SEDL / STP / STP1490-EB / STP45471S

Spent Fuel Monitoring with Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Neutron/Gamma Detectors

Natsume, T.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD., Hyogo-ken,

Doi, H.
Nuclear Development Corporation 622-12, Tokaimura Ibaraki,

Ruddy, F. H.
Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, PA

Seidel, J. G.
Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, PA

Dulloo, A. R.
Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, PA

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 2007

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Abstract

Silicon carbide semiconductor radiation detectors have been demonstrated for neutron and gamma-ray monitoring of spent nuclear fuel. Neutrons and gamma rays were monitored simultaneously over a 2050-h period, resulting in a gamma dose of over 6000 Gy to the SiC detector. No changes in the neutron and gamma-ray sensitivity were observed as a result of the gamma-ray exposure. After the spentfuel measurements, the absolute neutron sensitivity was determined in a standard neutron field, and the degree of gamma-ray and neutron spectrum overlap were determined through exposures in intense gamma ray fields. No overlap was observed for gamma-ray dose rates up to 100 G/h.