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EP0962020B1 - Procede et dispositif servant a produire des rayons x - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif servant a produire des rayons x Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0962020B1
EP0962020B1 EP96940799A EP96940799A EP0962020B1 EP 0962020 B1 EP0962020 B1 EP 0962020B1 EP 96940799 A EP96940799 A EP 96940799A EP 96940799 A EP96940799 A EP 96940799A EP 0962020 B1 EP0962020 B1 EP 0962020B1
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plasma
gas
chamber
ray
chambers
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EP0962020A4 (fr
EP0962020A1 (fr
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Kenneth G. Moses
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  • the present invention relates to systems and methods for product irradiation and particularly to x-irradiation of foods and water and sterilization of medical wastes.
  • Radiation processing of foods is an effective means of preservation, and of controlling insect infestation, pathogens, spoilage and deterioration.
  • the process eliminates harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella in poultry and E. coli in beef, and insect infestation in grain, fruit and spices.
  • Salmonella in poultry and E. coli in beef and insect infestation in grain, fruit and spices.
  • the attributes of enhanced shelf life of disease and insect free food products, afforded by irradiation, promotes wider commercial trade between developing countries and industrialized nations without the dangers associated with the importation of foreign agricultural products.
  • the efficacy of food irradiation processing is well substantiated by the results of research and testing performed over the past forty years throughout the world.
  • Food irradiation facilities use three types of ionizing radiation: 1) Gamma ( ⁇ ) rays from radioisotopes, 2) X-rays generated by energetic electron bombardment on hard metal targets, and 3) Direct energetic electron impact.
  • This background discussion is limited to ⁇ - and x-ray radiation as their frequency and energy are similar to radiation produced by the device of the present invention.
  • Low energy Gamma rays and x-rays of the same energy differ only in the manner in which the radiation is generated. Both are electromagnetic waves and physically the same. The former is generated by nuclear processes within a radioactive nucleus, while the later arises from acceleration of energetic electrons by electric (Coulomb) forces from atomic targets.
  • Radioactive cobalt-60 27 Co 60
  • the energies of the ⁇ -ray emitted by Co 60 are mainly at 1.332 and 1.173 MeV.
  • the cesium-137 ( 55 Cs 137 ) isotope which emits gamma rays at energies of 0.662 MeV, is used in some food irradiation facilities.
  • Radioactive cobalt is produced artificially in nuclear reactors by bombarding pencil-like rods of stable, naturally-occurring cost with slow neutrons.
  • the transformation occurs with the absorption of a slow-neutron by a stable Co 59 nucleus followed by emission of a ⁇ -ray from the unstable product nucleus Co 60 .
  • This form of nuclear reaction is called an n, ⁇ or neutron-gamma ray reaction.
  • the "pencils" of Co 59 are left in the reactor for one or more years, after which time about 10% of the Co 59 is transformed into Co 60 .
  • Industrial irradiation facilities require that the radioactive cobalt rods are encapsulated in stainless steel sheaths with welded end enclosures, which in turn are covered with an aluminum sheath with welded end enclosures. Encapsulation of the radioactive material in this manner insures containment of the radioactive materials and prevents contaminating the products undergoing irradiation.
  • the products are moved automatically into a thick walled, shielded chamber in which a large amount of the encapsulated radioactive isotope Co 60 or Cs 137 rods are arrayed on racks to provide proper product irradiation.
  • the total ⁇ radiation dosage received by the food products is determined by exposure time, location of the product within the chamber, and the linear attenuation coefficient ⁇ of the absorber, which in this case is the food product receiving the radiation.
  • the activity of an isotope source is measured in curies.
  • a Co 60 food irradiation facility has isotope source activities of ⁇ 2 to 5 million curies, costing about $1.00 to S1.25 per curie at current prices.
