Design and performance of an accelerator-based thermal and fast neutron imaging facility
K Rittenhouse
Phoenix LLC has developed, demonstrated and deployed accelerator-based neutron generators for several applications that require neutron interrogation, such as neutron radiography, neutron detector calibration, nuclear fuel quality assurance and explosives and SNM detection, all of which are unique in their own technique of non-destructive testing. Of particular interest is neutron radiography, which is a very useful non-destructive imaging technique that aims to identify defects in materials where X-ray, ultrasound, eddy-current testing, etc, will not suffice due to limiting densities, material composition and surface imperfections. Phoenix’s goal is to use its technology to acquire high-quality neutron radiographs, in a duration comparable to a traditional nuclear reactor, without the heavy regulatory burdens and high construction and operational costs. Phoenix has designed and evaluated the performance of a new neutron imaging facility that will provide capabilities for both thermal and fast neutron beamlines, primarily used for neutron imaging. The description of the facility, neutron moderators and collimators will be discussed in this presentation. Detectors will also be discussed in the context of digital neutron imaging and computed tomography. MCNP modelling data will be discussed that demonstrates the quality metrics of neutron radiographs regarding geometric unsharpness, collimation ratios, thermal and fast neutron fluxes and content, detection efficiency, as well as expected imaging time as it relates to imaging throughput.
