Nuclear energy is one of the greatest accomplishments of mankind in the twentieth century.Neutron, known as the 'soul' of nuclear energy system, is the triggering particle and energy carrier of nuclear reaction in the reactor and also the source of nuclear thermal energy and radioactive initiation. It is also an important experimental platform for the study of the application of neutron physics and radiation safety, the key technology of advanced nuclear energy system and the cross-application of nuclear technology.
Recently, researchers at the FDS Fenglin Nuclear Energy Research Institute of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, made breakthrough innovations in physics and technology of neutron transport.The team developed HINEG, a high-flow deuterium-tritium neutron source experimental device, Source intensity to create similar devices in the world first. So, the 'world's strongest deuterium tritium neutron source' is strong in what?
Super-neutron targets withstand three times the heat flux of the sun's surface
The neutron target is one of the core systems of HINEG. The high-power deuterium ion beam generated by the strong ion accelerator bombard the neutron target with tritium and generate the fusion reaction of deuterium, tritium and neutron on the target. 'Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety, Chinese Academy of Sciences Director, FDS Fenglin nuclear team founder Wu Yican researcher told science daily reporter.In order to produce strong neutron beam, the target needs to withstand the bombardment of high-power ion beam, resulting in the target of high heat flow out of the problem.
HINEG neutron targets withstand heat flux three times higher than the heat flux on the surface of the sun.If the heat problem is not well solved and the target temperature rises rapidly, the tritium contained in the HINEG neutron target will release rapidly and the neutron will not be sustained and stable. When the target temperature rises too fast, there may even be an instantaneous situation of being burned through. "
For the efficient heat dissipation problem of neutron targets, FDS Fenglin Nuclear Energy Team invented the highly efficient cooling technology of array jet coupled with strong shear field, and succeeded in achieving efficient heat dissipation by repeatedly verifying and testing the target temperature below 200 ℃.
Uncharged neutrons can also be precise control
The fusion reaction of deuterium and tritium generates a single energy neutron of 14 MeV. To simulate the complex neutron energy spectrum environment of the advanced nuclear energy system, the single energy neutron generated needs to be precisely regulated to carry out various experimental studies. This is undoubtedly another serious challenge.
We know that electrons and protons are charged particles that can be controlled by electric or magnetic fields. However, neutrons are uncharged and can not be controlled by electromagnetic fields. However, they can be excited by neutrons and nuclei of specific nuclei Reaction process to regulate, which requires accurate theoretical methods and experimental techniques to achieve. 'Wu Yi-tsan told reporters.
Based on the research results of neutron transport theory, FDS Fenglin Nuclear Energy Team invented the key technology of precise control of neutron transport and realized accurate reproduction of complex neutron energy spectrum environment of advanced nuclear energy system, which is important for the research of advanced nuclear energy system significance.
Nuclear and nuclear technology application of cross-cutting an important platform
Compared with traditional nuclear reactors, advanced nuclear energy systems can greatly improve resource utilization and reduce nuclear waste generation.HINEG can truly reproduce the complex neutron spectrum environment of many types of advanced nuclear energy systems, carry out theoretical and procedural verification, and nuclear data Measurement and verification, nuclear reactor performance verification and other experimental study.
Neutron photography is a kind of 'microscopic detection' technology which detects the fine structure inside a material. It uses the difference of penetrating ability of neutrons in different materials to understand the internal structure of an object. When detecting the content of hydrogen-containing materials, the structure of heavy metal components, radioactive materials , Etc. The strong current neutron beam produced by HINEG can be used to carry out high-precision non-destructive testing and serve the rapid development of China's aerospace and other fields.
Neutron cancer is currently the rapid development of cancer treatment methods, the method is an inherently safe biological targeting radiotherapy mode, the patient's normal tissue damage is small, which can effectively improve the quality of life of patients, creating a human A new way to overcome malignant tumors.A well-known international experts said that in the field of cancer, the 20th century can be said to be a century of X-ray, and the 21st century will be the century of neutron therapy. HINEG can be used as an important platform for neutron cancer research technology , Can promote China's development in the field of neutron cancer.
