Non-destructive method for determining neutron exposure and constituent concentrations of a body

Patent · Tue Nov 11 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7194139

Gold, R; McElroy, W N

A portable non-destructive method is described for determination of the neutron exposure to which a selected surface area on a object has been subjected, comprising the following steps: exposing the solid state lithium drifted silicon detector of a Compton Recoil Gamma-Ray Spectrometer to a limited portion of the surface area of the object through a small diameter collimator opening directed toward the surface area; electronically measuring the continuous spectrum of detected gamma-rays at different energy levels during a first traverse of the surface area by the shielded detector; recording a first flux density peak value of the gamma-rays at a selected energy level characteristic of neutron exposure; identifying a first relationship between the first flux density peak value and the spatial activity density value for the measured gamma-rays; modifying the exposure of the detector to the surface area; electronically measuring the continuous spectrum of detected gamma-rays at different energy levels during a second traverse of the surface area by the detector; recording a second flux density peak value of the gamma-rays at the previously selected energy level; identifying a second relationship between the second flux density peak value and the spatial activity density value; solving the first and second relationships to identify the spatial activity density value of the gamma-rays at the characteristic energy level; and subsequently deriving information concerning spatial and angular neutron exposure of the object by known relationships to the identified spatial activity density value.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4622200
• OSTI ID: 7194139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMPTON SPECTROMETERS
CONTAMINATION
DETECTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EQUIPMENT
FLUX DENSITY
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SPECTRA
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LI-DRIFTED DETECTORS
LI-DRIFTED SI DETECTORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON FLUX
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SI SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES