Development of high resolution X-ray CT technique for irradiated fuel pellets

Katsuyama, Kozo ; Ishimi, Akihiro ; Nagamine, Tsuyoshi; Asaka, Takeo

In order to observe the structural change in the interior of irradiated fuel assembly, the non-destructive post irradiation examination technique using X-ray computer tomography (X-ray CT) was developed. In this X-ray CT system, the 12 MeV X-ray pulse was used in synchronization with the switch-in of the detector to minimize the effects of the ray emissions from the irradiated fuel assembly. In this study, this X-ray CT technique was upgraded for observing the inner condition of the fuel pellet using the high resolution X-ray CT image. In this paper, we describe following two items; (1) Development of high resolution X-ray CT technique, and (2) Result of high resolution X-ray CT image of an irradiated fuel pellet.