  • Electrically powered x-ray devices cannot contaminate food undergoing processing with radioactive substances, for no radioactive materials are used in the process. Furthermore, x-ray machines can be turned off since they are driven electrically, so they do not have to be stored in deep pools of water when not in use. The ability to turn-off the electrically powered device permits transporting the apparatus without enclosing it in a massive radiation shield as is required for transporting radioactive isotope irradiators. Since transportation is not problematical, an electrical x-ray machine can be brought directly to the crop harvesting area, with a water filled bladder used as a radiation shield. Crop irradiation can be performed in situ .
  • the "off" property directly reduces capital and operating costs, and also, provides flexibility and mobility in locating the food irradiation facilities.
  • the electrical process of producing x-rays has remained relatively unchanged the since Wilhelm Roentgen at the University of Wurzburg discovered them in 1895 up until the recent invention of the x-ray laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Since, the use of an x-ray laser for food irradiation is not economically feasible, only the classical method of x-ray production, i.e., energetic electron bombardment on a heavy metal target is addressed here.
  • bremsstrahlung radiation is emitted by decelerating energetic electrons during collisions with atoms in the target; and 2) characteristic x-ray emission is radiation emitted by outer bound electrons of the atom upon replacing k or 1 inner-shell electrons that have been knocked out by incident energetic electrons.
  • Bremsstrahlung emission exhibits a continuous energy spectra up to the energy of the electrons incident on the target, while characteristic radiation appears only at particular or discrete energies (frequencies) determined by the target material.
  • Characteristic x-rays have energies ⁇ 100 keV. The energy of bremsstrahlung x-rays is directly related to the energy of the incident electrons.
  • the energy of characteristic x-rays from a given target material is independent of the incident electron energy, provided the incident electron energy exceeds the characteristic x-ray energy. Also, as the electron current incident on the target increases, the intensity of x-ray emission will increase proportionally.
  • High voltages produced by electrostatic or inductive generators, accelerate electrons to energies E ⁇ 1 - 5 MeV. After acceleration, the electrons are directed onto a high-Z (atomic number) metal target, e.g., tungsten, to produce bremsstrahlung x-rays.
  • a high-Z metal target e.g., tungsten
  • electron accelerators such as Van der Graff, betatrons, sychrotrons, and linacs, that are useful for food irradiation.
  • Linear accelerators are large, complex, and costly experimental devices, requiring highly skilled personnel to operate and maintain, while providing limited beam access and small irradiation volumes.
  • Thick target bremsstrahlung production by an impacting accelerator beam suffers from the fundamental disadvantage that the beam electrons penetrate only a very shallow depth into solid material.
  • x-rays appear to be emanating from a point or, at most, a small area source. This circumstance causes the x-ray intensity to fall off inversely with the square of the distance from the point of electron impact, and leads to an uneven distribution of dosage within the volume of the food product being irradiated.
  • the x-rays are exponentially attenuated to produce a dose distribution in which the front of the product will receive a higher dose than the back of the product.
  • the distribution can be made somewhat more uniform by beam-target curvature tending to converge the x-rays to a focus in back of the product.
  • electron beam accelerators come concomitant increases in operating electrical power and cost, target destruction becomes problematical, and accelerator capital cost become unmanageable.
  • the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art food irradiation systems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrically powered x-ray device that is suitable and practicable for product irradiation generally, and specifically for food irradiation. A further object is to provide steady irradiation at intense radiation levels, a large irradiation volume, and uniform dose distribution. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that is electrically efficient, reliable, simple to operate and of reasonable cost.
  • Ionization is the process in which one or more electrons are detached from an atom, resulting in the formation of a positive ion and one or more free electrons.
  • Plasma the fourth state of matter, is a heated gas in which a large number of gas atoms are ionized, and the resulting ions and free electrons remain in close proximity to each other.
  • an annular hot-electron plasma is created and confined in a simple magnetic mirror machine by resonant microwave breakdown of the working gas.
  • a simple mirror machine consists of two circular electromagnet coils, centered on a single axis, as depicted in Figure 1 showing the coil arrangement and magnetic field configuration.
