Technical characteristics and Key Issues Analysis of Radioisotope Irradiation Production by Vessel-in-pool Type Research Reactor

Vessel-in-pool type reactors offer significant advantages in the irradiation production of various radioisotopes, including rare nuclides, medical isotopes, and industrial isotopes, due to their high neutron flux, strong irradiation capability, and versatility, etc. Their reactor vessel structure, reactor core configuration, and operational characteristics impose stricter requirements on irradiation targets design, process optimization, and the efficient utilization of irradiation resources. Key enabling technologies encompass optimized reactor core arrangement and irradiation channel design, development of high-performance irradiation targets, ultra-high neutron flux irradiation techniques, and radioisotope transfer process, etc. This paper systematically analyzes the technical features and key challenges associated with using vessel-in-pool type reactors to producing radioisotope. The analysis findings indicate that the inherent characteristics of the vessel-in-pool type reactor should be closely integrated, and holistic consideration should be given during the overall reactor design, reactor core physics scheme, and the structure design and irradiation application system design. This is essential to fully leverage its technical advantages, thereby effectively enhancing the capacity and efficiency of radioisotope irradiation production in vessel-in-pool type reactor.