Conversion from Film Based Transfer Method Neutron Radiography to Computed Radiography for Post Irradiation Examination of Nuclear Fuels

Conversion from Film Based Transfer Method Neutron Radiography to Computed Radiography for Post Irradiation Examination of Nuclear Fuels

Glen C. Papaioannou, Dr. Aaron E. Craft, Michael A. Ruddell

Abstract. The Idaho National Laboratory supports multiple programs that are actively developing, testing, and evaluating new nuclear fuels including advanced commercial nuclear fuels, accident tolerant fuels, reduced-enrichment research reactor fuels, transmutation fuels, and advanced reactor fuels. Post irradiation examinations (PIE) of nondestructive and destructive techniques are performed at INL to research nuclear fuel behavior and performance under various conditions. The Neutron Radiography Reactor (NRAD) at INL is utilized to perform nondestructive examinations of irradiated nuclear fuels and the results of these examinations are used to aid in the decision making process for subsequent destructive exams. NRAD has historically performed transfer method neutron radiography with film as the imaging medium. This paper documents the effort to convert from film to computed radiography for PIE. Equipment selection, system characterization, and testing were performed as part of phase I. Phase II, as described in this paper, focuses on determining image resolution of the computed radiography system.

Keywords
Transfer Method Neutron Radiography, Computed Radiography, Conversion Foils, Dysprosium, Indium, Image Plates, Image Resolution, Post Irradiation Examination, Nuclear Fuels, NRAD, Idaho National Laboratory

Published online 1/5/2020, 6 pages
Copyright © 2020 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Glen C. Papaioannou, Dr. Aaron E. Craft, Michael A. Ruddell, Conversion from Film Based Transfer Method Neutron Radiography to Computed Radiography for Post Irradiation Examination of Nuclear Fuels, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 15, pp 136-141, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644900574-21

The article was published as article 21 of the book Neutron Radiography

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

References
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[4] ASTM International, 2005. Standard method for determining image quality in direct thermal neutron radiographic examination. American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM E545-05.