| 1. |
- Andersson, Peter, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Coincidence spectroscopy for increased sensitivity in radionuclide monitoring
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The majority of the energy in a nuclear explosion is released in the immediate blast and the initial radiation accounts. The remaining fraction is released through radioactive decay of the explosion's fission products and neutron activation products over a longer time span. This allows for the detection of a nuclear explosion by detecting the presence of residual decay. Radionuclide monitoring stations for detection of radioactive emissions to the atmosphere is thereby an important tool in the verification of compliance with nuclear disarmament treaties. In particular, the globally spanning radionuclide station network of the International Monitoring System (IMS) has been implemented for verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors are workhorses in radionuclide monitoring. The detection of characteristic gamma rays can be used to disclose the presence of signature nuclides produced innuclear weapon tests. A particular development that has potential to improve the sensitivity of radionuclide monitoring is the coincidence technique where decaying nuclides that emit several coincident gamma rays can be detected at much smaller activity concentrations than with conventional gamma spectroscopy.In this project, dedicated gamma-gamma coincidence detectors are being developed, utilizing electronically segmented HPGe detectors. These detectors are expected to be highly sensitive to low-activity samples of nuclides that present coincident emissions of gamma rays. In this paper we present the concept, define performance parameters, and explore the performance of such detectors to a subset of radionuclides of particular CTBT relevance. In addition, we discuss the path forward in developing a next generation gamma-gamma coincidence spectroscopy system of segmented HPGe.
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| 2. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of prediction models for Cherenkov light emissions from nuclear fuel assemblies
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is a tool used by nuclear safeguards inspectors to verify irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage based on the Cherenkov light produced by the assembly. Verification that no rods have been substituted in the fuel, so-called partial-defect verification, is made by comparing the intensity measured with a DCVD with a predicted intensity, based on operator fuel declaration. The prediction model currently used by inspectors is based on simulations of Cherenkov light production in a BWR 8x8 geometry. This work investigates prediction models based on simulated Cherenkov light production in a BWR 8x8 and a PWR 17x17 assembly, as well as a simplified model based on a single rod in water. Cherenkov light caused by both fission product gamma and beta decays were considered.The simulations reveal that there are systematic differences between the models, most noticeably with respect to the fuel assembly cooling time. Consequently, a prediction model that is based on another fuel assembly configuration than the fuel type being measured, will result in systematic over or underestimation of short-cooled fuel as opposed to long-cooled fuel. While a simplified model may be accurate enough for fuel assemblies with fairly homogeneous cooling times, the prediction models may differ by up to 18 \,\% for more heterogeneous fuel. Accordingly, these investigations indicate that the currently used model may need to be exchanged with a set of more detailed, fuel-type specific models, in order minimize the model dependant systematic deviations.
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| 3. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Image analysis as a tool for improved use of the Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device for inspection of irradiated PWR fuel assemblies.
- 2014
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is a tool used to measure the Cherenkov light emitted from irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies stored in water pools. It has been approved by the IAEA for attended gross defect verification, as well as for partial defect verification, where a fraction of the fuel material has been diverted. In this report, we have investigated the current procedures for recording images with the DCVD, and have looked into ways to improve these procedures. Using three different image sets of PWR fuel assemblies, we have analysed what information and results can be obtained using image analysis techniques. We have investigated several error sources that distort the images, and have shown how these errors affect the images. We have also described some of the errors mathematically, and have discussed how these error sources may be compensated for, if the character and magnitude of the errors are known. Resulting from our investigations are a few suggestions on how to improve the procedures and consequently the quality of the images recorded with the DCVD as well as suggestions on how to improve the analysis of collected images. Specifically, a few improvements that should be looked into in the short term are:• Images should be recorded with the fuel assembly perfectly centered in the image, and preferably without any tilt of the DCVD relative to the fuel in order to obtain accurate measurements of the light intensity. Image analysis procedures that may aid the alignment are presented.• To compensate for the distorting effect of the water surface and possible turbulence in the water, several images with short exposure time should be captured rather than one image with long exposure time. Using image analysis procedures, it is possible to sum the images resulting in a final image with less distortions and improved quality.• A reference image should be used to estimate device-related distortions, so that these distortions are compensated for. Ideally, this procedure can also be used to calibrate individual pixels.• The background should be carefully taken into account in order to separate the background level from diffuse signal components, allowing for the background to be subtracted. Accordingly, each measurement campaign should be accompanied by at least one background measurement, recorded from a section in the storage pool where no fuel assemblies are present. Furthermore, the background level should be determined from a larger region in the image and not from one individual pixel, as is currently done.• A database of measurements should be set up, containing DCVD images, information about the applied DCVD settings and the conditions that the DCVD was used in. Any partial defect verification procedure at any time could then be tested against as much data as possible. Accordingly, a database can aid in evaluating and improving partial defect verification methods using DCVD image analysis.Based on the findings and discussions in this report, some long-term improvements are also suggested.
