Literatura académica sobre el tema "Neutron generators"

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been applied to furnace matte and converter matte samples with the objective of studying the natural variation in the elemental composition of the samples, with a view to characterize the samples for their source of origin. The experimental work was carried out at iThemba LABS national laboratory near Cape Town, South Africa. A new NAA facility was designed and built for this purpose, and fully characterized, featuring a 14 MeV neutron generator. Gamma-ray spectra were measured using an HPGe detector. A number of isotopes were identified in the measured spectra and the elemental concentrations calculated. Radiometric spectral measurements were also made of the samples, without prior irradiation, and the spectra analysed for isotopic variation. Consequences for sample identification via these techniques are discussed.

This thesis describes the measurement technique of fast-neutron tomography for assessing spatial distributions of steam and water in two-phase flows. This so-called void distribution is of importance both for safe operation and for efficient use of the fuel in light water reactors, which compose the majority of the world’s commercial nuclear reactors. The technique is aimed for usage at thermal-hydraulic test loops, where heated two-phase flows are being investigated under reactor-relevant conditions. By deploying portable neutron generators in transmission tomography, the technique becomes applicable to stationary objects, such as thermal-hydraulic test loops. Fast neutrons have the advantage of high transmission through metallic structures while simultaneously being relatively sensitive to the water/void content. However, there are also challenges, such as the relatively low yield of commercially available fast-neutron generators, the tendency of fast neutrons to scatter in the interactions with materials and the relatively low efficiency encountered in fast-neutron detection. The thesis describes the design of a prototype instrument, FANTOM, which has been assembled and demonstrated. The main design parameters have been optimized to achieve maximal signal count rate in the detector elements, while simultaneously reaching an image unsharpness of ≤0.5 mm. Radiographic projections recorded with the assembled instrument are presented, and the performance parameters of FANTOM are deduced. Furthermore, tomographic reconstruction methods for axially symmetric objects, which is relevant for some test loops, have been developed and demonstrated on measured data from three test objects. The attenuation distribution was reconstructed with a radial resolution of 0.5 mm and an RMS error of 0.02 cm-1, based on data recorded using an effective measurement time of 3.5 hours per object. For a thermal-hydraulic test loop, this can give a useful indication of the flow mode, but further development is desired to improve the precision of the measurements. Instrument upgrades are foreseen by introducing a more powerful neutron generator and by adding detector elements, speeding up the data collection by several orders of magnitude and allowing for higher precision data. The requirements and performance of an instrument for assessment of arbitrary non-symmetric test loops is discussed, based on simulations.

<p> Neutrons produced deuterium Z-pinch plasmas are widely acknowledged to be a consequence of highly accelerated deuterons undergoing nuclear fusion with relatively stationary deuterons. The acceleration is thought to occur in intense fields created in the MHD instabilities that punctuate the plasma column. Interestingly, the energies of the accelerated ions exceed the applied voltage across the electrode gap. We use the 1 MA Zebra pulsed-power generator at the Nevada Terawatt Facility (NTF) to explore this poorly understood fast neutron production mechanism by creating deuterium Z-pinches in three distinct types of target loads. The loads are a cylindrical shell of deuterium gas, the far less explored deuterided palladium wire arrays, and a deuterium-carbon ablated laser plume target, which is unique to the NTF. </p><p> The pinch dynamics vary considerably in these three targets and provide the opportunity to explore the ion acceleration mechanism. We infer the characteristics of the accelerating fields from a wide range of diagnostic data including the neutron yield, energy spectrum and angular distribution, and the properties of the matching electron beams that are accelerated in the same field, and the energetic X-rays they produce on stopping. The plasma and the instabilities were recorded on several high-speed imaging diagnostics along with time-integrated soft (&lt;10 keV) X-ray pinhole images. The three load types produced total neutron yields in the 10⁸&ndash;10¹⁰ n/pulse range. The synchronization we observe between the ion and electron beams and the development of instabilities leads us to conrm the acceleration hypothesis. We also present the characteristics of the fields and ion beams in these varied pinches.</p>