  • the microwave frequency is chosen to be resonant with the second harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency of particular regions of the mirror field. Heating electrons in this manner primarily increases their perpendicular energy (energy related to the velocity component perpendicular to the magnetic field) at the resonant field position. This perpendicular heating process is referred to as "electron cyclotron heating" (ECH). As electrons gain energy, their collision cross section (probability of colliding with plasma ions and gas atoms) decreases, and the electrons "runaway", i.e., they continually gain energy from the microwave field and accelerate to higher and higher energies.
  • ECH electron cyclotron heating
  • Figure 2 shows the drift motion of an electron at the mid-plane of a magnetic mirror field, viewed along the magnetic axis. A large number of energetic electrons, undergoing this cyclonic drift motion in the mirror field, make up a hot electron plasma annulus. The density of energetic electrons in the ECH generated plasma annuli depends on the value of the magnetic field, frequency and power of the microwave radiation, and fill gas density.
  • the required annular plasma density range is preferably about 10 17 - 10 19 electrons/m 3 .
  • the background plasma density ranges from 10 18 - 10 20 electrons/m 3 .
  • Continuous emission of bremsstrahlung results from collisions between the highly energetic electrons in the annulus and the background plasma ions and fill gas atoms.
  • Z is the atomic number of the gas species
  • n e n l is the density of electrons in the annulus and density of background plasma ions, respectively
  • T e is the electron temperature (in keV) in the plasma. See for example, D.J. Rose and M. Clark, Jr., "Plasmas and Controlled Fusion," pg. 233, The MIT Press, and J.
  • Equation 1 The use of electron temperature in Equation 1 reveals the tacit assumption of a Maxwellian electron energy distribution in the plasma.
  • Past ELMO experiments, using hydrogen gas, Z 1, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) of the University of Nagoya established the Maxwellian nature of hot electrons in the plasma annulus, as discussed in the above-referenced publications.
  • the bremsstrahlung x-ray spectrum from the ELMO device experiments shows that the electron temperature of the plasma annulus may lie in the MeV energy range.
  • the electron energy distribution plotted in Figure 3 unfolded from bremsstrahlung data exhibits a high average electron energy and a truncated high energy tail.
  • Equation 1 is used to estimate the radiated bremsstrahlung power from an annular, hot electron plasma confined in a simple mirror field.
  • the scattered electron follows the magnetic field lines until it impacts the vacuum chamber wall. Scattered energetic electrons predominately impact the area at the intersection of field lines with the chamber walls, where the sidewalls narrow down to accommodate the mirror field coils.
  • Experimental measurements of radiant power produced at chamber walls agrees well with classical calculations of expected bremsstrahlung power produced by scattered ring electrons striking the walls. See, for example "Hot Electron Rings, etc.”, cited above.
  • the impact of these high-energy electrons on the walls results in thick target x-ray emission in the same manner as electron beams striking a tungsten target.
  • K.Z. Morgan and J.E. Turner "Health Physics," American Institute of Physics Handbook, 3rd Edition, D.E.
  • bremsstrahlung power P radiated from the walls is proportional to the product of the atomic number of the wall material Z W , electron density in the ring n e , background plasma density n i , square root of the electron temperature T e in the ring, and the volume V of the annulus, i.e., P S ⁇ Z W ⁇ n e ⁇ n i ⁇ T e 1 / 2 ⁇ V .
  • the energetic electrons scattered from the rings enhance the rate and intensity of radiation from the device.
  • Equation 2 The proportionality, described by Equation 2, was established by x-ray power experiments on the ELMO Bumpy Torus (EBT), and a series of measurements performed on toroidally-linked magnetic mirror machines.
  • EBT ELMO Bumpy Torus
  • the reported radiation levels are only relative measurements and cannot be used for scaling purposes. Therefore, estimates of thick-target x-rays radiation levels are not included in the radiation level calculations for the present invention.
  • Such calculations are based solely on estimates of bremsstrahlung radiation from the annulus electrons and the well documented experimental and operational database of the ELMO studies at ORNL to establish the attractiveness of the present invention for application to radiation preservation of foods or irradiation of products, generally.
