Visualization of radioactive substances using a freely moving gamma-ray imager based on Structure from Motion

佐藤 優樹; 峯本 浩二郎*; 根本 誠*; 鳥居 建男

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science, 7(4), p.042003_1 - 042003_12, 2021/10

https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4048843

Technology for measuring and identifying the positions and distributions of radioactive substances is important for decommissioning work sites at nuclear power stations. A three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction method that locates radioactive substances by integrating Structure-from-Motion (SfM) with a Compton camera (a type of gamma-ray imager) has been developed. From the photographs captured while freely moving in an experimental environment, a 3D structural model of the experimental environment was created. By projecting the radioactive substance image acquired by the Compton camera on the 3D structural model, the positions of the radioactive substance were visualized in 3D space. In a demonstration study, the Cs-radiation source was successfully visualized in the experimental environment captured by the freely moving cameras. In addition, how the imaging accuracy is affected by uncertainty in the self-localization of the Compton camera processed by SfM, and by positional uncertainty in the gamma-ray incidence determined by the sensors of the Compton camera was investigated. The created map depicts the positions of radioactive substances inside radiation work environments, such as decommissioning work sites at nuclear power stations.

Analysis and mapping of detailed inner information of crystalline grain by wavelength-resolved neutron transmission imaging with individual Bragg-dip profile-fitting analysis

櫻井 洋亮*; 佐藤 博隆*; 足立 望*; 諸岡 聡; 戸高 義一*; 加美山 隆*

Applied Sciences (Internet), 11(11), p.5219_1 - 5219_17, 2021/06

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115219

As a new method for evaluating single crystal and oligocrystal, pulsed neutron Bragg-dip transmission analysis/imaging method is being developed. In this study, a single Bragg-dip profile fitting analysis method was newly developed, and applied for analyzing detailed inner information in a crystalline grain position-dependently. In the method, the spectrum profile of a single Bragg-dip is analyzed at each position over a grain. As a result, it is expected that changes of crystal orientation, mosaic spread angle and thickness of a perfect crystal can be evaluated from the wavelength, the width and the integrated intensity of the Bragg-dip, respectively. For confirming this effectiveness, the method was applied to experimental data of position-dependent Bragg-dip transmission spectra of a Si-steel plate consisting of oligocrystals. As a result, inner information of multiple crystalline grains could be visualized and evaluated. The small change of crystal orientation in a grain, about 0.4, could be observed by imaging the Bragg-dip wavelengths. By imaging the Bragg-dip widths, both another grain and mosaic block in a grain were detected. Furthermore, imaging results of the integrated intensities of Bragg-dips were consistent with the results of Bragg-dip width imaging. These small crystallographic changes have not been observed and visualized by previous Bragg-dip analysis methods.

Neutron Bragg-edge transmission imaging for microstructure and residual strain in induction hardened gears

Su, Y.; 及川 健一; 篠原 武尚; 甲斐 哲也; 堀野 孝*; 井戸原 修*; 三阪 佳孝*; 友田 陽*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 11, p.4155_1 - 4155_14, 2021/02

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83555-9

A time-of-flight Bragg-edge neutron transmission imaging was used to investigate the microstructure and strain distributions in a gear hardened by a newly developed two-step induction-heating method: precursor (Sample 1) and final product (Sample 2). The edge- position and edge-broadening were determined and mapped with high spatial resolution, which enabled us to confirm the two-dimensional distributions of the microstructure and residual strain. A deep hardened layer was made for Sample 1 in which martensite was formed on the entire teeth and the outer peripheral portion of the gear body. Sample 2 was subjected to double induction-hardening, where a tempered martensite was formed as the thermal refined microstructure between a fine-grained martensite at the tooth surface and a ferrite-pearlite microstructure at the core. The relationship between edge-broadening and the Vickers hardness described by a linear equation was employed to derive the elastic residual strain. The residual strain map for Sample 2 revealed that a steep compressive strain was introduced into the fine-grained martensite at the tooth surface by the super rapid induction- heating and quenching process. The reversal of tension was speculated to occur below 2 mm from the tooth tip, and the strain was almost zero in the core region.

