Neutron Generators for Spent Fuel Assay

Ludewigt, Bernhard A

关键词: 46;    98;    ACCELERATION;    DELAYED NEUTRONS;    ION BEAMS;    LIFETIME;    NEUTRON FLUX;    NEUTRON GENERATORS;    NEUTRON SOURCES;    NEUTRONS;    NUCLEAR FUELS;    PLUTONIUM;    SAFEGUARDS;    SLOWING-DOWN;    SPECTROSCOPY;    SPENT FUELS neutron generator;    nuclear safeguards;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1015331
RP-ID  :  LBNL-4426E
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1015331
Others  :  TRN: US1102896

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

The Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) of the U.S. DOE has initiated a multi-lab/university collaboration to quantify the plutonium (Pu) mass in, and detect the diversion of pins from, spent nuclear fuel (SNF) assemblies with non-destructive assay (NDA). The 14 NDA techniques being studied include several that require an external neutron source: Delayed Neutrons (DN), Differential Die-Away (DDA), Delayed Gammas (DG), and Lead Slowing-Down Spectroscopy (LSDS). This report provides a survey of currently available neutron sources and their underlying technology that may be suitable for NDA of SNF assemblies. The neutron sources considered here fall into two broad categories. The term 'neutron generator' is commonly used for sealed devices that operate at relatively low acceleration voltages of less than 150 kV. Systems that employ an acceleration structure to produce ion beam energies from hundreds of keV to several MeV, and that are pumped down to vacuum during operation, rather than being sealed units, are usually referred to as 'accelerator-driven neutron sources.' Currently available neutron sources and future options are evaluated within the parameter space of the neutron generator/source requirements as currently understood and summarized in section 2. Applicable neutron source technologies are described in section 3. Commercially available neutron generators and other source options that could be made available in the near future with some further development and customization are discussed in sections 4 and 5, respectively. The pros and cons of the various options and possible ways forward are discussed in section 6. Selection of the best approach must take a number of parameters into account including cost, size, lifetime, and power consumption, as well as neutron flux, neutron energy spectrum, and pulse structure that satisfy the requirements of the NDA instrument to be built.