<p>The development of a deuterium-deuterium/ tritium-deuterium (D-D/ D-T) pulsed neutron generator based on the principle of the Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PI3) technique is presented, in terms of investigating development of a compact system to generate an ultra short burst of mono-energetic neutrons (of order 1010 per second) during a short period of time (&lt<br>20&mu<br>s) at repetition rates up to 1 kHz. The system will facilitate neutron detection techniques, such as neutron back-scattering, neutron radiography and time-of-flight activation analysis.</p> <p><br /> Aspects addressed in developing the system includes (a) characterizing the neutron spectra generated as a function of the target configuration/ design to ensure a sustained intense neutron flux for long periods of time, (b) the system was also characterised as a function of power supply operating conditions such as voltage, current, gas pressure and plasma density.</p>

This is a feasibility study of a new measurement technique for spent nuclear fuel. The technique combines gamma emission tomography with neutron activation analysis. The idea is to measure high-energy characteristic gamma from short-lived fission products and thereby verify the fissile material content in spent nuclear fuel assemblies. Simulations using MCNP were done to estimate the expected detector count rate for these characteristic gammas. The predicted count rate was too slow for the proposed technique to be of practical use. However, several improvements that could increase the count rate of the technique are suggested for further investigation of the prospects of this new technique.

The nuclear design of fusion devices such as ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), which is an experimental fusion reactor based on the &amp;quot;tokamak&amp;quot; concept, rely on the results of neutron physical calculations. These depend on the knowledge of the neutron and photon flux spectra which is particularly important because it permits to anticipate the possible answers of the whole structure to phenomena such as nuclear heating, tritium breeding, atomic displacements, radiation shielding, power generation and material activation. The flux spectra can be calculated with transport codes, but validating measurements are also required. An important constituent of structural materials and divertor areas of fusion reactors is tungsten. This thesis deals with the measurement of the neutron fluence and neutron energy spectrum in a tungsten assembly by means of multiple foil neutron activation technique. In order to check and qualify the experimental tools and the codes to be used in the tungsten benchmark experiment, test measurements in the D-T and D-D neutron fields of the neutron generator at Technische Universität Dresden were performed. The characteristics of the D-D and D-T reactions, used to produce monoenergetic neutrons, together with the selection of activation reactions suitable for fusion applications and details of the activation measurements are presented. Corrections related to the neutron irradiation process and those to the sample counting process are discussed, too. The neutron fluence and its energy distribution in a tungsten benchmark, irradiated at the Frascati Neutron Generator with 14 MeV neutrons produced by the T(d, n)4He reaction, are then derived from the measurements of the neutron induced &amp;amp;#947;-ray activity in the foils using the STAYNL unfolding code, based on the linear least-square-errors method, together with the IRDF-90.2 (International Reactor Dosimetry File) cross