Critical review of gamma spectrometry detection approaches for in-plant surface deposition monitoring

Conference · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/ANIMMA.2015.7465291· OSTI ID:22531377

Gregorich, Carola ^[1]

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1. Nuclear Fuels and Chemistry at the Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA 94304, (United States)

Surface deposition of activated corrosion product on oxide layers of light-water reactor primary system components is the primary source for ex-core radiation fields and personnel radiation exposure. Understanding the deposition mechanism and what factors influence the deposition and release behaviors are crucial for developing effective radiation field reduction measures. One of the available tools to assess the surface deposition is in-plant gamma spectrometry, which has been performed for several decades using either sodium iodide (NaI) or high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. Lately, the much more mobile cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) detectors are increasingly employed by stations because of their ease in use and handling. However, all of these gamma detectors face the same challenges; namely large-geometry samples of inconsistent sample compositions and sometimes gaps in the information necessary to establish proper efficiency calibrations. This paper reviews current measurements and efficiency calibration approaches taken in the industry. The validity of the measurement results and the feasibility of the data's use in understanding source term behavior is examined. Suggestions are made for the development of a more robust deposit characterization and radiation field monitoring program. (authors)

• Research Organization: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - IEEE, 3 Park Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016-5997 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 22531377
• Report Number(s): ANIMMA-2015-IO-33; TRN: US16V0206102318
• Resource Relation: Conference: ANIMMA 2015: 4. International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications, Lisboa (Portugal), 20-24 Apr 2015; Other Information: Country of input: France; 14 Refs.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CALIBRATION
CORROSION PRODUCTS
DEPOSITION
EFFICIENCY
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
HIGH-PURITY GE DETECTORS
LAYERS
NAI DETECTORS
SURFACES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
ZINC TELLURIDES