Monte Carlo simulation of high-level radioactive waste characterization with the associated particle technique

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is conducting an R&D program to improve the characterization of long lived and medium activity radioactive waste packages with nondestructive nuclear measurements. Neutron interrogation with the “Associated Particle Technique” (A...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2013-03, Vol.705, p.61-73
Main Authors: El Kanawati, Wassila, Pérot, Bertrand, Carasco, Cédric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Associated particle technique
Computer programs
Computer simulation
Detectors
Fast neutron interrogation
Mathematical models
Nuclear Experiment
Packages
Physics
Radioactive waste
Radioactive waste characterization
Shields
Wastes
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is conducting an R&D program to improve the characterization of long lived and medium activity radioactive waste packages with nondestructive nuclear measurements. Neutron interrogation with the “Associated Particle Technique” (APT), which brings 3D information about waste materials composition, was studied by numerical simulation with the MCNP computer code [1] and MODAR data analysis software [2]. The design of the system is first presented, especially shields and collimators used to limit the detectors count rate because of the intense gamma emission of the waste. The random background due to the neutron generator was also limited by a specific shield as recommended earlier [3]. Then the paper presents numerical simulations illustrating the ability of APT to characterize specific volumes of interest filled with different materials (iron, water, aluminum, PVC, oil) in different waste packages. Main limitations are also identified, such as neutron scattering in the dense, hydrogenous waste matrices.
ISSN:0168-9002
1872-9576
DOI:10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.102