Compact, Modular Linac System for Electron Beam and X-ray Irradiation

Accelerators have found great success in replacing radioisotopes such as Co-60 in radiation therapy. They are also increasingly finding use in industrial irradiation applications like medical device sterilization and food irradiation. However, the high power linacs used for irradiation applications require a multi-million dollar investment in specialized equipment and highly trained personnel. This creates a significant barrier to adopting accelerator technology for irradiation applications, especially in Low-to-Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) where radioisotope alternatives are most needed. This project will develop a modular linear accelerator system that will reduce the upfront cost of equipment for radiation processing while increasing the reliability through redundancy. Instead of having to purchase a single, large, and highly customized accelerator, we will provide standardized linac “building blocks” that the customer can purchase as their capacity increases and resources become available. The standardization will improve the serviceability, as the modular linac will be based on the abundant components used in medical linacs, of which more than one thousand are manufactured every year. In Phase I, the system will be designed and the costs of the various components will be analyzed in detail. We plan to use the “split linac” manufacturing approach to reduce the cost of the accelerating structure. Another important innovation will be to enable the energies required for both electron beam and X-ray processing from a single linac without sacrificing efficiency. We will also design and simulate a high-efficiency, reconfigurable scan horn to allow adaptation to the specific product being irradiated. Security concerns are driving increasing adoption of electronic replacements for radioisotopes. The market for accelerators for sterilization was $446 million in 2016 and is growing rapidly. More cost-effective, efficient accelerator technologies would further increase the rate at which Co-60 capacity is being replaced by accelerators.