アルファダストの検出を目指した超高位置分解能イメージング装置の開発(委託研究); 令和元年度英知を結集した原子力科学技術・人材育成推進事業

廃炉環境国際共同研究センター; 東北大学*

JAEA-Review 2020-039, 59 Pages, 2021/01

JAEA-Review-2020-039.pdf:4.18MB

日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA)廃炉環境国際共同研究センター(CLADS)では、令和元年度英知を結集した原子力科学技術・人材育成推進事業(以下、「本事業」という)を実施している。本事業は、東京電力ホールディングス福島第一原子力発電所の廃炉等をはじめとした原子力分野の課題解決に貢献するため、国内外の英知を結集し、様々な分野の知見や経験を、従前の機関や分野の壁を越えて緊密に融合・連携させた基礎的・基盤的研究及び人材育成を推進することを目的としている。平成30年度の新規採択課題から実施主体を文部科学省からJAEAに移行することで、JAEAとアカデミアとの連携を強化し、廃炉に資する中長期的な研究開発・人材育成をより安定的かつ継続的に実施する体制を構築した。本研究は、研究課題のうち、平成30年度に採択された「アルファダストの検出を目指した超高位置分解能イメージング装置の開発」の令和元年度の研究成果について取りまとめたものである。本研究は、福島第一原発の廃炉を進めるうえで、ある段階からは作業員が実際に炉内、ないしは、炉のがれき・破片を解体・撤去する際に、ダストとして舞う放射線核種、特に体内被曝の影響が高いアルファ線を放出する核種などの把握を目指した撮像カメラの開発を行うものである。ダストの把握に必要な10m程度以下の優れた位置分解能を達成するために、シンチレータの高性能化、カメラの最適化などに取り組んできた。また、ここで得られた技術をもとに、光ファイバーを用いた超高線量場でのリアルタイム線量モニタの開発も取り組んだ。

Homogeneity of neutron transmission imaging over a large sensitive area with a four-channel superconducting detector

Vu, TheDang; 宍戸 寛明*; 小嶋 健児*; 小山 富男*; 及川 健一; 原田 正英; 宮嶋 茂之*; 奥 隆之; 曽山 和彦; 相澤 一也; et al.

Superconductor Science and Technology, 34(1), p.015010_1 - 015010_10, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/abc2af

We demonstrated that a four-readout superconducting neutron imaging system shows good spatial heterogeneity and linearity using the delay-line method. We examined the precise pattern of a B-dot-array absorber and found the X-direction pitch (Px) = 250.7 um with a scatter of (Hx)= 5.4 um and the Y-direction pitch (Py)= 249.1 um with a scatter of (Hy)= 3.4 um while the B dot array was fully extended toward the X direction across the detector sensitive area. We consider that this demonstrates detection with good spatial homogeneity and conclude. The transmission-imaging system is suitable for use at pulsed neutron facilities. We also reported a clear transmission image of tiny screws and nuts, and ladybug (insect). We recognize that further efforts to improve the detection efficiency are necessary to make using the detector more practical.

Visualization of radioactive substances using freely moving gamma-ray imager based on Structure from Motion

佐藤 優樹; 鳥居 建男

Proceedings of International Youth Nuclear Congress 2020 (IYNC 2020) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2020/05

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc., suffered a meltdown as a result of a large tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. We have been conducting demonstration tests for detection of radioactive hotspots inside the FDNPS buildings using a Compton camera, a kind of gamma-ray imager. In this work, we introduced the 3D visualization of radioactive substances by using combination of the Compton camera and optical camera based on Structure from Motion (SfM). By taking photographs of the experimental environment while freely moving, a 3D structural model of the environment can be reconstructed from the multiple photographs, and the movement trajectory of the optical camera can be estimated simultaneously using the SfM. Furthermore, the radioactive substances can be visualized by drawing an image of the radioactive substances on the 3D structural model using gamma-ray data acquired by the Compton camera. In the demonstration, we succeeded in visualizing a Cs-radiation source on the 3D structural model of the experimental environment while freely moving these devices. This technology is useful for making it easy to recognize radioactive substances in decommissioning work site such as the FDNPS.

Monte Carlo radiation transport modelling of the current-biased kinetic inductance detector

Malins, A.; 町田 昌彦; Vu, TheDang; 相澤 一也; 石田 武和*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 953, p.163130_1 - 163130_7, 2020/02

AA2019-0261.pdf:0.84MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.163130