  • the ELMO experiments at ORNL established the physical basis and understanding of microwave driven, annular hot-electron plasmas in simple mirror machines. From that work, the present invention takes advantage of the following important properties of plasma annuli: continuous stable operation; plasma density scales with microwave power; continuous high-level x-ray emission; radiation level scales with the product of annulus and background plasma density, and hence, microwave power; thick target radiation power from electrons scattered into the chamber walls agrees with classical calculations; operational simplicity; and constructional simplicity.
  • the ELMO experiments form a basis for calculating x-ray flux incident on an imaginary surface lying within a hot electron plasma annulus of the x-ray device of the present invention.
  • the present invention utilizes one of the noble gases (xenon, helium, neon, argon).
  • the hot electrons are distributed uniformly throughout a well defined annular geometry. This calculation, although not rigorous, provides an order of magnitude estimate of the radiant flux levels of the device of the present invention as an x-ray source.
  • the results of this calculation compare favorably to the dosage required for pasteurization and sterilization of various food products. It should be noted that thick target x-rays, produced by scattered ring electrons striking the sidewalls, x-ray emission from electron-atom collisions in the gas, and x-rays penetrating the irradiated food product are excluded from this estimation, making the results of the calculation a very conservative estimate of the radiation levels expected from the device of the present invention.
  • a sharp boundary model is assumed for a hot electron plasma annulus having inner and outer radii R 1 , R 2 , respectively.
  • the x-ray power incident per unit area on an imaginary cylindrical surface of radius a (where a ⁇ R 1 ⁇ R 2 ) is calculated.
  • the origin of the cylindrical coordinate system r, ⁇ ,z is taken at the right-hand side on the axis of the annulus as shown in Figure 5 .
  • a truncated section of annulus is shown by solid lines in Figure 5 , while the remainder of the annulus is indicated by dotted lines.
  • the truncated section is constructed by tangents drawn at the radius a, perpendicular to the z-axis.
  • the angle of incidence ⁇ is defined by an outward normal to the cylindrical surface drawn at the point a, 0, -l, and a line of sight from an elementary volume of plasma rdrd ⁇ dz within the truncated annulus. Radiation emitted from the truncated plasma volume, passes through the cylindrical surface at a, 0, -l with an angle of incidence ⁇ lying in a range of 0 ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 90°, while radiation from all other plasma regions, ⁇ > 90°, pass through the surface from the interior aide. The radiation incident from the interior is neglected under the assumption that it is absorbed by material contained within a radius a.
  • the factor of 2 in front of the integral is due to symmetry in the integration over ⁇ as it is performed only from ⁇ 1 , to 0.
  • the irradiance is distributed symmetrically about the middle of the cylindrical axis.
  • the x-ray irradiance ranges from about 2.4 kw/m 2 at the ends of the 0.2 m radius cylindrical surface to greater than 4 kw/m 2 at the center.
  • the calculated irradiance values must be converted to exposure rates, i.e., from watts/m 2 to Rad/s.
  • exposure rates i.e., from watts/m 2 to Rad/s.
  • the values of the absorption coefficient ( ⁇ er / ⁇ ) for air and water are 2.342x10 -3 and 2.604x10 -3 m 2 /kg, respectively, for a mean photon energy of 2 MeV. Evaluating the term in the brackets results in a factor of 0.966 multiplying the exposure X in roentgens to obtain the dose in Rads absorbed by a water-like material.
  • the overall conversion factor from w/m 2 to Rads/s is 0.281 Rads/s/w/m 1 . Continuous dose rates of 668 Rad/s at the ends and 1,139 Rad/s at the middle of the axis of the x-ray device of the present invention are obtained as a result of the calculation.
  • the total bremsstrahlung power radiated by the annulus in the device of the present invention is obtained by evaluating the power density w for the chosen parameters and forming its product with the volume of the annulus. Using the parameters specified above and Equation 1, the total bremsstrahlung power radiated by the annulus is 54 kw for background plasma density of 5x10 18 m -3 .
