Neutron Imaging of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel at Idaho National Laboratory

Aaron E. Craft (Idaho National Laboratory)

Neutron radiography of irradiated nuclear fuel provides more comprehensive information about the internal condition of irradiated nuclear fuel than any other non-destructive technique to date. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has multiple nuclear fuels research and development programs that routinely evaluate irradiated fuels using neutron radiography. The Neutron Radiography reactor (NRAD) sits beneath a large shielded hot cell facility where neutron radiography and other evaluation techniques are routinely performed on these highly radioactive objects. The NRAD currently uses the foil-film transfer technique for imaging irradiated fuel, which provides high spatial resolution but is time consuming. INL is developing digital neutron imaging capabilities for imaging non-radioactive specimens, and also new digital imaging system concepts for imaging irradiated fuel. INL is restarting the Transient Reactor Test facility (TREAT) which has a neutron hodoscope for fuel motion monitoring under severe reactor-accident conditions. This presentation will include a description of NRAD and TREAT, the current neutron radiography capabilities available at INL, planned upgrades to the neutron imaging systems, and new facilities being brought online at INL related to neutron imaging.

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