• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제41권4호
• /
• pp.384-388
• /
• 2016

Background: For a verification of newly-developed neutron absorbers, one of guidelines on the qualification and acceptance of neutron absorbers is the neutron attenuation test. However, this approach can cause a problem for the qualifications that it cannot distinguish how the neutron attenuates from materials. Materials and Methods: In this study, an estimation method of neutron absorption performances for materials is proposed to detect both direct penetration and back-scattering neutrons. For the verification of the proposed method, MCNP simulations with the experimental system designed in this study were pursued using the polyethylene, iron, normal glass and the vitrified form. Results and Discussion: The results show that it can easily test neutron absorption ability using single absorber model. Also, from simulation results of single absorber and double absorbers model, it is verified that the proposed method can evaluate not only the direct thermal neutrons passing through materials, but also the scattered neutrons reflected to the materials. Therefore, the neutron absorption performances can be accurately estimated using the proposed method comparing with the conventional neutron attenuation test. Conclusion: It is expected that the proposed method can contribute to increase the reliability of the performance of neutron absorbers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제50권5호
• /
• pp.788-793
• /
• 2018

High-density spent fuel (SF) storage racks have been installed to increase SF pool capacity. In these SF racks, neutron absorber materials were placed between fuel assemblies allowing the storage of fuel assemblies in close proximity to one another. The purpose of the neutron absorber materials is to preclude neutronic coupling between adjacent fuel assemblies and to maintain the fuel in a subcritical storage condition. METAMIC neutron absorber has been used in high-density storage racks. But, neutron absorber materials can be subject to severe conditions including long-term exposure to gamma radiation and neutron radiation. Recently, some of them have experienced degradation, such as white spots on the surface. Under these conditions, the material must continue to serve its intended function of absorbing neutrons. For the first time in Korea, this article uses a neutron attenuation test to examine the performance of METAMIC surveillance coupons. Also, scanning electron microscope analysis was carried out to verify the white spots that were detected on the surface of METAMIC. In the neutron attenuation test, there was no significant sign of boron loss in most of the METAMIC coupons, but the coupon with white spots had relatively less B-10 content than the others. In the scanning electron microscope analysis, corrosion material was detected in all METAMIC coupons. Especially, it was confirmed that the coupon with white spots contains much more corrosion material than the others.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한기계학회 2007년도 춘계학술대회B
• /
• pp.3418-3422
• /
• 2007

The neutron imaging technique was used to investigate the water discharge characteristics at PEMFC. Prior to investigation of water discharge characteristics, the linear attenuation coefficient for water at Neutron Radiography Facility (NRF) was calibrated. The feasibility test apparatus was consisted of pressurized air and water in order to simulate the actual operating PEMFC. The feasibility tests have been performed at 1-parallel serpentine type with 100 $cm^2$ active area and different air flow rate (1, 2, and 4 lpm). The total water volume variations at each condition were calculated from the neutron images. The water at channel is well discharged as soon as supplying the pressurized air into the PEMFC. However, because the water at MEA isn't removed the total water volume is constant after 150. Therefore more effective method is needed in order to discharge water at MEA, and the neutron imaging technique is helpful for it.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권5호
• /
• pp.1763-1774
• /
• 2023

In this study, a series of flexible neutron/gamma shielding composites are fabricated through the doping of Gd₂O₃ into the matrix of SEBS with (M_Gd2O3: M_SEBS) % from 5% to 100%. Neutron transmittance test shows an exponential attenuation with the increase of areal density of Gd, in which the transmittance T ranges from 59.1440% to 35.3026%, with standard deviation less than 2.2743%, mass attenuation coefficient 𝜇_m from 0.3194 cm²/g to 0.4999 cm²/g, and half value layer-HVL value from 2.4530 mm to 1.1313 mm. Shielding efficiency of the Gd₂O₃/SEBS composites is basically improved in comparison with that of B₄C/SEBS. The transmittance T, mass/linear attenuation coefficient 𝜇_m and 𝜇, HVL and effective atomic number Z_eff for the shielding of γ rays (39 keV, 59 keV and 122 keV) are measured and calculated with XCOM as well as MCX programs. Finally, plots of the three dimensional relationships between transmittance, doping amount and thickness are provided to the guidance for engineering shielding design. In summary, the Gd₂O₃/SEBS composite is proved to be an effective flexible neutron/low energy γ rays shielding material, which could be of potential applications in the field of nuclear technology and nuclear engineering.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한기계학회 2004년도 추계학술대회
• /
• pp.1658-1663
• /
• 2004

The feasibility test was performed to check the possibility of 2-phase flow visualization and water distribution at inside the PEMFC using neutron radiography image technique. It was composed using water and pressured air. From the image, several 2-phase flow patterns were discovered and water fraction was estimated by the reference specimen and image analysis.

