Advanced Postirradiation Characterization of Nuclear Fuels Using Pulsed Neutrons

Vogel, Sven C.; Bourke, M.A.M.; Craft, Aaron E.; Harp, Jason; Kelsey, Charles T.; Lin, Jay; Long, Alex; Losko, Adrian S.; Hosemann, Peter; McClellan, Kenneth J.; Roth, Markus; Tremsin, Anton S.

doi:10.1007/s11837-019-03849-2

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The epithermal region, which overlaps with the resonance region, contains many absorption resonances for different materials. These resonances can be exploited using pulsed neutrons and time-of-flight techniques to determine the isotopic composition of a material [ 56 ]. Neutron scintillator screens with an improved detection efficiency for epithermal neutrons could also be useful in resonance imaging techniques [ 57 , 58 , 59 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Boron-Based Neutron Scintillator Screens for Neutron Imaging

et al. 2020

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In digital neutron imaging, the neutron scintillator screen is a limiting factor of spatial resolution and neutron capture efficiency and must be improved to enhance the capabilities of digital neutron imaging systems. Commonly used neutron scintillators are based on 6LiF and gadolinium oxysulfide neutron converters. This work explores boron-based neutron scintillators because 10B has a neutron absorption cross-section four times greater than 6Li, less energetic daughter products than Gd and 6Li, and lower γ-ray sensitivity than Gd. These factors all suggest that, although borated neutron scintillators may not produce as much light as 6Li-based screens, they may offer improved neutron statistics and spatial resolution. This work conducts a parametric study to determine the effects of various boron neutron converters, scintillator and converter particle sizes, converter-to-scintillator mix ratio, substrate materials, and sensor construction on image quality. The best performing boron-based scintillator screens demonstrated an improvement in neutron detection efficiency when compared with a common 6LiF/ZnS scintillator, with a 125% increase in thermal neutron detection efficiency and 67% increase in epithermal neutron detection efficiency. The spatial resolution of high-resolution borated scintillators was measured, and the neutron tomography of a test object was successfully performed using some of the boron-based screens that exhibited the highest spatial resolution. For some applications, boron-based scintillators can be utilized to increase the performance of a digital neutron imaging system by reducing acquisition times and improving neutron statistics.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Boron-Based Neutron Scintillator Screens for Neutron Imaging

et al. 2020

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“…By virtue of their stand-off capability and ability to probe materials despite an intense gamma field, neutrons and protons both offer potential for study of highly radioactive materials. At the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) [4], neutron based techniques are routinely used to evaluate microstructure, phase and composition in fuel materials [5,6] and protons are widely used for dynamic radiography [7] with fuel characterization also demonstrated and compared to MeV X-ray tomography capabilities also available at LANL [8].…”

Section: Development Of a Cask To Enable Pulsed Neutron Characterizatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status Report on Development of a Cask to Enable Pulsed Neutron Characterization of Irradiated Fuel

Vogel

Angell

Carver

et al. 2020

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“…The non-destructive investigation of the inner structure of highly radioactive materials using neutrons is demanding and is routinely performed only at a very few facilities worldwide (e.g. [8][9][10][11]). In Paul Scherrer Institute, such samples can be imaged at the NEUTRA thermal neutron imaging beamline [12] by means of NEURAP-a dedicated set-up for highly radioactive materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron tomography of a highly irradiated spallation target rod

Trtik

Welte

Yetik

et al. 2022

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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We performed tomographic investigation of the most heavily perturbed (thus highly radioactive) rod and its pristine/unirradiated replicate from the target No. 12 of the Swiss neutron spallation source (SINQ). The tomographic dataset reveals the 3D re-distribution of the lead filling inside the irradiated Zircaloy tube. The change in the linear attenuation coefficient of both the lead filling and the Zircaloy tube of the irradiated rod (due to the presence of the entrapped spallation products) in comparison with the pristine/unirradiated material is quantified. The dataset provides valuable input for the enhancement of safety and efficiency of future spallation targets at SINQ.

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Advanced Postirradiation Characterization of Nuclear Fuels Using Pulsed Neutrons

Cited by 7 publications

References 48 publications

Boron-Based Neutron Scintillator Screens for Neutron Imaging

Boron-Based Neutron Scintillator Screens for Neutron Imaging

Status Report on Development of a Cask to Enable Pulsed Neutron Characterization of Irradiated Fuel

Neutron tomography of a highly irradiated spallation target rod

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