Recommendations for Measurement Systems for Nuclear Material Accountancy of Fukushima Daiichi Fuel Debris: Neutron Technologies

Year
2014
Author(s)
Howard Menlove - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Martyn T. Swinhoe - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Taketeru Nagatani - Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Jeff Chapman - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Adrienne M. Lafleur - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Masatoshi Kureta - Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Masao Komeda - Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Colin Carroll - Brookhaven National Laboratory
Cynthia Heinberg - Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Abstract
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants (1F) were struck by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 and meltdown of the reactor cores of Units 1-3 occurred. In order to survey technologies to be developed for nuclear material quantification of fuel debris at 1F, Japan Atomic Energy Agency and United States Department of Energy started collaborative research from November 2012. Under the collaborative research, three working groups, Neutron Working Group (NWG), Gamma Working Group (GWG) and Source Term Working Group (STWG) were established. Taking into account system cost, system size, measurement time, development period, and potential for applicability to fuel debris, NWG members have identified and recommended combinations among the neutron technologies supplemented with gamma measurement technologies that could be applied to the fuel debris measurements. The evaluation was carried out by mainly literature search and past measurement experience. This paper provides recommendations of the NWG for measurement systems based on mainly neutron measurement technologies for nuclear material accountancy of fuel debris at 1F.