Long-length Scintillating Fibers for Nuclear Geological Repositories

Conference · Fri May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2024

OSTI ID:3019228

Ocampo Giraldo, Luis A ^[1]; Thompson, Scott J ^[1]; Hix, Jay D ^[1]; Johnson, James T ^[1]; Chichester, David L ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory

This research focuses on the usage of plastic scintillating fibers as ruggedized detectors in long-length sections coupled to long-length standard optical fiber segments for the purpose of radiation detection and monitoring. This technology addresses a need for monitoring radiation in difficult-to-access or inaccessible areas, such as monitoring: radioactive waste within geological repositories, nuclear material storage facilities, spent fuel dry storage areas, inaccessible areas within nuclear facilities including reactors and reprocessing facilities, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and other similar areas. The fiber can be placed along the tunnels of a geological repository to monitor the radiation field along its length. This can detect an increase of radiation due to movement, leakage, or unexpected opening of the containers, as well as decrease in the radiation due to removal of material. These capabilities have been demonstrated at INL’s Radioactive Scrap Waste Facility by successfully detecting the removal of an interim storage containers from the storage area. The poster focuses on explaining the technology and its capability in monitoring deep geological repositories (DGRs), especially in the domain of safety and international safeguards. As more countries consider the development of DGRs, technologies such as the one being presented can help establish continuity of knowledge of the material, maintain public confidence, and ensure safe operation of the facility. Furthermore, the poster looks at the future steps of the technology and its potential role in the international safeguards regime.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (NA-20)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 3019228
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-23-75856
• Resource Type: Conference proceedings
• Conference Information: NEA Seventh International Conference on Geological Repositories (ICGR-7), Busan, Korea, 05/27/2024 - 05/31/2024
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
Deep geological repositories
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