• 비파괴검사학회지
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.307-312
• /
• 2001

운전중인 원자로 재료의 건전성 평가를 위한 기계적 시험의 하나인 샤르피 충격 시험편에 대하여 초음파 신호분석이 이루어졌나 시험편으로는 모재와 용접재를 사용하였는데 이들 재료는 고온, 고압의 냉각수 및 지속적인 고속중성자가 방출되고 있는 가동중인 발전소에서 감시시험을 통한 원자로재료의 건전성평가를 목적으로 정지기간동안 인출된 깃이다. 분석결과 속도 및 감쇠와 같은 초음파 특성들이 재질이 비교적 균일한 모재에 있어서는 중성자 조사량과 밀접한 관련이 있는 것으로 보였으며 이를 활용하여 비파괴적인 방법으로 재료에 대한 중성자 조사량이 어느 정도인지를 예측할 수 있는 가능성을 보여주었다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제48권4호
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2023

Background: A nondestructive test is commonly used to inspect the surface defects and internal structure of an object without any physical damage. X-rays generated from an electron accelerator or a tube are one of the methods used for nondestructive testing. The high penetration of X-rays through materials with low atomic numbers makes it difficult to discriminate between these materials using X-ray imaging. The interaction characteristics of neutrons with materials can supplement the limitations of X-ray imaging in material discrimination. Materials and Methods: The radiation image acquisition process for air-cargo security inspection equipment using X-rays and neutrons was simulated using a GEometry ANd Tracking (Geant4) simulation toolkit. Radiation images of phantoms composed of 13 materials were obtained, and the R-value, representing the attenuation ratio of neutrons and gamma rays in a material, was calculated from these images. Results and Discussion: The R-values were calculated from the simulated X-ray and neutron images for each phantom and compared with those obtained in the experiments. The R-values obtained from the experiments were higher than those obtained from the simulations. The difference can be due to the following two causes. The first reason is that there are various facilities or equipment in the experimental environment that scatter neutrons, unlike the simulation. The other is the difference in the neutron signal processing. In the simulation, the neutron signal is the sum of the number of neutrons entering the detector. However, in the experiment, the neutron signal was obtained by superimposing the intensities of the neutron signals. Neutron detectors also detect gamma rays, and the neutron signal cannot be clearly distinguished in the process of separating the two types of radiation. Despite these differences, the two results showed similar trends and the viability of using simulation-based radiation images, particularly in the field of security screening. With further research, the simulation-based radiation images can replace ones from experiments and be used in the related fields. Conclusion: The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has developed air-cargo security inspection equipment using neutrons and X-rays. Using this equipment, radiation images and R-values for various materials were obtained. The equipment was reconstructed, and the R-values were obtained for 13 materials using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. The R-values calculated by experiment and simulation show similar trends. Therefore, we confirmed the feasibility of using the simulation-based radiation image.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제20권4호
• /
• pp.253-264
• /
• 1988

본 논문에서는 불란서에서 건설한 900 MWe급 가압경수형 원자로의 중성자 잡음해석 결과를 제시하였다. 중성자 잡음해석이란 노심내의 반응도 변화 및 노심의 수평운동으로 인한 노외검출기 신호의 변화를 해석하는 기법을 의미한다 이러한 방법은 Deterministic Dynamic Testing 기법중에서도 발전소의 정상운전 조건을 유지시키며 기존의 발전소 계측설비를 이용할 수 있다는 장점을 지니고 있다. 본 논문에 사용된 잡음신호는 울진 1호기 원자로의 시운전 시험기간에 구하였으며 이를 통계적 기술함수인 에너지 밀도함수(PSD), 검출기간의 상관함수 (CF)및 위상차(Phase Difference)로 나타내었다. 실험결과, 원자로 용기내의 냉각수 흐름 및 압력맥동 등에 의해 유도되는 Core Support Barrel(CSB)의 진동 주파수가 8Hz 근처임을 규명하였다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2003

자체 개발한 수소화금속을 이용하여 고속 중성자 방사선을 효율적으로 차폐할 수 있다면 방사선 안전신기술 개발과 확립에 큰 기여를 할 것으로 생각되어 본 연구를 시행하였다. 여러 수소화 안정 금속들을 대상으로 핵적 특성, 단위 부피당 수소원자함유 수 등의 예비평가를 통하여 수소화금속($ZrH_2,\;TiH_2$) 등과 낮은 중성자 흡수 단면적과 높은 에너지 감쇄능력을 고려하여 중수소화 금속($ZrD_2,\;TiD_2$) 등을 추가하여 개발하였다. MCNP 코드를 이용하여 각각의 흡수율과 에너지 감소율을 평가하였다. 전산 모사 계산과 실험과의 비교평가를 위해 실험과 동일한 조건의 모사를 수행하였는데, 즉 중성자 선원은 Cf-252(10 mCi)을 사용하였으며 각 수소화금속의 0, 1, 3, 5 cm 두께를 통과한 중성자속의 강도와 에너지별 분포변화를 계산하였다. 코드 계산을 통해 평가된 $TiH_2/TiD_2,\;ZrH_2,/ZrD_2$ 등의 수소화금속에 대한 중성자 감소율은 각 수소화금속 두께의 증가에 따라 중성자 감소율이 지수적으로 증가함을 보였다. 또한 이 때 중수소 함유 금속, $ZrD_2$과 $TiD_2$는 중성자 흡수에 있어 $ZrH_2$와 $TiH_2$의 각각 보다 적게 나타냈다. 본 연구를 통하여 개발된 수소화금속의 중성자 방사선 차폐에 관한 결과는 과학 기술적으로 많은 인용과 아울러 학술적 연구뿐만 아니라 실제 실용화를 위한 연구의 기초자료로 충분한 활용이 있을 것으로 기대한다.