Progress in the design and development of a neutron production target for Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

L. GAGETTI; M. SUAREZ ANZORENA; M. F, DEL GROSSO; A. J. KREINER

Helsinki

Congreso; 16th International Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy; 2014

As part of a project for developing Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB- BNCT) for which the generation of neutrons through nuclear reactions like 9Be(d,n) is necessary, a high power neutron production target is being designed and developed at CNEA facilities. Here we show the first results for such work. To produce the neutron beam suitable for AB-BNCT, the Be target will be hit by a deuteron beam of 1.4 MeV with a current of about 30 mA. Under such conditions, the target has to be able to withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses produced by such an intense beam. In particular, the target should be able to dissipate an energy density of up to 1 kW/cm^2 and preserve its physical and mechanical properties and integrity for a sufficient length of time under irradiation and hydrogen damage conditions. Surface treatments of different backing materials were made, like blasting and metal deposits to favor the affinity between Beryllium and the substrate, and stable deposits were obtained. These stable Be deposits, made on different substrates, were characterized by means of different techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), roughness, thickness, etc. As previously mentioned, the target will have to withstand an intense deuteron beam in order to satisfy the power dissipation requirements for the neutron production target. Microchannel system simulations in a turbulent flow circulation regime using the physical model proposed in the literature are presented. The results obtained were compared with those in several publications and discrepancies lower than 10% were found in all cases. Fluid dynamics and structural mechanics simulations were carried out and are discussed in this paper. These simulations allow the determination of geometric parameters of the prototype complying with the requirements of a microchannel system. Such simulations allow us to design a validation prototype, which is being constructed using the knowledge acquired in this work.