Neutron Resonance Densitometry for Particle-like Debris of Melted Fuel

Harada, Hideo; Kitatani, Fumito; Koizumi, M.; Takamine, Jun; Kureta, Masatoshi; Tsutiya, H.; Iimura, H.; Seya, M.; Becker, Boris W.; Kopecky, S.; Schillebeeckx, P.

doi:10.1016/j.nds.2014.04.118

Cited by 12 publications

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“…In measurements of NRD, the quantity of the nuclear materials is determined with a NRTA spectrum in the neutron energy range less than 30 eV [1,2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of the neutron transport tube on neutron resonance densitometry

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Neutron Resonance Densitometry (NRD) is a non-destructive assay technique of nuclear materials in particle-like debris that contains various materials. An aim of NRD is to quantify nuclear materials in a melting fuel of Fukusima Daiichi plant, spent nuclear fuel and annihilation disposal fuel etc. NRD consists of two techniques of Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) and Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA) or Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA). A density of nuclear material isotopes is decided with NRTA. The materials absorbing a neutron in a wide energy range such as boron in a sample are identified by NRCA/PGA. The information of NRCA/PGA is used in NRTA analysis to quantify nuclear material isotopes. A neutron time of flight (TOF) method is used in NRD measurements. A facility, consisting of a neutron source, a neutron flight path, and a detector is required. A short flight path and a strong neutron source are needed to downsize such a facility and put NRD into practical use. A neutron transport tube covers a flight path to prevent noises. In order to investigate the effect of neutron transport tube and pulse width of a neutron source, we carried out NRTA experiments with a 2-m short neutron transport tube constructed at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute -Linear Accelerator (KURRI-LINAC), and impacts of shield of neutron transport tube and influence of pulse width of a neutron source were examined. A shield of the neutron transport tube reduced a background and had a good influence on the measurement. The resonance dips of 183 W at 27 eV was successfully observed with a pulse width of a neutron source less than 2 µs.

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“…In measurements of NRD, the quantity of the nuclear materials is determined with a NRTA spectrum in the neutron energy range less than 30 eV [1,2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neutron Resonance Densitometry (NRD) [1,2] is an assay technique of nuclear materials in particle-like debris that contains various materials. As for the object sample, there is a melting fuel of Fukusima Daiichi plant, spent nuclear fuel and annihilation disposal fuel etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of the neutron transport tube on neutron resonance densitometry

et al. 2017

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“…The items to be studied are as follows: (1) particle size, (2) sample thickness, (3) presence of contaminated materials, (4) sample temperature, and (5) the response of the TOF spectrometer [3,17]. Some experiments has been performed at GELINA [18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Experiments For Nrd Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have proposed a technique called neutron resonance densitometry (NRD) [2,3] to quantify NM in particle-like debris that is assumed to be produced in the rapid cooling processes of a severe accident [4]. Small pieces are also produced when MF are cut or broken down to be taken out of the damaged reactors [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Progress in Research and Development in Neutron Resonance Densitometry (NRD) for Quantification of Nuclear Materials in Particle-Like Debris

Koizumi

Kitatani

Tsuchiya

et al. 2014

Nuclear Back-End and Transmutation Technology for Waste Disposal

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To quantify special nuclear materials (SNM) in particle-like debris, a technique named neutron resonance densitometry (NRD) has been proposed. This method is a combination of neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA) and neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) or prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA). In NRTA, neutron transmission rate is measured as a function of neutron energy with a short flight path time-of-flight (TOF) system. Characteristic neutron transmission dips of Pu and U isotopes are used for their quantification. Materials in the samples (H, B, Cl, Fe, etc.) are measured by the NRCA/PGA method. For the NRD measurements, a compact TOF facility is designed. The statistical uncertainties of the obtained quantities of the SNMs in a sample are estimated. A high-energyresolution and high-S/N γ-ray spectrometer is under development for NRCA/PGA. Experimental studies of systematic uncertainties concerning the sample properties, such as thickness and uniformity, are in progress at the TOF facility GELINA of European Commission (EC), Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM).

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“…In particular, NRTA has been proposed as a method to quantify 235 U and the Pu isotopes in special nuclear materials (SNM), for instance the melted fuel debris formed in severe nuclear accidents [3], such as the one that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants. NRTA is an absolute NDA method that does not require any additional calibration measurement with reference samples representative for the material under investigation [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron resonance analysis for nuclear safeguards and security applications

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Neutron-induced reactions can be used to study the properties of nuclear materials of interest in the fields of nuclear safeguards and security. The elemental and isotopic composition of these materials can be determined by using the presence of resonance structures. This idea is the basis of two non-destructive analysis techniques which have been developed at the GELINA neutron time-of-flight facility at JRC-Geel: Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA) and Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA). A combination of NRTA and NRCA has been proposed for the characterisation of particle-like debris of melted fuel formed in severe nuclear accidents. In this work, we present a quantitative validation of the NRTA technique which was used to determine the areal densities of Pu enriched reference samples used for safeguards applications. Less than 2% bias has been obtained for the fissile isotopes, with well-known total cross sections.

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Neutron Resonance Densitometry for Particle-like Debris of Melted Fuel

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

Influence of the neutron transport tube on neutron resonance densitometry

Influence of the neutron transport tube on neutron resonance densitometry

Recent Progress in Research and Development in Neutron Resonance Densitometry (NRD) for Quantification of Nuclear Materials in Particle-Like Debris

Neutron resonance analysis for nuclear safeguards and security applications

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