section library. The differences between the neutron flux spectra measured by means of neutron foil activation and the neutron flux spectra obtained in the same assembly, making use of an NE213 liquid-scintillation spectrometer were studied. The comparison of measured neutron spectra with the spectra calculated with the MCNP-4B (Monte Carlo neutron and photon transport) code, which allows a crucial test of the evaluated nuclear data used in fusion reactor design, is discussed, too. In conclusion, this thesis shows the applicability of the neutron foil activation technique for the measurement of neutron flux spectra inside a thick tungsten assembly irradiated with 14 MeV from a D-T generator<br>Die Konstruktion von Fusionsreaktoren wie ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), der ein experimenteller Fusionsreaktor ist und auf dem &amp;quot;Tokamak&amp;quot;-Konzept beruht, basiert unter neutronenphysikalischen Gesichtspunkten auf den Ergebnissen von umfangreichen Simulationsrechnungen. Diese setzen die Kenntnis der Spektren des Neutronen- und Photonenflusses voraus die besonders wichtig ist, weil sie, die möglichen Antworten der ganzen Struktur auf physikalische Prozesse vorauszuberechnen erlaubt wie z.B.: Heizen durch nukleare Prozesse, Tritium-Brüten, Atomverschiebung, Abschirmung von Strahlung, Leistungserzeugung und Materialaktivierung. Die Flußspektren können mittels Transportcodes berechnet werden, aber es werden auch Messungen zu ihrer Bestätigung benötigt. Ein wichtiger Bestandteil des Strukturmaterials und der Divertor-Flächen der Fusionsreaktoren ist Wolfram. Diese Dissertation behandelt die Messungen der Neutronspektren und ?fluenz in einer Wolfram-Anordnung mittels der Multifolien-Neutronenaktivierungstechnik. Um die anzuwendenden experimentellen Geräte und die Codes, die im Wolfram-Benchmark-Experiment eingesetzt werden, zu überprüfen und zu bestimmen, wurden Testmessungen in den D-T und D-D Neutronenfeldern des Neutronengenerator der Technischen Universität Dresden durchgeführt. Die Eigenschaften der D-T und D-D Reaktionen, die für die Erzeugung von monoenergetischen Neutronen verwendet werden, sowie die Auswahl der Aktivierungsreaktionen, die für Fusionsanwendungen geeignet sind und die Aktivierungsmessung werden detailliert vorgestellt. Korrekturen, die sich auf den Neutronen-Bestrahlungsprozess und auf den Probenzählungsprozess beziehen, werden ebenfalls besprochen. Die Neutronenfluenz und ihre Energieverteilung in einem Wolfram-Benchmark, bestrahlt am Frascati Neutronen Generator mit 14 MeV-Neutronen aus der T(d, n)4He Reaktion, werden aus den Messungen der &amp;amp;#947;-Strahlenaktivität, die von Neutronen in den Folien induziert ist, durch den STAYNL Entfaltungscode, der auf der Methode der kleinsten Fehlerquadrate basiert, zusammen mit der IRDF-90.2 Wirkungsquerschnitt-Bibliothek abgeleitet. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Neutronenflußspektren, die mit Hilfe der Multifolien-Neutronenaktivierung ermittelt wurden, und den Neutronenflußspektren, gemessen im selben Aufbau mit einem NE-213 Flüssigszintillator, wurden untersucht. Die gemessenen Neutronenspektren werden den aus MCNP-4B Rechnungen (Monte Carlo neutron and photon transport) ermittelten Spektren gegenüber gestellt. Der Vergleich stellt einen wichtigen Test der evaluierten Kerndaten für Fusionsreaktorkonzepte dar. Zusammenfassend zeigt diese Arbeit die Anwendbarkeit der Multifolien-Neutronenaktivierungstechnik bei Messungen der Neutronenflussspektren innerhalb eines massiven Wolframblocks bei Bestrahlung mit schnellen Neutronen aus D-T Generatoren

