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

2. Versatile Technology
Many opportunities exist in very disparate markets, but PNL’s core technology does not change significantly across these markets.
Detection
80%+
Semiconductors
Isotopes
Imaging
Ion Source
Accelerator

3. Neutron Source Overview
Beam Profile

4. Neutron Source Overview
Accelerator Column
SF6 Pressure Vessel
Moderator
Ion Source Power Supplies
Ti Target
Ion Source
Test Cavities
Solenoid Magnet
Vacuum Pumps
Waveguide Break

5. Example System
300 kV Accelerator
Ion Source
5 ft.

6. Microwave Ion Source 2.45GHz microwaves generated by magnetron at ~1kW
ECR process ionizes gas in plasma chamber
Beam extraction at 30-60kV
Current density mA/cm2
Measured 100mA of extracted D+ current (CW)
Very long lifetime (years)
High atomic ion fraction (~90%)
High gas efficiency (>25%)

7. 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 1

8. Gas Target
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”

9. Solid Target
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

10. Applications Explosives and SNM Detection Isotope Production Neutron
Radiography
Semiconductor Processing
Silicon
PNL Ion Beam

11. 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

12. Medical Isotope Production
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

13. Neutron Radiography
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

14. Neutron Radiography Defect Turbine Blade
X-Ray
Neutron
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
Propellant Invisible
Propellant Visible
Defect
(invisible
to x-rays)
Turbine Blade

15. Explosive Hazard Detection
Neutron Generator 2
Radiation Fingerprint Emitted
Neutrons emitted by PNL Neutron Generator
Neutrons interact with explosive
Characteristic gamma rays emitted and detected
IED
Established technique, but only very short distances with long detection times
PNL system greatly increases standoff distance and speed of detection

16. Californium Replacement Applications
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)

17. Californium Replacement Applications
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
“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

18. Summary
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

19. Thank You! Phoenix Nuclear Labs
phoenixnuclearlabs.com