Neutronics analysis of a subcritical blanket system driven by a gas dynamic trap-based fusion neutron source for ^(99)Mo production

Gamma-emitting radionuclide ^(99m)Tc is globally used for the diagnosis of various pathological conditions owing to its ideal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) characteristics.However,the short half-life of ^(99m)Tc (T_(1/2)=6 h)makes it difficult to store or transport.Thus,the production of ^(99m)Tc is tied to its parent radionuclide ^(99)Mo (T_(1/2)=66 h).The major production paths are based on accelerators and research reactors.The reactor process presents the potential for nuclear proliferation owing to its use of highly enriched uranium (HEU).Accelerator-based methods tend to use deuterium–tritium(D–T) neutron sources but are hindered by the high cost of tritium and its challenging operation.In this study,a new ^(99)Mo production design was developed based on a deuterium–deuterium (D–D) gas dynamic trap fusion neutron source (GDT-FNS) and a subcritical blanket system (SBS) assembly with a low-enriched uranium (LEU) solution.GDT-FNS can provide a relatively high-neutron intensity,which is one of the advantages of ^(99)Mo production.We provide a Monte Carlo-based neutronics analysis covering the calculation of the subcritical multiplication factor (k_(s)) of the SBS,optimization design for the reflector,shielding layer,and ^(99)Mo production capacity.Other calculations,including the neutron flux and nuclear heating distributions,are also provided for an overall evaluation of the production system.The results demonstrated that the SBS meets the nuclear critical safety design requirement (k_(s)<0.97) and maintained a high ^(99)Mo production capacity.The proposed system can generate approximately 157 Ci ^(99)Mo for a stable 24 h operation with a neutron intensity of 1×10^(14) n/s,which can meet 50%of China’s demand in 2025.

Physics Analysis and Optimization Studies for a Fusion Neutron Source Based on a Gas Dynamic Trap

To further investigate the fusion neutron source based on a gas dynamic trap （GDT）, characteristics of the GDT were analyzed and physics analyses were made for a fusion neutron source based on the GDT concept. The prior design of a GDT-based fusion neutron source was optimized based on a refreshed understanding of GDT operation. A two-step progressive development route of a GDT-based fusion neutron source was suggested. Potential applications of GDT are discussed. Preliminary analyses show that a fusion neutron source based on the GDT concept is suitable for plasma-material interaction research, fusion material and subcomponent testing, and capable of driving a proof-of-principle fusion fission hybrid experimental facility.

Types of Karst-fractured and Porous Reservoirs in China's Carbonates and the Nature of the Tahe Oilfield in the Tarim Basin

Almost all the oil and gas reservoirs developed in marine sedimentary strata of China have undergone processes of multi-phase reservoir formation and later modification. The irregular reservoirs are classified into three types as the Naxi, Tahe and Renqiu ones, increasing successively in the development degree of karstificated pores and fissures and the connection degree of independent reservoirs. In these reservoirs, the unity in the fluid feature, pressure and oil-gas-water interface also increases successively from the Naxi to the Renqiu type. The main body of Ordovician reservoirs of the Tahe Oilfield in the Tarim Basin is a network pool rather than a stratified, massive, stratigraphically-unconformed or weathering-crust one. The fluid nature of oil, gas and water, the interface positions and the pressures, as well as the dynamic conditions of fluids within the reservoirs during the production are all different from those in stratified or massive oil and gas reservoirs. Carbonates in the Akekule uplift and the Tahe Oilfield are assemblages of various types of reservoirs, which have an overall oil-bearing potential and obvious uneven distribution. Testing and producing tests are the major means to evaluate this type of reservoirs and acid fracturing improvement is a key link in petroleum exploration and development.

Assessing roles of geochemical reactions on CO_(2)plume,injectivity and residual trapping

With increasing CO_(2)concentration in the atmosphere,CO_(2)geo-aequestration has become a popular technique to counter the dangers of global warming resulting from high levels of CO_(2)in the atmosphere.This paper examins sequestration parameters such as CO_(2)plume behaviour,residual gas trapping and injectivity as a means of achieving safe and successful CO_(2)storage in saline aquifers.Mineral precipitation/dissolution rates are used to establish a relationship between these parameters and geochemical reactions in saline aquifers.To achieve this,mechanistic models(6 models with different inputs,created using CMG e GEM,2016 and WINPROP,2016)are simulated using input data from literature and studying changes in fluids and formation properties as well as mineral precipitation/dissolution rates in aquifers when subjected to different conditions in the different models.The results from the models show that high CO_(2)dissolution,which creates large CO_(2)plume,leads to high mineral dissolution/precipitation as results of increased fluid-rock interactions(geochemical reactions);whereas injectivity,although enhanced by CO_(2)-water cyclic injection,does not show much increase in bottom hole pressure when mineral trapping(thus geochemical reactions)is introduced into the model.Sensitivity study on residual gas trapping shows that high residual gas saturation leads to reduced mineral precipitation/dissolution due to the reduced amount of dissolved CO_(2)in brine.Also,rapid changes in the bottom hole pressure at high residual gas saturation means that a formation that fosters high residual gas trapping,rather than CO_(2)dissolution in brine,is more likely to experience injectivity issues during the sequestration process.

Numerical simulation of foam diversion acidizing in heterogeneous reservoirs

Foam diversion acidizing can effectively solve the problem of acid distribution with severe heterogeneity between and within layers.Based on the foam diversion principle,the gas trap theory,and volume conservation principle,the foam slug diversion acidizing model was established and solved considering the change of bottomhole temperature and deviation factor of foam.The simulation results show that the change of temperature has a great influence on the diversion effect at the initial stage of injection,but a small influence at the middle and late stage.The effect of temperature on the highly permeable layer is greater than that of temperature on the low permeability layer.The deviation factor of foam is mainly controlled by temperature at the initial stage,and by pressure at the middle and late stage,and the whole process shows a downward trend,which has little influence on the diversion effect.The quasi-skin factor of gas trap is the most important parameter that influences the effect of foam diversion.The water saturation of the low permeability layer rises faster than that of the high permeability layer,and the effect of diversion is obvious.The research results have a strong guiding significance for foam diversion acidizing.