Development of liquid-lithium film jet-flow for the target of 7Li(p,n)7Be reactions for BNCT

A feasibility study on liquid lithium target in the form of a flowing film was performed to evaluate its potential use as a neutron generation target of 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction in BNCT. The target is a windowless-type flowing film on a concave wall. Its configuration was adapted for a proton beam which is 30 mm in diameter and with energy and current of up to 3 MeV and 20 mA, respectively. The flowing film of liquid lithium was 0.6 mm in thickness, 50 mm in width and 50 mm in length. The shapes of the nozzle and concave back wall, which create a stable flowing film jet, were decided based on water experiments. A lithium hydrodynamic experiment was performed to observe the stability of liquid lithium flow behavior. The flowing film of liquid lithium was found to be feasible at temperatures below the liquid lithium boiling saturation of 342 °C at the surface pressure of 1×10−3 Pa. Using a proto-type liquid lithium-circulating loop for BNCT, the stability of the film flow was confirmed for velocities up to 30 m/s at 220 °C and 250 °C in vacuum at a pressure lower than 10−3  Pa. It is expected that for practical use, a flowing liquid lithium target of a windowless type can solve the problem of radiation damage and target cooling.