  • the range of usable background plasma densities in the x-ray device of the present invention is determined by the plasma frequency f p , i.e., the cutoff frequency for electromagnetic propagation through a plasma.
  • n c is the critical density for cutoff of electromagnetic wave propagation through the plasma
  • e is the electronic charge
  • m e is the electron mass
  • e o the permittivity of free-space.
  • Gyrotron tubes which generate >200 kw over the specified microwave frequency range are available from the Microwave Power Tube Division of Varian Associates in Palo Alto, California.
  • sources operable at frequencies of 28, 56, 90, and 140 GHz with nominal output powers of 200 kw are commercially available.
  • the magnitudes of magnetic fields that cause electron gyration about a field line to resonant with a microwave frequency from 9 to 90 GHz is 0.32 to 3.2 T (3.2 to 32 kgauss), respectively.
  • the magnetic field for electron cyclotron resonance at 56 GHz is - 2.0 T.
  • suitable electromagnetic coils are readily obtainable from commercial fabricators.
  • the calculated peak values of radiant flux at the mid point of the axis are 4, 16, and 400 kw/m 2 for background plasma densities n, of 5x10 18 , 10 19 , and 5x10 19 m -3 , respectively.
  • Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the x-ray device of the present invention.
  • the device 10 of the present invention includes two electromagnetic coils 12 that, when energized, provide the magnetic mirror field required to confine the plasma, as discussed above.
  • the electromagnetic coils 12, preferably, are capable of producing a magnetic field having a magnitude in the range of 0.32 to 3.2T (3.2 to 32 kgauss).
  • Device 10 includes a vacuum chamber 14 suitable for confining a gas 20.
  • the gas utilized in the present invention is one of the noble gases such as xenon (Xe), helium (He), neon (He) or argon (Ar).
  • the chamber wall 16 is formed of a material that will pass x-rays, and may be made of steel, for example.
  • Wall 16 is provided with a terminal 18 for microwave heating of the gas 20.
  • the terminal 18 is connected to a microwave source 22.
  • Microwave source 22 will preferably be capable of operating at frequencies in the range of 9 GHz to 90 GHz with a nominal output power of about 200 kw.
  • the microwave frequency is chosen to be resonant with the second harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency of particular regions of the mirror field. Heating of the gas 20 in this manner gives rise to the annular plasma structure shown as 24 in Figure 9 , as confined by the mirror magnetic field.
  • the electron temperature Te in the annular plasma is preferably about 2MeV.
  • Chamber wall 16 includes a central cylinder 26 with interior opening 28 that is open on both ends to the surrounding air.
  • the device 10 of the present invention includes a support 32 for supporting and locating the product 30 proximate to the chamber 14 for receiving x-rays radiating therefrom.
  • Support 32 may be stationary, or preferably mobile, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 9 , in which support 32 includes a conveyor 34 for moving the product 30 through opening 28 in cylinder 26.
  • This annular geometry shown in Figure 9 is particularly well suited to irradiating food products moving through cylinder 26, as these products will be completely encircled by the radiating media. While the present invention is particularly effective in irradiating food products, it is applicable to any product where irradiation is desired.
  • Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of chambers 14 are arranged coaxially in series and each is connected to a microwave source 22. In certain applications, a plurality of microwave sources may be used.
  • the arrangement of Figure 10 increases the throughput capacity of the device. Further, this arrangement permits certain electromagnetic coils 12A to be shared between chambers 14. This reduces the number of coils required for n chambers from 2n to n+1, which results in capital savings. Radiation from chambers 14 is directed not only radially inward toward central opening 28 but also radially outward.
  • this outward radiation can be taken advantage of by circulating the products 30 on a conveyor system, for example, that makes several passes within a shielded room housing the x-ray devices 10.
  • the products 30, e.g. food products receive a large x-ray dose prior to entering the central opening 28 in the device(s) and thereby reduces the time required in central region 28 for adequate exposure.
