Development of a DDA+PGA-combined non-destructive active interrogation system in "Active-N"

古高 和禎; 大図 章; 藤 暢輔

Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 55(11), p.4002 - 4018, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2023.07.015

An integrated neutron interrogation system has been developed for non-destructive assay of highly radioactive special nuclear materials, to accumulate knowledge of the method through developing and using it. The system combines a differential die-away (DDA) measurement system for the quantification of nuclear materials and a prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) system for the detection of neutron poisons which disturb the DDA measurements; a common D-T neutron generator is used. A special care has been taken for the selection of materials to reduce the background gamma rays produced by the interrogation neutrons. A series of measurements were performed to test the basic performance of the system. The results show that the DDA system can quantify plutonium of as small as 20~mg and it is not affected by intense neutron background up to 4.2~TBq and gamma ray of 2.2~TBq. As a result of the designing of the combined system as a whole, the gamma-ray background counting rate at the PGA detector was reduced down to s even with the use of the D-T neutron generator. The test measurements show that the PGA system is capable of detecting less than 1~g of boron compound and about 100~g of gadolinium compound in~30 min. This research was implemented under the subsidy for nuclear security promotion of MEXT.

Design and characterization of the fission signature assay instrument for nuclear safeguards

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 5 Pages, 2023/05

Since 2015, the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been working on the development of the Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy non-destructive assay technique for the quantification of fissile-nuclide content in mixed nuclear materials. Thanks to the efforts and lessons learned from past experiments, the ISCN has successfully designed and fabricated a final integrated instrument. The instrument is composed of a moderator and dose shield where different neutron sources, like Cf-252 and neutron generators, can be inserted to irradiate the sample. Within the moderator, a series of neutron detectors are installed for perform prompt neutron analysis and continuous monitoring of the neutron source emission. Thanks to an innovative transfer system, the sample is then moved to the gamma-ray detector in less than 1.5s providing a fast and reliable movement while being safe from possible contamination. In this work, we will describe the design details of this new instrument. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like".

Applicability of differential die-away self-interrogation technique for quantification of spontaneous fission nuclides for fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants

長谷 竹晃; 相樂 洋*; 小菅 義広*; 能見 貴佳; 奥村 啓介

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(4), p.460 - 472, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2114958

This paper provides an overview of the applicability of the Differential Die-Away Self-Interrogation (DDSI) technique for quantification of spontaneous fissile nuclides in fuel debris at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants. In this research, massive fuel debris stored in a canister was evaluated, and the void space of the canister was assumed to be filled with water for wet storage and air for dry storage. The composition of fuel debris was estimated based on elements such as the inventory in the reactor core and operation history. The simulation results show that for wet storage, the DDSI technique can properly evaluate the neutron leakage multiplication and quantify spontaneous fissile nuclides with a total measurement uncertainty (TMU) of approximately 8%. For dry storage, the known-alpha technique, which was previously established, can be applied to quantify spontaneous fissile nuclides with a TMU of approximately 4%. In both cases, the largest uncertainty factor is the variation in water content in the canister. In the case of wet storage, the uncertainty could be significantly increased in cases where the fuel debris is extremely unevenly distributed in the canister.

Development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear safeguards, 2; Designing a compact DGS instrument

Rossi, F.; Abbas, K.*; 小泉 光生; Lee, H.-J.; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Virtual Annual Meeting (Internet), 7 Pages, 2021/08

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is developing the Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (DGS) non-destructive assay technique to quantify the fissile-nuclide content in small samples of mixed nuclear materials. One of our primary goals is to develop a compact and efficient DGS instrument to be easily installable into analytical laboratories. The instrument should include an external neutron source and a gamma-ray detection system along with other supporting systems like sample transfer and neutron monitoring. One of the challenges is to design a compact and efficient moderator for commercial neutron sources (e.g. neutron generators or sealed radioactive sources) that emit neutrons with high energy. However, to be able to enhance the gamma-ray signal from fissile materials, thermal neutrons are best due to their higher fission cross-sections. The choice of viable neutron source (neutron spectrum and strength) depends on several considerations (e.g. sample type and interrogation pattern), but also affect the gamma-ray measurement and the consequence analysis. In this work, we will first describe the evaluation results of our Delayed Gamma-ray Test Spectrometer using a Cf source (DGTS-C) from the first experiment carried out in PERLA in collaboration with the European Commission, Joint Research Centre. In association, we will describe how it provided guidance for our demonstration irradiator. Further, we will present our final moderator design concept for a deuterium-deuterium (D-D) neutron generator and present the latest results of data-model comparisons, including those with our PUNITA results. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like". This work was done under the agreement between JAEA and EURATOM in the field of nuclear material safeguards research and development.

Development of active non-destructive analysis technologies for nuclear nonproliferation and security of JAEA

小泉 光生

Proceedings of 41st ESARDA Annual Meeting (Internet), p.260 - 267, 2019/05

The Japan atomic energy agency (JAEA) is developing active non-destructive analysis (NDA) technologies for nuclear nonproliferation and security under the support of the subsidiary of for "promotion of strengthening nuclear security or the like" of the Japanese government MEXT. One of the programs is "development of active neutron NDA techniques", in which four techniques are developed: i.e., Differential Die Away Analysis (DDA), Delayed Gamma-ray Analysis (DGA), Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA), and Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA). These techniques are used to complement each other. They would be useful for nuclear material accountancy, applicable to both low- and high-level radioactive nuclear materials (NMs), and for nuclear security purposes such as detection of NM and explosive materials. Another program is development of nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) technique for detection of NM hidden in a shield. This technique utilizes quasi monochromatic gamma-rays produced by laser Compton scattering (LCS) to irradiate a suspicious sample and observe NRF gamma-rays from that. Demonstration experiment of this technique will be performed soon. In this paper, the development projects are overviewed.