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| 4. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Improved DCVD assessments of irradiated nuclear fuel using image analysis techniques
- 2014
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- 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.
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| 5. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Investigating the Cherenkov light production due to cross-talk in closely stored nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage
- 2018
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Ingår i: ESARDA Bulletin. - : European Commission Joint Research Centre. - 1977-5296. ; :57, s. 66-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is one of the tools available to a safeguards inspector performing verifications of irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage. One of the main advantages of safeguards verification using Cherenkov light is that it can be performed without moving the fuel assemblies to an isolated measurement position, allowing for quick measurements. One disadvantage of this procedure is that irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies are often stored close to each other, and consequently gamma radiation from one assembly can enter a neighbouring assembly, and produce Cherenkov light in the neighbour. As a result, the measured Cherenkov light intensity of one assembly will include contributions from its neighbours, which may affect the safeguards conclusions drawn.In this paper, this so-called near-neighbour effect, is investigated and quantified through simulation. The simulations show that for two fuel assemblies with similar properties stored closely, the near-neighbour effect can cause a Cherenkov light intensity increase of up to 3% in a measurement. For one fuel assembly surrounded by identical neighbour assemblies, a total of up to 14% of the measured intensity may emanate from the neighbours. The relative contribution from the near-neighbour effect also depends on the fuel properties; for a long-cooled, low-burnup assembly, with low gamma and Cherenkov light emission, surrounded by short-cooled, high-burnup assemblies with high emission, the measured Cherenkov light intensity may be dominated by the contributions from its neighbours.When the DCVD is used for partial-defect verification, a 50% defect must be confidently detected. Previous studies have shown that a 50% defect will reduce the measured Cherenkov light intensity by 30% or more, and thus a threshold has been defined, where a ≥30% decrease in Cherenkov light indicates a partial defect. However, this work shows that the near-neighbour effect may also influence the measured intensity, calling either for a lowering of this threshold or for the intensity contributions from neighbouring assemblies to be corrected for. In this work, a method is proposed for assessing the near-neighbour effect based on declared fuel parameters, enabling the latter type of corrections.
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| 6. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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On Cherenkov light production by irradiated nuclear fuel rods
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Safeguards verification of irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage is frequently done by measuring the Cherenkov light in the surrounding water produced due to radioactive decays of fission products in the fuel. This paper accounts for the physical processes behind the Cherenkov light production caused by a single fuel rod in wet storage, and simulations are presented that investigate to what extent various properties of the rod affect the Cherenkov light production. The results show that the fuel properties has a noticeable effect on the Cherenkov light production, and thus that the prediction models for Cherenkov light production which are used in the safeguards verifications could potentially be improved by considering these properties.It is concluded that the dominating source of the Cherenkov light is gamma-ray interactions with electrons in the surrounding water. Electrons created from beta decay may also exit the fuel and produce Cherenkov light, and e.g. Y-90 was identified as a possible contributor to significant levels of the measurable Cherenkov light in long-cooled fuel. The results also show that the cylindrical, elongated fuel rod geometry results in a non-isotropic Cherenkov light production, and the light component parallel to the rod's axis exhibits a dependence on gamma-ray energy that differs from the total intensity, which is of importance since the typical safeguards measurement situation observes the vertical light component. It is also concluded that the radial distributions of the radiation sources in a fuel rod will affect the Cherenkov light production.
