• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제46권2호
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 2014

The spectrum weighted responses of various detectors were calculated to provide guidance on the proper selection and use of survey instruments on the basis of their energy response characteristics on the neutron fields. To yield the spectrum weighted response, the detector response functions of 17 neutron-measuring devices were numerically folded with each of the produced calibration neutron spectra through the in-house developed software 'K-SWR'. The detectors' response functions were taken from the IAEA Technical Reports Series No. 403 (TRS-403). The reference neutron fields of 21 kinds with 2 spectra groups with different proportions of thermal and fast neutrons have been produced using neutrons from the $^{241}Am$-Be sources held in a graphite pile, a bare $^{241}Am$-Be source, and a DT neutron generator. Fluence-average energy ($E_{ave}$) varied from 3.8 MeV to 16.9 MeV, and the ambient-dose-equivalent rate [$H^*(10)/h$] varied from 0.99 to 16.5 mSv/h.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권11호
• /
• pp.3925-3934
• /
• 2023

The importance of fast neutron detection for nuclear safeguards purposes has increased due to its potential advantages such as reasonable cost and higher precision for larger sample masses of nuclear materials. Pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) is inevitably used to discriminate neutron- and gamma-ray- induced signals from organic scintillators of very high gamma sensitivity. The light output (LO) threshold corresponding to several MeV of recoiled proton energy could be necessary to achieve fine PSD performance. However, this leads to neutron count losses and possible distortion of results obtained by neutron multiplicity counting (NMC)-based nuclear material accountancy (NMA). Moreover, conventional PSD techniques are not effective for counting of neutrons in a high-gamma-ray environment, even under a sufficiently high LO threshold. In the present work, PSD performance (figure-of-merit, FOM) according to LO bands was confirmed using a conventional charge comparison method (CCM) and compared with results obtained by convolution neural network (CNN)-based PSD algorithms. Also, it was attempted, for the first time ever, to reject fake neutron signals from distorted PSD regions where neutron-induced signals are normally detected. The overall results indicated that higher neutron detection efficiency with better accuracy could be achieved via CNN-based PSD algorithms.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권1호
• /
• pp.201-208
• /
• 2023

The dependence of the electrical characteristics on the fast neutron fluence of an epitaxial 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diode (SBD) was investigated. The 30 MeV cyclotron was used for fast neutron irradiation. The neutron fluences evaluated through Monte Carlo simulation were in the 2.7 × 10¹¹ to 1.45 × 10¹³ neutrons/cm² range. Current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements were performed to characterize the samples by extracting the parameters of the irradiated SBDs. Neutron-induced defects in the epitaxial layer were identified and quantified using a deep-level transient spectroscopy measurement system developed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. As the neutron fluence increased from 2.7 × 10¹¹ to 1.45 × 10¹³ neutrons/cm², the concentration of the Z_1/2 defects increased by approximately 20 times. The maximum defect concentration was estimated as 1.5 × 10¹⁴ cm^-3 at a neutron fluence of 1.45 × 10¹³ neutrons/cm².

• 한국재료학회지
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2020

The effects of fast neutron irradiation on the electrical and optical properties of Li (3 at%) doped ZnSnO (ZTO) thin films fabricated using a sol-gel process are investigated. From the results of Li-ZTO TFT characteristics according to change of neutron irradiation time, the saturation mobility is found to increase and threshold voltage values shift to a negative direction from 1,000 s neutron irradiation time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the O 1s core level shows that the relative area of oxygen vacancies is almost unchanged with different irradiation times. From the results of band alignment, it is confirmed that, due to the increase of electron carrier concentration, the Fermi level (E_F) of the sample irradiated for 1,000 s is located at the position closest to the conduction band minimum. The increase in electron concentration is considered by looking at the shallow band edge state under the conduction band edge formed by fast neutron irradiation of more than 1,000 s.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제11권2호
• /
• pp.133-136
• /
• 1979

이 논문은 Ge(Li)를 이용하여 고속 중성자 에너지 스펙트럼을 재는데 사용하는 방법을 제시한다. Ge$^{72}$ 의 고속 중성자의 비탄성 충돌에 의한 691.4 KeV에서의 스펙트럼을 분석함으로써 고속중성자와 에너지 스펙트럼을 측정할 수 있는 방법을 가질 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제31권4호
• /
• pp.408-422
• /
• 1999