Radiation transport simulations were used to analyse neutron imaging with the current-biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID). The PHITS Monte Carlo code was applied for simulating neutron, He, Li, photon and electron transport, B(n,)Li reactions, and energy deposition by particles within CB-KID. Slight blurring in simulated CB-KID images originated He and Li ions spreading out in random directions from the B conversion layer in the detector prior to causing signals in the and superconducting Nb nanowire meander lines. 478 keV prompt gamma rays emitted by Li nuclei from neutron-B reactions had negligible contribution to the simulated CB-KID images. Simulated neutron images of B dot arrays indicate that sub 10 m resolution imaging should be feasible with the current CB-KID design. The effect of the geometrical structure of CB-KID on the intrinsic detection efficiency was calculated from the simulations. An analytical equation was then developed to approximate this contribution to the detection efficiency. Detection efficiencies calculated in this study are upper bounds for the reality as the effects of detector temperature, the bias current, signal processing and dead-time losses were not taken into account. The modelling strategies employed in this study could be used to evaluate modifications to the CB-KID design prior to actual fabrication and testing, conveying a time and cost saving.

Visualizing an ignition process of hydrogen jets containing sodium mist by high-speed imaging

土井 大輔; 清野 裕; 宮原 信哉*; 宇埜 正美*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(6), p.521 - 532, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1599743

In severe accident scenarios for sodium-cooled fast reactors, it is desirable to gradually consume hydrogen generated by various ex-vessel phenomena without posting a challenge to containment integrity. An effective means is combustion of hydrogen jets containing sodium vapor and mist, but previous studies have been limited to determining ignition thresholds experimentally. The aim of this study was to visualize the ignition process in detail to investigate the ignition mechanism of hydrogen-sodium mixed jets. The ignition experiments of the hydrogen jet containing sodium mist were carried out under a condition of little turbulence. The ignition process was measured with an optical measurement system comprised of a high-speed camera and an image intensifier, and a spatial distribution of luminance was analyzed by image processing. Detail observation revealed that sodium mist particles burned as scattering sparks inside the jet and that hydrogen ignited around the mist particles. Additionally, the experimental results and a simple heat balance calculation indicated that the combustion heat of sodium mist particles could ignite the hydrogen as the heterogeneous ignition source in the fuel temperature range where the mist particle formation was promoted.

燃料研究棟の汚染に係る空気力学的放射能中央径の評価; イメージングプレートを用いたPu粒子径の分析

高崎 浩司; 安宗 貴志; 橋本 周; 前田 宏治; 加藤 正人; 吉澤 道夫; 百瀬 琢麿

JAEA-Review 2019-003, 48 Pages, 2019/03

JAEA-Review-2019-003.pdf:3.81MB

平成29年6月6日に大洗研究開発センター燃料研究棟の管理区域内において、貯蔵容器の点検等作業中、貯蔵容器内にある核燃料物質が入った容器を封入した樹脂製の袋が破裂した。室内で作業をしていた作業員5名は半面マスクを着用していたが、5名全員が飛散したPu等のダストで汚染され、体内摂取による内部被ばくが生じた。国際放射線防護委員会は作業者による放射性核種の吸入摂取について、空気力学的放射能中央径(AMAD)の1mと5mの実効線量係数を示しており、内部被ばく線量の評価において、放射性粒子のAMADは重要な情報である。事象発生後に採取した室内のスミヤ試料14枚とPuダストモニタのサンプリングろ紙1枚について、イメージングプレートで測定し、画像解析により室内に飛散したPu等の粒子のAMADを評価した。評価の結果、スミヤ試料からは硝酸Pu塩と仮定した場合のAMADは4.311m以上、酸化Puと仮定した場合のAMADは5.614m以上と評価された。また、Puダストモニタの集塵ろ紙については、硝酸Pu塩とした場合のAMADは3.0m以上、酸化Puとした場合は3.9m以上と評価された。

Image reconstruction of radioactive contamination due to the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident using a compact Compton camera

佐藤 優樹; 寺阪 祐太; 宮村 浩子; 冠城 雅晃; 谷藤 祐太; 川端 邦明; 鳥居 建男

Reactor Dosimetry; 16th International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry (ISRD-16) (ASTM STP 1608), p.428 - 436, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.1520/STP160820170060

We developed a lightweight compact Compton camera to measure the distribution of radioactive contamination inside the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. We conducted performance evaluation tests in the coastal area of Fukushima, Japan, using the camera, which employs a cerium (Ce)-doped GAGG (GdAlGaO) scintillator coupled with a multipixel photon counter. The camera can clearly visualize spreading of radioactivity along the ground surface. In addition, we performed three-dimensional image reconstruction of the distribution of radioactive contamination using the multi-angle data obtained with the Compton camera. We succeeded in obtaining a three-dimensional image of radioactive contamination in the outdoor area.