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| 7. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Towards unattended partial-defect verification of irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies using the DCVD
- 2014
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- 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.
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| 8. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Combining DCVD measurements at different alignments for enhanced partial defect detection performance
- 2021
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the INMM & ESARDA Joint Virtual Annual Meeting August 23-26 & August 30-September 1, 2021.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In the current Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) measurement methodology, the DCVD is aligned over the centre of a fuel assembly when measuring emitted Cherenkov light. Due to the collimation of light, and due to the lifting handle of PWR fuel assemblies covering the fuel periphery, the DCVD is more sensitive to partial defects near the fuel assembly centre than near the periphery. Here, we investigate the sensitivity of the DCVD for detecting partial defects for different instrument alignments. By performing measurements at both the centre and near the assembly periphery, more accurate measurements near the periphery can be obtained.DCVD images were simulated for different partial defect scenarios with 30% of the fuel rods removed or replaced with low, medium or high-density rods. Simulations were run with different DCVD alignments, and the Cherenkov light distribution in the images were quantitatively analysed and compared to simulated images for a fuel assembly without defects. The simulation results were also compared with measurements of intact spent fuel assemblies.The simulations show that the local Cherenkov light intensity deviation due to a partial defect is not sensitive to the alignment. Hence, the current methodology is robust, and will not benefit from measuring at different alignments. Regarding the signal-to-noise ratio, combining measurements at different alignments can improve the measurements. However, the improvement is modest, and for the DCVD it may be preferred to simply use the current methodology and make longer measurements. For future autonomous Cherenkov measuring systems, combining images can be a way of improving the quality of the measurements.
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| 9. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of modelling assumptions on Cherenkov light intensity predictions
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is one of the instruments available to IAEA inspectors to verify spent nuclear fuel in wet storage. The DCVD can be used for partial defect verification, verifying that 50% or more of a fuel assembly has not been diverted. The partial defect verification relies on a comparison between measured and predicted intensities, based on operator fuel declarations. Recently, IAEA inspectors have encountered spent fuels with short cooling times where there were systematic differences between predictions and measurements. Through the Swedish support program, this deviation was investigated, by studying various modelling assumptions that could cause the discrepancy.The predominant cause of the discrepancy was beta-decay electrons, passing through the fuel cladding and entering the water with sufficient energy to directly produce Cherenkov light. Analysis of measurement data for a set of fuels where the discrepancy was found to be pronounced revealed that for modern fuel designs with thin claddings the beta contribution is enhanced, and for short-cooled fuels additional beta-decaying isotopes are abundant and must be considered. Furthermore, the data showed that for nuclear fuels that had not reached the discharge burnup, the fuel irradiation history may cause a relative enhancement of the abundance of beta-decaying isotopes relative to other isotopes causing Cherenkov light. Other studied modelling assumptions, such as void, burnable absorbers and using binned gamma spectra, showed that they only introduced a modest bias, and proper default values and data handling can mitigate it. A method to predict the direct beta contribution to the Cherenkov light intensity was developed, which can ensure that the observed biases will be eliminated from future verification campaigns. It is advised that this enhanced prediction method be included in the DCVD software, and made available to inspectors.
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| 10. |
- Branger, Erik, 1988-
(författare)
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Enhanced verification of irradiated nuclear fuel using Cherenkov light
- 2019
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is one instrument available to authority inspectors to verify spent nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage. Verification with the DCVD relies on a comparison between the measured Cherenkov light intensity to a predicted one. This work describes the development of an improved the prediction model, to further enhance the DCVD performance. By considering more fuel parameters in the predictions, predictions that are more accurate can be provided for fuel assemblies with a greater range of burnups, cooling times and irradiation histories. Furthermore, by considering the effect of the storage situation, the accuracy of the predictions can be further enhanced. By using the improved prediction model, the DCVD can be put into regular use to reliably verify fuel assemblies with a wider range of burnups and cooling times than before. The improved prediction model will be available to authority inspectors shortly.
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