Coupling High-Energy Radiography And Photon Activation Analysis (PAA) To Optimize The Characterization Of Nuclear Waste Packages

Journal Article · Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3275664· OSTI ID:21371342

Carrel, F; Agelou, M; Gmar, M; Laine, F; Lamotte, T; Lazaro, D; Poumarede, B; Rattoni, B ^[1]

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1. CEA, LIST, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette (France)

Radiological characterization of nuclear waste packages is an industrial issue in order to select the best mode of storage. The alpha-activity, mainly due to the presence of actinides ({sup 235}U, {sup 238}U, {sup 239}Pu,...) inside the package, is one of the most important parameter to assess during the characterization. Photon Activation Analysis (PAA) is a non-destructive active method (NDA method) based on the photofission process and on the detection of delayed particles (neutrons and gammas). This technique is well-adapted to the characterization of large concrete waste packages. However, PAA methods often require a simulation step which is necessary to analyze experimental results and to quantify the global mass of actinides. The weak point of this approach is that characteristics of the package are often not well-known, these latter having a huge impact on the final simulation result. High-energy radiography, based on the use of a linear electron accelerator (LINAC), allows to visualize the content of the package and is also a performing way to tune simulation models and to optimize the characterization process by PAA. In this article, we present high-energy radiography results obtained for two different large concrete waste packages in the SAPHIR facility (Active Photon and Irradiation System). This facility is dedicated to PAA study and development and setup for a decade in CEA Saclay. We also discuss possibilities offered by the coupling between high-energy radiography and PAA techniques.

• OSTI ID: 21371342
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1194, Issue 1; Conference: International conference on applications of nuclear techniques, Crete (Greece), 14-20 Jun 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3275664; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY
CEA SACLAY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONCRETES
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA RADIOGRAPHY
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS
NEUTRON DETECTION
PHOTOFISSION
PHOTON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ACCELERATORS
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DECAY
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
FISSION
FRENCH ORGANIZATIONS
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR DECAY
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PHOTONUCLEAR REACTIONS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
SIMULATION
TESTING
WASTES