Feasibility Analysis on Batch Irradiation Production of Isotopes ⁸⁹Sr and ⁶³Ni in CEFR Reflector

The China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) has a high neutron flux and a hard neutron energy spectrum, making it an important research reactor irradiation platform. To verify the feasibility of batch irradiation production of isotopes using the fast neutron (n,p) threshold reaction on the CEFR, this study employs the Monte Carlo program for core neutron modeling and analysis. This is combined the multi-group burnup calculation code independently developed by China Institute of Atomic Energy to perform coupled neutronics and thermal-hydraulic calculations. This study designed an irradiation scheme for batch placement of naturally abundant Y₂O₃ and natural copper targets in the reflector region. The production capacity and product quality were evaluated. Furthermore, a preliminary safety analysis of the production plan was completed. The results show that, without changing the fuel loading of the core, the CEFR has the ability to produce isotope ⁸⁹Sr and isotope ⁶³Ni as a fast neutron irradiation platform. The isotopes production mode has relatively little impact on other irradiation test tasks. Meanwhile, it can ensure various parameters of CEFR, including reactivity control, fuel assembly power, component heat release, and source term, thereby meeting the safety operation requirements of the CEFR.