Isotope Production


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Medical Isotope Production Mo-99 decays into Tc-99m

Used in over 80% of nuclear medicine imaging procedures Gamma energy (140keV) perfect for SPECT medical imaging

Worldwide > 40 million scan procedures performed each year Stress tests to detect heart disease Cancer screening Bone scans

Mo-99 represents a $600M annual market Supply shortages and proliferation concerns have made a non-

HEU, domestic supply of Mo-99 a high priority One of four $25M cooperative agreement awards from DOE

GE and Babcock & Wilcox have dropped out Northstar Medical Radioisotopes is remaining competitor

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Medical Isotope Production

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PNL high-intensity neutron generator to induce fission

Subcritical system Easier regulatory path than reactor

Low-enriched uranium (LEU) target Avoids the security concern of HEU

Uranium placed in an aqueous solution Target reusable Generates far less waste

Neutron yield and unit operation has been demonstrated


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Neutron Radiography

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Complementary imaging technique to X-rays and other NDI modalities

Neutrons interact with atomic nucleus, not electron cloud Cross section determined by nucleus

composition, not material density Excellent at imaging low-density materials Certain materials have very high cross

sections (e.g. Gd)

Use is presently limited due to lack of available neutron sources Reactors are sparse, hard to access,

expensive, and logistically difficult COTS neutron generators too weak to

produce images in practical time periods

X-rays

Neutrons


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Neutron Radiography Army goal: image every shell with neutrons

Defective munitions kill soldiers Army is developing new Q/A requirements that will

use neutrons PNL awarded Army contract to deliver commercial

radiography prototype Neutrons only viable solution for key components:

Turbine blades Composite wing structures Batteries/Fuel Cells Helicopter blades

Example: U.S. Turbine blade manufacturers Typically takes ~10 minutes per image at reactor Single PNL machine can generate >50,000 images

per year – enough to handle entire throughput of large turbine blade manufacturers

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Propellant Visible

X-Ray Neutron

Propellant Invisible

Defect(invisible to x-rays)

Turbine Blade


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Explosive Hazard Detection

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1. Neutrons emitted by PNL Neutron Generator

2. Neutrons interact with explosive3. Characteristic gamma rays emitted and

detected

Neutron Generator

IED

Radiation Fingerprint Emitted2

• Established technique, but only very short distances with long detection times• PNL system greatly increases standoff distance and speed of detection


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Californium Replacement Applications• Californium-252

• 2.645 y half-life• 2.3x106 n/μg/s

• ORNL and RIAR are the only producers• ORNL provides about 70% of the world’s Cf-252

• Packaged in sealed containers• Used as neutron sources

• Well logging• Nuclear reactor start-up• Cancer therapy• Radiography• Instrument calibration / certification• Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis

(PGNAA)• Nuclear fuel Non Destructive Assay (NDA)

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Californium Replacement Applications

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• With full cost-recovery after end of loan/lease program, Cf increased 10x in price• Future cost increases expected, especially if/when consortium partners drop out• Neutron generators now more economical for some applications• Moderator assembly (if any) customized depending on application

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 20200

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200

300

400

500

600

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Cf-252 Price ($/µg)

“Production, Distribution, and Applications of Californium-252 Neutron Sources” R. C. Martin, J. B. Knauer, and P. A. Balo, 1999 US Army Contract # W911S8-14-P-0029


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Summary

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PNL has developed high yield, gas and solid target neutron generator High current ECR ion source 300 kV Accelerator Targets provide years of lifetime Measured neutron yield of 3x1011 DD n/s

The same high-yield neutron generators are useful for several different applications Isotope production Neutron Radiography Explosives and SNM detection Cf-252 replacement


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Thank You!

Phoenix Nuclear Labs

[email protected]

+1 608 210 3060

Industrial Applications of ECR-Based Neutron Generators 16th International Conference on Ion Sources New York, NY| August 28, 2015 Scott Christensen, Evan.

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