Improved DCVD assessments of irradiated nuclear fuel using image analysis techniques

• The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is a tool for measuring the Cherenkov light intensity emitted from irradiated nuclear fuel in wet storage. It is currently used in nuclear facilities where authority inspectors perform attended gross defect verification to ensure the presence of irradiated fuel material, as well as partial defect verification to ensure that a fraction of the fuel material has not been diverted. In 2013, Uppsala University (UU), supported by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, initiated a PhD project aimed at gaining a better understanding of the underlying physics process of the Cherenkov light emission and its detection, in order to improve and enhance the capabilities of the DCVD. The scope of this research is broad and includes modelling, simulations and experiments. As a first step, expertise on image analysis was brought into the project with the purpose to identify image analysis related opportunities and challenges relevant to the DCVD. The investigations performed so far cover general aspects of image analysis as well as aspects specific for verification of PWR fuels, where the fuel geometry may be extra challenging. Resulting from the investigation are suggestions on how to improve the measurement procedure and consequently the image quality obtained with the DCVD. This presentation describes these results and expected outcomes of their implementation.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Subatomär fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Subatomic Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

DCVD

Image analysis

spent fuel verification

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