Journal of Radiation Protection and Research

The Korean Association for Radiation Protection (대한방사선방어학회)
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Optimization of Yonsei Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (YSECT) Detector for Fast Inspection of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Water Storage

  • Hyung-Joo Choi (Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Hyojun Park (Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Bo-Wi Cheon (Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kyunghoon Cho (ARALE Laboratory Co. Ltd.) ;
  • Hakjae Lee (ARALE Laboratory Co. Ltd.) ;
  • Yong Hyun Chung (Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Yeon Soo Yeom (Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Sei Hwan You (Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyun Joon Choi (Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Chul Hee Min (Department of Radiation Convergence Engineering, Yonsei University)
  • Received : 2023.08.04
  • Accepted : 2023.12.22
  • Published : 2024.03.31
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Abstract

Background: The gamma emission tomography (GET) device has been reported a reliable technique to inspect partial defects within spent nuclear fuel (SNF) of pin-by-pin level. However, the existing GET devices have low accuracy owing to the high attenuation and scatter probability for SNF inspection condition. The purpose of this study is to design and optimize a Yonsei single-photon emission computed tomography version 2 (YSECT.v.2) for fast inspection of SNF in water storage by acquisition of high-quality tomographic images. Materials and Methods: Using Geant4 (Geant4 Collaboration) and DETECT-2000 (Glenn F. Knoll et al.) Monte Carlo simulation, the geometrical structure of the proposed device was determined and its performance was evaluated for the 137Cs source in water. In a Geant4-based assessment, proposed device was compared with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-authenticated device for the quality of tomographic images obtained for 12 fuel sources in a 14 × 14 Westinghouse-type fuel assembly. Results and Discussion: According to the results, the length, slit width, and septal width of the collimator were determined to be 65, 2.1, and 1.5 mm, respectively, and the material and length of the trapezoidal-shaped scintillator were determined to be gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet and 45 mm, respectively. Based on the results of performance comparison between the YSECT.v.2 and IAEA's device, the proposed device showed 200 times higher performance in gamma-detection sensitivity and similar source discrimination probability. Conclusion: In this study, we optimally designed the GET device for improving the SNF inspection accuracy and evaluated its performance. Our results show that the YSECT.v.2 device could be employed for SNF inspection.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Nuclear Safety Research Program through the Korea Foundation Of Nuclear Safety (KoFONS) using financial resources granted by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of the Republic of Korea (No. 2106073); the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2021R1I1A1A0105987512); the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20214000000070).

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