Compact irradiation apparatus using a linear charged-particle accelerator

Claim 1

A compact irradiation apparatus comprising a fluid-tight enclosure in which are located at least the following elements: a linear charged-particle accelerator capable of emitting an irradiation beam, this accelerator comprising an electron gun, a magnetic focussing system for the beam of electrons, an accelerating structure formed by an accelerating section and a complementary section with resonant cavities; a high frequency generator supplying a high frequency signal; means for injecting this high frequency signal into said accelerating structure; means for supplying high voltage to the high frequency generator and to the accelerator; means enabling a predetermined vacuum to be maintained in the accelerator during its operation; a cooling system for cooling at least some of the elements is included in the enclosure, this cooling system enabling the heat generated by these elements to be dissipated into the wall of said enclosure, said high frequency generator being a magnetron associated with permanent magnets, the magnetron and its permanent magnets being cooled by an auxiliary cooling circuit disposed along their walls, this cooling circuit comprising a first tubular ring and a second tubular ring arranged on either side of the pole pieces of the magnetron and in contact therewith, these two rings being connected by a first helical tube placed against the inner walls of the permanent magnets, in that a second helical tube is placed against the outer wall of said magnetron, the two helical tubes being connected to one another by the second tubular ring in such a way that a cooling fluid is able to circulate in the second helical tube after having passed through the first tubular ring, the first helical tube and the second tubular ring.