Design of a Medical Reactor Generating High Quality Neutron Beams for BNCT

Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT) is a binary treatment modality that can selectively irradiate tumor tissue. More is known now about the radiation biology of BNCT, which has reemerged as a potentially useful method for preferential irradiation of tumors. We design a square reactor (that can easily be reconfigured into polygonal reactors as the need arises) with four slab type assemblies to produce high quality epithermal neutron beans and thermal neutron beams jot use in neutron capture therapy. With a low operating power of 300kW, the heat generated in the core can be removed by natural convection through a pool of tight water. The proposed design in this study could be constructed for a dedicated clinical BNCT facility that would operate very safely.