  • FIG. 11 Another embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 11 , takes further advantage of such outward radiation and eliminates the need for a central channel with a support or conveyor located therein.
  • the devices 10 are arranged in an array which could take any suitable form such as a rectangle or square (as shown). Such array surrounds central open area 36.
  • support 32 Located within open area 36 is support 32 for locating the product(s) 30 proximately to x-ray devices 10 of the present invention.
  • Support 32 may be stationary and may simply comprise a floor area, or may be movable, such as an elevator that lifts/lowers a pallet of food products 30 into/out of central open area 36.
  • the previous calculations can be used to calculate the total dose D received by a cylindrical object passing through x-ray device 10 with a plasma annulus 24 of length L at a constant velocity V.
  • the curve appearing in Figure 6 (after conversion to Rads/s) is also replotted in Figure 12 .
  • the parabolic fit is very good as is seen in the graph.
  • the analytical model is a convenient means of calculating the total dose D received by a cylindrical object transiting a plasma annulus 24 of length L at a constant velocity v. Assuming that only radiation directly entering the cylindrical surface is absorbed, i.e., neglecting the radiation incident on the circular ends and that penetrating through the product, e.g. food, the dose absorbed at an axial position z and radius r is given by the product of the rate of absorbed dose R(z) multiplied by the time dt spent at the position r,z.
  • the total dose received D is plotted as a function of velocity v i in Figure 13 .
  • the products will receive a total dose better than 10 to 60 kRads (100 to 600 Gy) moving through x-ray device 10 at a speed of 0.1 to 0.02 m/s, (corresponding to a transit time of 10 to 50 a) respectively.
  • This calculation does not include bremsstrahlung generated by the impact of energetic electrons on the walls 16 of device 10, so that this in a minimum dosage calculation.
  • dose rates absorbed by the product, e.g. food are controlled by the amount of microwave power put into device 10 and the transsit time of the product through device 10. Thus, dosage may be lowered by lowering the microwave power input, or passing the products 30 through device 10 at higher speeds.
  • the radiated power from x-ray device 10 of the present invention is consistent with achieving a high throughput of irradiated food products when compared to x-ray dosages required to perform food preservation treatments.
  • the annular geometry of the x-ray device of the present invention ( Figures 9 and 10 ) is highly amenable to irradiating products moving through the device, especially food products, as these products will be completely encircled by the radiating media.
  • Operating a plurality of devices in series ( Figure 10 ) increases product throughput and results in certain capital savings.
  • Arrangement of the x-ray devices in an array ( Figure 11 ) permits irradiation of large products.
  • the calculated estimates of radiant flux of the present invention are conservative and do not take into account several factors that enhance x-ray intensity. These factors include the thick target bremsstrahlung from the side walls and the bremsstrahlung collisions with unionized gas atoms and electrons. Inclusion of these factors may increase the dose rates an order of magnitude over the calculated values, and accordingly, reduce the required exposure time by the same factor.

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Claims (19)

  1. Un appareil à rayons x (10) pour l'irradiation d'un produit comprenant :
    une chambre (14) et un gaz (20) confiné au sein de ladite chambre (14) ;
    un moyen (22) raccordé à ladite chambre (14) destiné au chauffage dudit gaz (20) afin de créer un plasma d'électrons chaud ;
    un moyen (12) disposé à proximité de ladite chambre (14) destiné au confinement magnétique dudit plasma d'électrons chaud ;
    et un moyen (32) pour supporter et placer ledit produit (30) à proximité de ladite chambre (14) pour qu'il reçoive des rayons x rayonnant de celle-ci,
    caractérisé en ce que ladite chambre (14) englobe une ouverture intérieure (28) et le plasma d'électrons chaud est confiné dans une configuration annulaire (24).
  2. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 où ledit moyen de support (32) est situé au moins partiellement au sein de ladite ouverture.
  3. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 2 dans lequel ledit moyen de support (32) inclut un convoyeur (34) passant dans ladite ouverture (28).
