Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of pebble bed reactor fuel using Monte Carlo simulations

Jianwei Chen; Ayman I. Hawari; Zhongxiang Zhao; Bingjing Su

doi:10.1016/S0168-9002(03)01105-7

Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of pebble bed reactor fuel using Monte Carlo simulations

Jianwei Chen, Ayman I. Hawari, Zhongxiang Zhao, Bingjing Su

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the gamma-ray spectra of pebble bed reactor fuel at various levels of burnup. A fuel depletion calculation was performed using the ORIGEN2.1 code, which yielded the gamma-ray source term that was introduced into the input of an MCNP4C simulation. The simulation assumed the use of a 100% efficient high-purity coaxial germanium (HPGe) detector, a pebble placed at a distance of 100 cm from the detector, and accounted for Gaussian broadening of the gamma-ray peaks. Previously, it was shown that ¹³⁷Cs, ⁶⁰Co (introduced as a dopant), and ¹³⁴Cs are the relevant burnup indicators. The results show that the 662keV line of ¹³⁷Cs lies in close proximity to the intense 658keV of ¹⁹⁷Nb, which results in spectral interference between the lines. However, the 1333keV line of ⁶⁰Co, and selected ¹³⁴Cs lines (e.g., at 605keV) are free from spectral interference, which enhances the possibility of their utilization as relative burnup indicators.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	393-396
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	505
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(03)01105-7
State	Published - Jun 1 2003
Externally published	Yes
Event	Proceedings of the tenth Symposium on Radiation - Ann Arbor, MI, United States Duration: May 21 2002 → May 23 2002

Keywords

Burnup
Fuel
Gamma ray
Germanium detector
Monte Carlo
Pebble bed reactor
Spectrometry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Instrumentation

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10.1016/S0168-9002(03)01105-7

Cite this

Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of pebble bed reactor fuel using Monte Carlo simulations. / Chen, Jianwei; Hawari, Ayman I.; Zhao, Zhongxiang et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 505, No. 1-2, 01.06.2003, p. 393-396.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

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title = "Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of pebble bed reactor fuel using Monte Carlo simulations",

abstract = "Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the gamma-ray spectra of pebble bed reactor fuel at various levels of burnup. A fuel depletion calculation was performed using the ORIGEN2.1 code, which yielded the gamma-ray source term that was introduced into the input of an MCNP4C simulation. The simulation assumed the use of a 100% efficient high-purity coaxial germanium (HPGe) detector, a pebble placed at a distance of 100 cm from the detector, and accounted for Gaussian broadening of the gamma-ray peaks. Previously, it was shown that 137Cs, 60Co (introduced as a dopant), and 134Cs are the relevant burnup indicators. The results show that the 662keV line of 137Cs lies in close proximity to the intense 658keV of 197Nb, which results in spectral interference between the lines. However, the 1333keV line of 60Co, and selected 134Cs lines (e.g., at 605keV) are free from spectral interference, which enhances the possibility of their utilization as relative burnup indicators.",

keywords = "Burnup, Fuel, Gamma ray, Germanium detector, Monte Carlo, Pebble bed reactor, Spectrometry",

author = "Jianwei Chen and Hawari, {Ayman I.} and Zhongxiang Zhao and Bingjing Su",

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T1 - Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of pebble bed reactor fuel using Monte Carlo simulations

AU - Chen, Jianwei

AU - Hawari, Ayman I.

AU - Zhao, Zhongxiang

AU - Su, Bingjing

PY - 2003/6/1

Y1 - 2003/6/1

N2 - Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the gamma-ray spectra of pebble bed reactor fuel at various levels of burnup. A fuel depletion calculation was performed using the ORIGEN2.1 code, which yielded the gamma-ray source term that was introduced into the input of an MCNP4C simulation. The simulation assumed the use of a 100% efficient high-purity coaxial germanium (HPGe) detector, a pebble placed at a distance of 100 cm from the detector, and accounted for Gaussian broadening of the gamma-ray peaks. Previously, it was shown that 137Cs, 60Co (introduced as a dopant), and 134Cs are the relevant burnup indicators. The results show that the 662keV line of 137Cs lies in close proximity to the intense 658keV of 197Nb, which results in spectral interference between the lines. However, the 1333keV line of 60Co, and selected 134Cs lines (e.g., at 605keV) are free from spectral interference, which enhances the possibility of their utilization as relative burnup indicators.

AB - Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the gamma-ray spectra of pebble bed reactor fuel at various levels of burnup. A fuel depletion calculation was performed using the ORIGEN2.1 code, which yielded the gamma-ray source term that was introduced into the input of an MCNP4C simulation. The simulation assumed the use of a 100% efficient high-purity coaxial germanium (HPGe) detector, a pebble placed at a distance of 100 cm from the detector, and accounted for Gaussian broadening of the gamma-ray peaks. Previously, it was shown that 137Cs, 60Co (introduced as a dopant), and 134Cs are the relevant burnup indicators. The results show that the 662keV line of 137Cs lies in close proximity to the intense 658keV of 197Nb, which results in spectral interference between the lines. However, the 1333keV line of 60Co, and selected 134Cs lines (e.g., at 605keV) are free from spectral interference, which enhances the possibility of their utilization as relative burnup indicators.

KW - Burnup

KW - Fuel

KW - Gamma ray

KW - Germanium detector

KW - Monte Carlo

KW - Pebble bed reactor

KW - Spectrometry

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T2 - Proceedings of the tenth Symposium on Radiation

Y2 - 21 May 2002 through 23 May 2002

ER -

Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of pebble bed reactor fuel using Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

Keywords

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