NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples
NEURAP is a dedicated set-up at the Swiss neutron spallation source (SINQ) at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), optionally implemented as a special configuration of the neutron-imaging station NEUTRA. It is one of very few instrumentations available worldwide enabling neutron-imaging of highly radio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Imaging |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/7/3/57 |
| _version_ | 1797541179756118016 |
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| author | Eberhard Lehmann Knud Thomsen Markus Strobl Pavel Trtik Johannes Bertsch Yong Dai |
| author_facet | Eberhard Lehmann Knud Thomsen Markus Strobl Pavel Trtik Johannes Bertsch Yong Dai |
| author_sort | Eberhard Lehmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | NEURAP is a dedicated set-up at the Swiss neutron spallation source (SINQ) at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), optionally implemented as a special configuration of the neutron-imaging station NEUTRA. It is one of very few instrumentations available worldwide enabling neutron-imaging of highly radioactive samples to be performed routinely, with special precautions and following a specific procedure. Since the relevant objects are strong γ-sources, dedicated techniques are needed to handle the samples and to perform neutron-imaging despite the radiation background. Dysprosium (Dy)-loaded imaging plates, effectively made sensitive to neutrons only, are employed. Neutrons are captured by Dy during neutron irradiation. Then the imaging plate is erased removing gamma detections. A subsequent relatively long self-exposure by the radiation from the intrinsic neutron-activated Dy within the imaging plate yields the neutron-only radiograph that is finally read out. During more than 20 years of NEURAP operation, images have been obtained for two major applications: (a) highly radioactive SINQ target components were investigated after long-term operation life; and (b) spent fuel rods and their cladding from Swiss nuclear power plants were characterized. Quantitative analysis of the image data demonstrated the accumulation of spallation products in the lead filled “Cannelloni” Zircaloy tubes of the SINQ target and the aggregation of hydrogen at specific sites in used fuel pins of power plants and their cladding, respectively. These results continue to help understanding material degradation and optimizing the operational regimes, which might lead to extending the safe lifetimes of these components. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:11:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f86cb3483f948a791444d211de6ee4d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-433X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:11:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Imaging |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f86cb3483f948a791444d211de6ee4d2023-11-21T10:42:50ZengMDPI AGJournal of Imaging2313-433X2021-03-01735710.3390/jimaging7030057NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive SamplesEberhard Lehmann0Knud Thomsen1Markus Strobl2Pavel Trtik3Johannes Bertsch4Yong Dai5Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Nuclear Materials, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Nuclear Materials, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandNEURAP is a dedicated set-up at the Swiss neutron spallation source (SINQ) at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), optionally implemented as a special configuration of the neutron-imaging station NEUTRA. It is one of very few instrumentations available worldwide enabling neutron-imaging of highly radioactive samples to be performed routinely, with special precautions and following a specific procedure. Since the relevant objects are strong γ-sources, dedicated techniques are needed to handle the samples and to perform neutron-imaging despite the radiation background. Dysprosium (Dy)-loaded imaging plates, effectively made sensitive to neutrons only, are employed. Neutrons are captured by Dy during neutron irradiation. Then the imaging plate is erased removing gamma detections. A subsequent relatively long self-exposure by the radiation from the intrinsic neutron-activated Dy within the imaging plate yields the neutron-only radiograph that is finally read out. During more than 20 years of NEURAP operation, images have been obtained for two major applications: (a) highly radioactive SINQ target components were investigated after long-term operation life; and (b) spent fuel rods and their cladding from Swiss nuclear power plants were characterized. Quantitative analysis of the image data demonstrated the accumulation of spallation products in the lead filled “Cannelloni” Zircaloy tubes of the SINQ target and the aggregation of hydrogen at specific sites in used fuel pins of power plants and their cladding, respectively. These results continue to help understanding material degradation and optimizing the operational regimes, which might lead to extending the safe lifetimes of these components.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/7/3/57neutron-imagingradiographySINQ—Swiss spallation neutron sourceNEUTRAradioactive specimennuclear fuel |
| spellingShingle | Eberhard Lehmann Knud Thomsen Markus Strobl Pavel Trtik Johannes Bertsch Yong Dai NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples Journal of Imaging neutron-imaging radiography SINQ—Swiss spallation neutron source NEUTRA radioactive specimen nuclear fuel |
| title | NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples |
| title_full | NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples |
| title_fullStr | NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples |
| title_short | NEURAP—A Dedicated Neutron-Imaging Facility for Highly Radioactive Samples |
| title_sort | neurap a dedicated neutron imaging facility for highly radioactive samples |
| topic | neutron-imaging radiography SINQ—Swiss spallation neutron source NEUTRA radioactive specimen nuclear fuel |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/7/3/57 |
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