Demonstration result of sample assay system equipped alternative He-3 detectors

Nakamura, Hironobu; Mukai, Yasunobu; Tobita, Hiroshi; Nakamichi, Hideo; Ozu, Akira; Kureta, Masatoshi; Kurita, Tsutomu; Seya, Michio

Proceedings of 37th ESARDA Annual Meeting (Internet), p.45 - 53, 2015/08

JAEA conducted an R&D project to develop a new type of neutron detector using ZnS/BO ceramic scintillator (as an alternative neutron detector to He-3) with support of Japanese government. The design of the JAEAs alternative system (ASAS: Alternative Sample Assay System using ceramic scintillator tubes) refers basically to the INVS (INVentory Sample assay system) which is the passive type of neutron assay system equipped total 18 He-3 tubes and capable of measuring the small amount of Pu in the MOX powder or Pu nitrate solution in a vial for nuclear material accountancy and safeguards verification. In order to prove the alternative technology and the performance instead of He-3 detector, and to establish Pu measurement capability, JAEA developed and fabricated ASAS equipped 24 alternative ceramic scintillator tubes (which is equivalent to the same counting efficiency of INVS) and demonstrated. The demonstration activity implemented the confirmation of reproducibility about sample positioning, optimization of detector parameters, counting statistical uncertainty, stability check and figure of merit (FOM) using Cf check source and actual MOX powder in PCDF (Plutonium Conversion Development Facility). In addition, performance comparison between the current INVS and the ASAS was also implemented. In this paper, we present demonstration results with design information with Monte-Carlo simulation code (MCNP).

Basic technology development of advanced non-destructive detection / Measurement of nuclear material for nuclear security and nuclear nonproliferation

Seya, Michio; Naoi, Yosuke; Kobayashi, Naoki; Nakamura, Takahisa; Hajima, Ryoichi; Soyama, Kazuhiko; Kureta, Masatoshi; Nakamura, Hironobu; Harada, Hideo

Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai (INMM) Nihon Shibu Dai-35-Kai Nenji Taikai Rombunshu (Internet), 9 Pages, 2015/01

The Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting (based on collaborations with JAEA other centers) the following basic technology development programs of advanced non-destructive detection/measurement of nuclear material for nuclear security and nuclear non-proliferation. (1) The demonstration test of the Pu-NDA system for spent fuel assembly using PNAR and SINRD (JAEA/USDOE(LANL) collaboration, completed in JFY2013), (2) Basic development of NDA technologies using laser Compton scattered -rays (Demonstration of an intense mono-energetic -ray source), (3) Development of alternative to He-3 neutron detection technology, (4) Development of neutron resonance densitometry (JAEA/JRC collaboration)This paper introduces above programs.

Design and implementation of B+He integrated continuous monitor (BHCM) to holdup monitoring in glove boxes

Mukai, Yasunobu; LaFleur, A. M.*; Nakamura, Hironobu; Menlove, H. O.*; Swinhoe, M. T.*; Marlow, J. B.*; Kurita, Tsutomu

Proceedings of INMM 55th Annual Meeting (Internet), 8 Pages, 2014/07

In order to improve the safeguards and nuclear material accountancy of holdup measurements and establish an alternative technology for He shortage, we have designed the B + He Integrated Continuous Monitor (BHCM) and implemented the measurements to continuously monitor the holup in gloveboxes at Plutonium Conversion Developoment Facility. In this paper, we present the outline of BHCM, the comparison between MCNP simulations and the measured results in preliminaly test and a demonstration of process monitoring ability during operation to see the relation between Totals trend and operational status by using B detection tubes.

Design and fabrication of flow partition tube with He-3 gas screen for OSF-1

Kanno, Masaru; ; ; ;

JAERI-Tech 97-042, 53 Pages, 1997/09

JAERI-Tech-97-042.pdf:2.17MB

no abstracts in English

Demand for He-3 neutron detectors in the world and development of the alternative detectors in J-PARC

Sakasai, Kaoru; Nakamura, Tatsuya; To, Kentaro; Soyama, Kazuhiko

no journal, , 

After the simultaneous terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in the U.S., the supply for He-3 gas has stagnated. Therefore, development of alternative to the He-3 detectors has been conducted in a large neutron experiment facility such as J-PARC, where a lot of He-3 neutron detectors are required. In this report, the supply for He-3 gas in the world is over-viewed and the development status of the alternative detectors using wavelength-shifting fibers and scintillators in J-PARC is described.

Development of fuel transient test facility in JMTR

Kimura, Nobuaki; Matsui, Yoshinori; Tobita, Masahiro*; Nakamura, Jinichi; Yamaura, Takayuki

no journal, , 

Power transient tests for the fuels of light water reactors were to be carried out in the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) using capsule-type irradiation test facilities, and the integrity of the fuels had been to be investigated by the tests. Prior to the irradiation tests of the fuels, evaluation of thermal-hydraulic behavior in the capsule using ACE-3D code were carried out. And more, the out-pile test facility, which had an electric heater pin instead of a test fuel pin, was designed and fabricated to simulate the capsules used in the power transient tests. Using this facility, necessary tests for the realization of the irradiation tests and the planning of the test methods were carried out. From these analytical and experimental results, it was confirmed that the power ramping tests for 1010 BWR fuel are able to achieve linear heat rate of 600W/cm in JMTR.

Development and application of He neutron spin filters at J-PARC MLF

Oku, Takayuki

no journal, , 

We have been developing a He neutron spin filter (NSF) for the efficient utilization of pulsed neutrons, since the He NSF is effective for neutrons in the wide energy range. The He NSF is effective especially for neutrons with energy higher than several-tens-meV. It also can cover a large solid angle and polarize neutrons without deflecting them from their original trajectory, it is suitable for the analyzer for SANS and reflectometer instruments. In addition, the He NSF will be a key device in the application of recently developed magnetic field imaging technique by using polarized pulsed neutrons, since it can polarize a thick neutron beam without deteriorating projection image of the transmitted neutrons. In order to apply the He NSF to experiments at a pulsed neutron experimental facility such as the J-PARC, it is important to make the system stable and easy to setup and operate, because the system is located inside thick and bulky radiation shields for high energy gamma ray and neutrons. In this talk, we will report the development and application status of the He NSF at J-PARC MLF.