Towards unattended partial-defect verification of irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies using the DCVD

• The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is a tool used by authority inspectors to verify irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage by measuring the Cherenkov light emitted. The DCVD is approved by the IAEA for gross defect verification, and is one of the few inspection tools approved for partial defect verification.There is interest in adapting the DCVD to work in unattended mode, so that it can be used to verify large quantities of irradiated fuel assemblies prior to moving them to difficult-to-access storage locations. This work presents methods based on image analysis that can be used to reduce the effects of different types of distortions encountered when performing measurements with the DCVD. Implementing these methods will ensure that data of high quality is obtained. Verification prior to moving fuels to difficult-to-access storage may also require a dedicated measurement station to be built, and it is argued that by constructing these stations with the DCVD in mind, many distortions can be reduced or eliminated. Thus, by implementing safeguards-by-design, it is possible to ensure that the DCVD is used in near optimal conditions.

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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