Improved DCVD assessments of irradiated nuclear fuel using image analysis techniques

The Digital Cherenkov Viewing Device (DCVD) is a tool for measuring the Cherenkov light intensity emitted from irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies in wet storage. It is currently used in nuclear facilities where authority inspectors perform attended gross defect verification to ensure the presence of irradiated fuel material, as well as partial defect verification to ensure that a fraction of the fuel material has not been diverted. This work covers some initial efforts made to improve the capability of the DCVD as a partial defect verification instrument by applying image analysis methods to the data collected by the instrument. We have investigated the current procedures for performing measurements with the DCVD, looking for possible improvements in these procedures, and we have also investigated new methods for extracting information from the DCVD data. Based on these findings, we suggest improvements to the current procedures, and some ways to enhance the performance of the instrument have also been identified.