  4. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 incluant une pluralité desdites chambres (14) et incluant un moyen (12A) destiné à confiner magnétiquement ledit plasma associé à chaque dite chambre (14) et dans lequel ledit moyen (22) de chauffage est raccordé à chacune des chambres parmi ladite pluralité de celles-ci (14).
  5. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 4 dans lequel au moins deux desdites chambres (14) se partagent une portion d'un desdits moyens (12A) de confinement magnétique.
  6. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 4 dans lequel ladite pluralité de chambres (14) sont arrangées de façon coaxiale en série.
  7. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 6 dans lequel chacune desdites chambres (14) englobe une ouverture intérieure (28).
  8. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 7 dans lequel ledit moyen de support (32) inclut un convoyeur (34) passant dans ladite ouverture intérieure (28).
  9. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 4 dans lequel ladite pluralité de chambres (14) sont arrangées en un jeu entourant une zone ouverte centrale (36).
  10. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 9 dans lequel ledit moyen de support (32) est situé au moins au sein de ladite ouverture centrale (36).
  11. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 dans lequel ledit produit (30) inclut de la nourriture.
  12. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 dans lequel ledit moyen (22) de chauffage dudit gaz inclut une source d'énergie micro-ondes.
  13. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 12 dans lequel ladite source d'énergie micro-ondes inclut un moyen pour générer des fréquences micro-ondes dans la gamme allant de 9 GHz à 90 GHz.
  14. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 dans lequel ledit moyen (12) destiné au confinement magnétique dudit plasma inclut deux électroaimants formant un miroir magnétique avec un champ de miroir magnétique.
  15. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 14 dans lequel ledit miroir magnétique a un rapport de miroir de 2.
  16. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 14 dans lequel ledit champ magnétique a une amplitude dans la gamme allant de 3,2 à 32 kgauss.
  17. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 dans lequel le plasma est chauffé à une température d'environ 2 MeV.
  18. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 dans lequel ledit gaz est un gaz noble.
  19. Un appareil (10) tel que dans la revendication 1 dans lequel ledit gaz est un gaz d'un groupe incluant le xénon, l'hélium, le néon et l'argon.
EP96940799A 1996-11-18 1996-11-18 Procede et dispositif servant a produire des rayons x Expired - Lifetime EP0962020B1 (fr)

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PCT/US1996/018396 WO1998027558A1 (fr) 1995-01-12 1996-11-18 Procede et dispositif servant a produire des rayons x

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EP0962020A1 EP0962020A1 (fr) 1999-12-08
EP0962020A4 EP0962020A4 (fr) 2003-05-02
EP0962020B1 true EP0962020B1 (fr) 2008-10-01

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2497214C2 (ru) * 2011-08-29 2013-10-27 Федеральное государственное учреждение "12 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт Министерства обороны Российской Федерации" Способ одновременного воспроизведения заданных значений флюенса нейтронов и экспозиционной дозы гамма-излучения на исследовательском реакторе
RU2713924C1 (ru) * 2019-10-31 2020-02-11 Федеральное государственное казенное учреждение "12 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт" Министерства обороны Российской Федерации Способ воспроизведения норм испытаний крупногабаритных объектов на исследовательских реакторах

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US5323442A (en) * 1992-02-28 1994-06-21 Ruxam, Inc. Microwave X-ray source and methods of use
US5577090A (en) * 1995-01-12 1996-11-19 Moses; Kenneth G. Method and apparatus for product x-radiation

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2497214C2 (ru) * 2011-08-29 2013-10-27 Федеральное государственное учреждение "12 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт Министерства обороны Российской Федерации" Способ одновременного воспроизведения заданных значений флюенса нейтронов и экспозиционной дозы гамма-излучения на исследовательском реакторе
RU2713924C1 (ru) * 2019-10-31 2020-02-11 Федеральное государственное казенное учреждение "12 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт" Министерства обороны Российской Федерации Способ воспроизведения норм испытаний крупногабаритных объектов на исследовательских реакторах

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