Compact Neutron Imaging System for Nondestructive Nuclear Waste Analysis

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In this project I developed a novel image reconstruction algorithm to fit the demands of a compact neutron imaging system; specifically, the reconstruction of a divergent neutron beam. Radioactive waste has to undergo a process of quality checking in order to check its conformance with national regulations prior to its transport, intermediate storage and final disposal. Within the quality checking of radioactive waste packages non-destructive assays are required to characterize their radiotoxic and chemotoxic contents. The goal of this project - undertaken in cooperation by RWTH Aachen University, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and SIEMENS AG - was to study the feasibility of a compact neutron imaging system for radioactive waste inspection. The system is based in a 14 MeV neutron source and an advanced detector system. There are two different concepts for the readout detector: 1. Commercial aSi-flat-panel-detector, 2. In-house developed photomultiplier based detector with crossed WLSF. Detailed simulations of the neutron and photon transport in the system were performed in order to determine the best approaches to minimize the noise and optimize the conversion of neutrons into photons.

Publications

[P16] Fast neutron imaging with an aSi detector for nuclear waste assay

Manuel Schumann, Ralf Engels, Martin Frank, Julia Furletova, Sergey Furletov, Andreas Havenith, Günter Kemmerling, John Kettler, Thorwald Klapdor-Kleingrothaus, Eric Mauerhofer, Oliver Schitthelm, Richard Vasques, D. Voß, Martin Willenbockel

Proceedings of 25th SAAGAS: Seminar on Activation Analysis and Gamma Spectroscopy, Aachen, Germany, 2015 Feb

[P15] Detector development for neutron imaging system for radioactive-waste analysis (NISRA) with 14 MeV neutrons

Manuel Schumann, Ralf Engels, Martin Frank, Julia Furletova, Andreas Havenith, Günter Kemmerling, John Kettler, Eric Mauerhofer, Oliver Schitthelm, Richard Vasques

Proceedings of 10th World Conference on Neutron Radiography, Grindelwald, Switzerland, 2014 Oct

[P14] Compact neutron imaging system for radioactive-waste analysis (NISRA)

Ralf Engels, Martin Frank, Julia Furletova, Andreas Havenith, Günter Kemmerling, John Kettler, Eric Mauerhofer, Oliver Schitthelm, Manuel Schumann, Richard Vasques, D. Voß

Proceedings of 10th World Conference on Neutron Radiography, Grindelwald, Switzerland, 2014 Oct

[P13] Monte-Carlo application for nondestructive nuclear waste analysis

Manuel Schumann, Ralf Engels, Martin Frank, Sergey Furletov, Julia Furletova, Christoph Genreith, Andreas Havenith, Günter Kemmerling, John Kettler, Thomas Krings, Eric Mauerhofer, Daniel Neike, Matthias Rossbach, Oliver Schitthelm, Richard Vasques, Cédric Carasco, Emmanuel Payan, Bertrand Perot, Jean-Luc Ma

Proceedings of Joint International Conference on Supercomputing in Nuclear Applications + Monte Carlo, Paris, France, 2013 Oct

[P12] Compact neutron imaging system for the investigation of large and dense objects

John Kettler, Andreas Havenith, Daniel Neike, Eric Mauerhofer, Günter Kemmerling, Julia Furletova, Manuel Schumann, Martin Frank, Oliver Schitthelm, Ralf Engels, Richard Vasques, Sergey Furletov

Proceedings of 1st NINMACH: International Conference on Neutron Imaging and Neutron Methods in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research, Garching, Germany, 2013 Sep

[P10] Zerstoerungsfreie Charakterisierung Radioaktiver Abfaelle

VKTA Workshop: Huerden und Fallstricke bei der Charakterisierung von Abfall-Gebinden, Dresden, Germany, 2013 Jun

[P8] Neutron imaging system for radioactive-waste analysis

Ralf Engels, Martin Frank, Sergey Furletov, Julia Furletova, Andreas Havenith, Günter Kemmerling, John Kettler, Eric Mauerhofer, Daniel Neike, Oliver Schitthelm, Manuel Schumann, Richard Vasques

Proceedings of 24th SAAGAS: Seminar on Activation Analysis and Gamma Spectroscopy, Munich, Germany, 2013 Feb