After five years of R&D, Chinese scientists developed the first domestic electron accelerator in the L-band with 10 MeV ~40kW. Jointly 

China’s first L-band 10MeV/40kW electron accelerator for industrial radiation processing (image by IHEP)

 developed by the Institute of High Energy Physics and the Wuxi EL Pont Group, the new electron accelerator passed the acceptance test on July 10. An average beam power of 40 kW was achieved which was the top level of the same kind of the linac in the country.

To develop the L-band 10MeV/40kW electron accelerator for industrial radiation processing, scientists utilized technologies of high pressure, high voltage, vacuum, electronics, computing, microwave and radiation dosimetry etc. Since 2008, a joint team was set up and made breakthrough in key technologies of the triode electron gun, high power water cooling system and high power scanning system, etc.

"Compared to the gamma radiation (cobalt 60), the industrial accelerator has the superiority of condensed beam source, higher efficiency, no radioactive wastes and immeasurable potential values”, introduced Mr. ZHANG Xianghua, the Chief Manager of the Wuxi EL Pont Group.

The irradiation industry is broadly defined to include the processing of materials by gamma radiation and industrial accelerators. Materials which use irradiation as part of their manufacturing process today include medical products, plastics, rubber, wire and cable, some spices, and a small volume of certain food products. It greatly benefits to the society and the economy development.