To reduce the fast neutron fluence which deteriorates the RPV integrity, additional shields were assumed to be installed at the outer core structures of the Kori Unit 1 reactor, and its reduction effects were examined. Full scope Monte Carlo simulation with MCNP4A code was made to estimate the fast neutron fluence at the RPV. An optimized design option was found from various choices in geometry and material for shield structure. It was expected that magnitude of fast neutron fluence would be reduced by 39% at the circumferential weld of the RPV, resulting in extension of plant lifetime by 4.6 EFPYs based on the criterion of PTS requirement It was investigated that the nuclear characteristics and thermal hydraulic factors at the internal core were only negligibly influenced by the installation of additional shield structure.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.143-154
• /
• 1999

Panasonic UD-809P 알비도 중성자 열형광선량계를 팬텀에 장착시켜 원자력발전소에서 중성자 개인선량당량을 측정하였다. 측정된 판독값으로부터 Panasonic 사의 사용자 매뉴얼에 제시되어 있는 방법을 이용하여 열중성자와 초열중성자 및 속중성자로 인한 개인선량당량을 평가하였다. 그 결과 열중성자 성분의 비율이 높은 원자력발전소에서는 속중성자로 인한 개인선량당량을 적절하게 평가할 수 없는 것으로 확인되었는데, 이는 열중성자로 인한 알비도 성분이 열형광선량계로 재입사 되는 양이 이론적인 값과 상당한 차이가 나기 때문인 것으로 추정되었다. 따라서 원자력발전소와 같이 열중성자 성분의 비율이 높은 조건에서 속중성자로 인한 중성자 개인선량당량을 평가하기 위하여 중성자 성분을 열중성자와 속중성자로 구분한 새로운 중성자 선량계산 알고리즘을 제안하였으며, 각각의 성분에 대한 개인선량당량과 교정인자, 민감도 인자 평가공식을 유도하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제52권3호
• /
• pp.647-653
• /
• 2020

Stainless steel is used commonly in nuclear applications for shielding radiation, so in this study, three different types of new stainless steel samples were designed and developed. New stainless steel compound ratios were determined by using Monte Carlo Simulation program Geant 4 code. In the sample production, iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), silicium (Si), sulphur (S), carbon (C), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), wolfram (W), rhenium (Re), titanium (Ti) and vanadium (V), powder materials were used with powder metallurgy method. Total macroscopic cross sections, mean free path and transmission number were calculated for the fast neutron radiation shielding by using (Geant 4) code. In addition to neutron shielding, the gamma absorption parameters such as mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) and half value layer (HVL) were calculated using Win-XCOM software. Sulfuric acid abrasion and compressive strength tests were carried out and all samples showed good resistance to acid wear and pressure force. The neutron equivalent dose was measured using an average 4.5 MeV energy fast neutron source. Results were compared to 316LN type stainless steel, which commonly used in shielding radiation. New stainless steel samples were found to absorb neutron better than 316LN stainless steel at both low and high temperatures.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제43권1호
• /
• pp.20-28
• /
• 2018

Background: Heat energy produced in nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel cycle facilities interactions modifies the physical properties of the shielding materials containing water content. Therefore, in the present paper, effect of the heat on shielding effectiveness of the concretes is investigated for gamma and neutron. The mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers, fast neutron removal cross-section and exposure buildup factors. Materials and Methods: The mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers, fast neutron removal cross-section and exposure buildup factors of ordinary and heavy concretes were investigated using NIST data of XCOM program and Geometric Progression method. Results and Discussion: The improvement in shielding effectiveness for photon and reduction in fast neutron for ordinary concrete was observed. The change in the neutron shielding effectiveness was insignificant. Conclusion: The present investigation on interaction of gamma and neutron radiation would be very useful for assessment of shielding efficiency of the concrete used in high temperature applications such as reactors.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제37권2호
• /
• pp.70-74
• /
• 2012

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising material for neutron detection at harsh environments because of its capability to withstand strong radiation fields and high temperatures. Two PIN-type SiC semiconductor neutron detectors, which can be used for nuclear power plant (NPP) applications, such as in-core reactor neutron flux monitoring and measurement, were designed and fabricated. As a preliminary test, MCNPX simulations were performed to estimate reaction probabilities with respect to neutron energies. In the experiment, I-V curves were measured to confirm the diode characteristic of the detectors, and pulse height spectra were measured for neutron responses by using a $^{252}Cf$ neutron source at KRISS (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science), and a Tandem accelerator at KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources). The neutron counts of the detector were linearly increased as the incident neutron flux got larger.