NDA using the multidetector analysis system
The spent nuclear fuel (SNF) nondestructive analysis (NDA) program at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) is developing the multidetector analysis system (MDAS) to characterize SNF for fissile mass, radiation source term, and fissile isotopic content. MDAS is the integration of two techniques. The first technique uses coincidence neutrons to determine the quantity of fissile material present. The second technique uses coincidence gamma rays to determine the ratios of the fissile and fissionable material that allow the two prompt (immediately)-produced fission fragments to be identified. The physics that underly the methods involve the correlation of the prompt radiations (gamma rays and neutrons) that occur in the fission process. With this basic understanding of the physics involved, MDAS is being developed. The prototype has 68 detectors, 20 high-purity germanium detectors, and 48 xylene detectors. The xylene detectors are liquid scintillators using pulse-shape discrimination. The system has several advantages that are not readily understood because they represent approaches taken in high-energy physics instrumentation. First, only coincidence data are recorded by the system. Second, the data are collected in list mode. This is a DA method that does not process the data taken immediately but instead stores the data to computer tape as well as passes the data to other computers for analysis. The rate at which the material can be characterized by the system is limited only by the number of detectors. Current plans put the throughput of the prototype of the system at 1 to 4 h/measurement. Doubling the number of detectors would roughly halve the counting time for the same amount of data. Exact performance is not easily predicted using models, but the performance of the prototype system will provide a scalable base of performance information. The present prototype system is mainly limited by the DA system input/output.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20005807
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 81; Conference: American Nuclear Society 1999 Winter Meeting, Long Beach, CA (US), 11/14/1999--11/18/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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