A reliable ^(235)U enrichment uniformity detection system based on a compact D–D neutron generator is developed to detect the ^(235)U enrichment uniformity of different fuel elements in the same nuclear fuel rod. The...A reliable ^(235)U enrichment uniformity detection system based on a compact D–D neutron generator is developed to detect the ^(235)U enrichment uniformity of different fuel elements in the same nuclear fuel rod. The high-yield compact D–D neutron generator provides 2.45 MeV D–D neutrons, decelerated by a moderator to thermal neutrons or epithermal neutrons, thereby inducing ^(235)U fission to produce highly excited state fission fragments that undergo de-excitation via γ-ray emission. The system detects the ^(235)U enrichment uniformity of a nuclear fuel rod by measuring γ-rays and establishing a relationship between the γ-ray count rate and ^(235)U enrichment in nuclear fuel. The proposed system yields a confidence probability of 99.99% for a relative ^(235)U enrichment deviation of 10% and a neutron yield of 5 × 10^(8) n/s, and the detection accuracy increases with increasing neutron yield. Furthermore, the developed system can satisfy quality control requirements for nuclear fuel production to promote the safe development of nuclear power.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Grant Nos.12075105,11705071 and 11875155)the Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the China Academy of Engineering Physics(Grant No.U1830102)+1 种基金the NSFC-Nuclear Technology Innovation Joint Fund(Grant No.U1867213)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.lzujbky-2021-kb09)。
文摘A reliable ^(235)U enrichment uniformity detection system based on a compact D–D neutron generator is developed to detect the ^(235)U enrichment uniformity of different fuel elements in the same nuclear fuel rod. The high-yield compact D–D neutron generator provides 2.45 MeV D–D neutrons, decelerated by a moderator to thermal neutrons or epithermal neutrons, thereby inducing ^(235)U fission to produce highly excited state fission fragments that undergo de-excitation via γ-ray emission. The system detects the ^(235)U enrichment uniformity of a nuclear fuel rod by measuring γ-rays and establishing a relationship between the γ-ray count rate and ^(235)U enrichment in nuclear fuel. The proposed system yields a confidence probability of 99.99% for a relative ^(235)U enrichment deviation of 10% and a neutron yield of 5 × 10^(8) n/s, and the detection accuracy increases with increasing neutron yield. Furthermore, the developed system can satisfy quality control requirements for nuclear fuel production to promote the safe development of nuclear power.
