1. Design and construction of BNCT irradiation
facility at Tehran research reactor
Yaser Kasesaz
Isfahan
1Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Iran
2Department of Physics, K.N.T University, Iran

2. Structure of thermal column Epithermal neutron beam design
Contents
BNCT project at Iran
Introduction to TRR
Structure of thermal column
Epithermal neutron beam design
Main challenges in construction process
Thermal neutron beam design
New challenges
Measurements of the neutron beam parameters
Conclusions

3. BNCT project at Iran
Yazd

4. Construction of BNCT facility at TRR
~ 1990: The first attempt was conducted by Dr. Marashi & Dr. Pazirandeh
in 5 International Symposium on Neutron Capture Therapy (1992)
The results showed that the neutron flux at none of the beam exits is not sufficient
2009- Continue: A new Project has been defined at NSTRI:
Construction of BNCT facility at TRR

5. The project has different sub-projects
Simulator
room
Medical
room
Dosimetry
system
Neutron
Beam
TPS
Boron
Drug
Shielding
Phantom
Boron
Measur.

6. Introduction to TRR
Kashan

8. TRR is a 5 MW MTR, pool type research reactor
fuel assemblies : LEU, plates ,U3O8 Al alloy
Reactor pool has two major parts, stall-end and open pool
Irradiation facilities:
Seven Beam Tubes
In-core irradiation boxes
Two rabbit systems
Medical room
Gamma room
Main application: radioisotopes production

9. it has been shown that the thermal column is the best facility which can be adapted for BNCT
Appl. Radiat. Isot, 90, (2014).

10. Structure of Thermal column
Shiraz

11. Is it possible to remove all graphite blocks?

14. All parts placed in their position for routine TRR activity

15. Epithermal Neutron Beam Design
Shiraz

16. Concrete Reactor pool Reflector Moderator Core Lead Graphite
Collimator

17. Ann. Nucl. Energy (2014) 234–238 Moderator: Al (30 cm)
Reflector : Pb (35 cm)
Gamma filte: Two Bi Layers (5 cm)
Thermal neutron filter: Cd (2 mm)
Ann. Nucl. Energy (2014) 234–238

20. Main Challenges in construction process
Shiraz

21. high gamma dose caused by activated materials in the reactor structure
Access to 3th and 4th graphite layers
a new project is defined to design the thermal beam instead of epithermal beam

22. Thermal Neutron Beam Design
Ramsar

23. the 3Th and 4Th graphite layers are fixed
From the first layer only 9 special blocks are removed
For the 2Th layer three different configurations have been studied

24. three different configurations

28. Measurement of neutron beam parameters: at 90 kW
Thermal neutron Flux: E7 (n/cm2.s)
Cadmium Ratio:
Gamma Dose Rate: failed

29. New Challenges
Isfahan

30. The new challenge : Gas and particle contamination at the reactor hall
Air

31. Solution 1: using wood blocks
Not effective

32. Solution 2: re- arranging the blocks in the second layer
It is effective

33. Designed Neutron Beam Parameters
Isfahan

34. Neutron beam parameters:
Thermal neutron Flux: 1.7E8 (n/cm2.s) at 1.5 MW
Cadmium Ratio: 186
Gamma Dose Rate: mSv/Min (at 100 kW)

35. Conclusions
Shiraz

36. Conclusions
thermal neutron beam has been constructed based on the use of thermal column.
The arrangement of graphite blocks has been modified to provide a thermal neutron beam.
The final results have been shown that the thermal neutron flux at the beam port is 1.7E8 (n/cm2.s) at 1.5 MW which is appropriate for BNCT.
The designed beam has two major advantages:
We impose minimal changes in the thermal column structure
A sample or phantom can be irradiated outside of the thermal column

37. Isfahan
Thank you ….