Three-dimensional X-ray CT image of an irradiated FBR fuel assembly

照射済み高速炉燃料集合体の3次元X線CT画像

勝山 幸三 ; 前田 宏治  ; 永峯 剛; 古屋 廣高

Katsuyama, Kozo; Maeda, Koji; Nagamine, Tsuyoshi; Furuya, Hirotaka

高速実験炉「常陽」で照射した燃料集合体の3次元X線CT画像の取得に成功し、あらゆる角度から照射した燃料集合体の内部状況観察が可能となった。また、燃料ペレット内の中心空孔発生状況も観察できることを確認し、3次元X線CT画像から軸方向における中心空孔の形成状況を明らかにした。これにより、これまで破壊試験で実施してきた観察の多くが非破壊試験で実施可能となり、照射後試験の迅速化、効率化、低価格化に貢献した。

Three-dimensional X-ray CT (computer tomography) images were successfully taken of a fast breeder reactor fuel assembly which had been irradiated to high burn-up. The interior and outside of the fuel assembly can be clearly observed on any cross section from any angle. Using these images, it is possible to analyze the deformation of fuel pins, abnormalities in the fuel assembly, and microstructural change in the fuel pins. 127 central void sizes were tentatively analyzed as a function of linear heat rating. Compared with conventional non-destructive and destructive post irradiation examination (PIEs), this X-ray CT technique has great advantages including the number of PIE data acquisitions in a short time, reduced PIE costs, reduced radioactive waste generation, and physical protection of nuclear materials.