Patent ID: 7940881

Claim:
A device which produces a radioisotope from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device including a circulation circuit, the circulation circuit comprising: an irradiation cell which comprises a metallic insert; a pump effective for generating flow of the target fluid and circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit; an external heat exchanger; and a pressurizing device which pressurizes the circulation circuit, the pump and the external heat exchanger forming a cooling device external to the irradiation cell, the cooling device effective for cooling the target fluid and retaining the target fluid inside the cavity during irradiation a liquid state, the metallic insert comprising a cavity which receives the target fluid, an inlet conduit and two outlet conduits which permit the inflow and outflow, respectively, of the target fluid into and out of the cavity as the target fluid moves in the circulation circuit, an irradiation window which is substantially planar and positioned perpendicularly to the accelerated particle beam, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis generally central to the insert and perpendicular to the substantially planar irradiation window, and the inlet configured to direct the target fluid inflow through the center of the insert and (1) perpendicular to the irradiation window and (2) to an impact point of the accelerated charged particle beam in the irradiation window so that the inflow hits the window head-on with the beam, the outlet conduits to either side of the inlet conduit, each outlet having a cavity exit portion extending from the cavity, the cavity exit portion of each outlet conduit having a longitudinal central axis, each longitudinal central axis of the cavity exit portion of the outlet conduits intersecting the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and forming angles with the central longitudinal axis of the inlet and which angles cause a turbulent vortex in the flow of the target fluid inside the cavity.