Study of the neutron multiplication effect in an active neutron method

米田 政夫; 大図 章; 森 貴正; 中塚 嘉明; 前田 亮; 呉田 昌俊; 藤 暢輔

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 54(11), p.1233 - 1239, 2017/11

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2017.1359118

アクティブ中性子法における中性子増倍効果に関して、解析及び実験による研究を実施した。アクティブ中性子法を用いた核物質の測定では、第2世代以降の中性子による中性子増倍の影響を受ける。しかしながら、そのような中性子増倍効果による影響について、これまで十分に調べられてこなかった。本研究では、第3世代中性子による中性子増倍が無視できる場合において、測定データから第2世代中性子による中性子増倍効果の影響を補正する手法について調べ、測定データから中性子増倍の影響を除外する補正方法を提案した。更に、本手法を利用した深い未臨界度の評価手法についても示した。

IAEA保障措置技術及び人材育成に対するJAEAの貢献

直井 洋介; 小田 哲三; 富川 裕文

日本原子力学会誌ATOMO, 58(9), p.536 - 541, 2016/09

日本は1955年に制定された原子力基本法に従い、原子力の研究開発、原子力エネルギーの利用を平和目的に限って推進してきた。平和目的に限られていることを担保するため、事業者は計量管理を行い、IAEAと保障措置協定を締結する以前は二国間原子力協定(日米,日仏,日加等)に基づき報告を行い、1977年のIAEAとの保障措置協定を締結後は国内法が改定され、それに基づき計量管理及びその報告が行われてきた。1999年には追加議定書を締結して新たな義務を負うIAEAの保障措置活動に対応してきており、これまでわが国の原子力活動についての申告の正確性と完全性がIAEAによって検認されてきている。2004年には、核物質の転用や未申告の活動はないとの「拡大結論」を得て以降、これまで毎年この拡大結論を得てきている。本報告では、原子力機構がこれまで取り組んできたIAEAの保障措置に必要な技術開発や人材育成への協力などIAEA保障措置活動への貢献について報告する。

中性子多重相関計数法の数理的基礎; ウラン・プルトニウム混合二酸化物の例

細馬 隆

JAEA-Research 2015-009, 162 Pages, 2015/08

JAEA-Research-2015-009.pdf:22.3MB

プルトニウム転換技術開発施設では、米国エネルギー省の支援を受けて中性子同時計数法による計量装置の開発・設置・改良を行い、20年にわたり計量管理と保障措置対応に用いてきた。中性子計数による測定の対象は今後、従来とは異なる自発核分裂性核種を含む高質量のウラン・プルトニウム混合二酸化物に拡がると思われる。そこで、中性子多重相関計数法の数理的基礎について現場での経験を含めて再考するとともに、次の点について基礎を拡充した; (a)確率母関数を用いた七重相関までの多重相関分布式の代数的導出; (b)モンテカルロ法に代えて試料内部の任意の点から表面の任意の点までの平均距離とこの間での誘導核分裂反応の確率を用いた漏れ増倍率の評価; (c)Poisson過程が持つ2つの異なる時間軸と同時計数の仕組みの関連付け、結果として確率過程に由来するほぼ同時中性子の導出と評価。分布式については「組合せ」に基づく新しい表現を併記し、実際に取り扱ったウラン・プルトニウム混合二酸化物をスペクトルや平均自由行程の例とした。

Introduction to development of advanced safeguards and security NDA technologies by JAEA-ISCN

瀬谷 道夫; 呉田 昌俊; 曽山 和彦; 中村 仁宣; 原田 秀郎; 羽島 良一

Proceedings of INMM 55th Annual Meeting (Internet), 10 Pages, 2014/07

原子力機構は保障措置及び核セキュリティのための、次の先進的な核物質非破壊測定の基礎技術開発プログラムを実施してきている。(1)ZnS/BOセラミックシンチレータによるHe代替中性子検知技術、(2)中性子共鳴透過分析(NRTA)及び中性子共鳴捕獲分析(NRCA)の組み合わせによる中性子共鳴濃度分析法、(3)レーザー・コンプトン散乱線(大強度単色線)利用核共鳴蛍光NDA(1)は、供給不足が懸念されるHeに代わるZnS/BOセラミックシンチレータ中性子検出器の開発であり、(2)は、粒子状溶融燃料などの測定対象物中の核物質同位体組成比測定NDA技術開発、(3)は、レーザー・コンプトン散乱により発生させたエネルギー可変の大強度の単色線により引き起こすPu/U同位体の核共鳴蛍光反応を利用するNDAのためのプログラムである。この論文ではこれらについて紹介する。

ハイブリッドK吸収端/蛍光X線濃度計の長期安定性

薗田 暁; 冨樫 喜博; 宮内 正勝; 岡崎 修二*

JAERI-Tech 99-043, 16 Pages, 1999/05

JAERI-Tech-99-043.pdf:1.86MB

核物質の計量管理及び保障措置分析における溶液試料に適用可能な高精度の非破壊分析法の確立のため、原研では、米国・DOEとの研究協力協定のもと、ハイブリッドK吸収端/蛍光X線濃度計(HKED)をNUCEFに設置し、溶液試料中のウラン及びプルトニウムの非破壊測定技術の共同開発を進めている。HKEDは査察機器として使用される予定であるため、装置が破壊分析法と同様の測定精度を持ち長期にわたり安定した測定ができなければならない。本報告書は、HKEDの長期安定性及び装置の健全性を示すための標準の長期安定性、さらに試験を通して得られたX線管の出力変動が測定結果に与える影響についてまとめたものである。