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California<br>This paper presents a new approach for the effective generation of translator scripts that can be used to automate the translation of data display configurations from one vendor format to another. Our approach uses the IDEF5 ontology description method to capture the ontology of each vendor format and provides simple rules for performing mappings. In addition, the method includes the specification of mappings between a language-specific ontology and its corresponding syntax specification, that is, either an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Schema or Document Type Description (DTD). Finally, we provide an algorithm for automatically generating eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) scripts that transform XML documents from one language to another. The method is implemented in a graphical tool called the Data Display Translator Generator (DDTG) that supports both inter-language (ontology-to-ontology) and intra-language (syntax-to-ontology) mappings and generates the XSLT scripts. The tool renders the XML Schema or DTD as trees, provides intuitive, user-friendly interfaces for performing the mappings, and provides a report of completed mappings. It also generates data type conversion code when both the source and target syntaxes are XML Schema-based. Our approach has the advantage of performing language mappings at an abstract, ontology level, and facilitates the mapping of tool ontologies to a common domain ontology (in our case, Data Display Markup Language or DDML), thereby eliminating the O(n^2) mapping problem that involves a number of data formats in the same domain.

Consistent international efforts have been made over the past few decades to move the world towards an environmentally sustainable society. Wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) are one of the largest contributors within this movement. Furthermore amongst existing wind turbine power generation technologies, the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) has been distinctively popular for its lower capital costs especially in higher power applications. In order to study the integration of this type of generator into the grid, a laboratory based DFIG test rig was developed where its complete design process is presented in this dissertation. Mathematical modelling of related system components were thoroughly investigated so as to facilitate controller design based on the internal model control (IMC) methodology. In addition, a complete soft grid synchronisation procedure for the DFIG was investigated. It was found that the application of active damping within the IMC control law resulted in reduced stator current transients during synchronisation. Control voltage excitation for the DFIG rotor circuit was achieved by the implementation of two voltage source converters (VSC’s) connected in a back-to-back configuration via a common DC-link. The rotorside converter (RSC) was responsible for regulating the machine speed whereas the grid-side converter (GSC) was responsible for regulating the DC-link voltage. In addition, these converters provided decoupled and bidirectional power flow control which enabled the DFIG to operate at sub synchronous and super synchronous speeds. A three-level VSC was chosen for the GSC control, where a resource conservative modulation algorithm that eliminates DC-link neutral voltage unbalance was implemented. The DFIG system design was simulated, and the results were verified through experimental tests performed on a 1.5kW wound rotor induction machine (WRIM). A detailed description of the laboratory setup of the DFIG is presented, and various practical limitations are discussed. It was found that the performance of the developed DFIG test rig correlated well with results of the simulations. Stable operation was achieved for various system test conditions, which indicated the system’s robustness to serve as a practical platform for future DFIG related research.

Uno dei principali protagonisti della caccia alla Materia Oscura è il Progetto XENON presso i LNGS, con l'obiettivo di rivelare le WIMP. Forti dell'esperienza proveniente dalle precedenti fasi del Progetto, l'attuale esperimento XENON1T è il primo che contiene circa 3.2 t di xenon liquido, di cui circa 2 t costituiscono la massa attiva della TPC a doppia fase. E questa è la prima TPC con massa attiva superiore a 1 t e con il più basso livello di fondo tra tutti gli esperimenti di questo tipo. Nel 2017, con un tempo di esposizione di soli 34.2 giorni, XENON1T ha ottenuto uno dei miglior limiti di esclusione per la sezione d'urto di interazione WIMP-nucleo non dipendente dallo spin. Nella prima parte del presente lavoro di tesi, verifico la possibilità che il neutron generator (NG), una sorgente di neutroni per la calibrazione della risposta del rivelatore ai rinculi nucleari (NR), possa essere una sorgente di fondo per il rivelatore essendo posizionato vicino alla TPC. Dalla stima del rate di eventi in presenza o meno del NG, nessuna differenza è stata osservata per gli eventi da rinculo elettronico (ER) a bassa energia. Successivamente alla valutazione dell'attività di U238 e Th232 nei materiali del NG, è possibile stimare il fondo indotto da neutroni radiogenici atteso dal NG: poiché risulta essere due ordini di grandezza inferiore a quanto atteso dai materiali di costruzione del rivelatore, può essere considerato un contributo trascurabile. Nella parte finale della tesi si presentano tutte le possibili sorgenti di fondo per eventi ER nel rivelatore di XENON1T e la simulazione, con il programma GEANT4, di tale fondo. In particolare, è esaminata e discussa la nuova implementazione della simulazione per il doppio decadimento beta dell'isotopo Xe136. Lo stato dell'arte del confronto delle simulazioni Monte Carlo con i dati reali è mostrato alla fine del lavoro di tesi: i risultati preliminari evidenziano una buona conoscenza del fondo dell'ER nel rivelatore XENON1T.

La thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre industriel de la détection de la réaction entre l’eau et le sodium dans un générateur de vapeur d’un réacteur à neutrons rapides à caloporteur sodium. Plus précisément, il s’agit de détecter une micro-fuite d’eau dans le sodium (débit &lt; 1 g/s) en moins de 10 secondes à partir des signaux vibratoires mesurés sur la virole externe du générateur de vapeur. Le bruit de fond très important de l’installation en fonctionnement risque de mettre en défaut la détection basée sur un dépassement de seuil de l’énergie vibratoire. Nous nous intéressons dans cette thèse à la technique de la formation de voies qui permet d’augmenter le rapport signal à bruit et de détecter et de localiser une source acoustique à l’intérieur du système à partir de signaux vibratoires mesurés par une antenne de capteurs accéléromètres placés sur la coque cylindrique (i.e. virole du générateur de vapeur). Une étude numérique a d’abord été réalisée. Des modèles numériques sont développés afin de simuler les signaux mesurés (virtuellement) par les accéléromètres de l’antenne linéaire considérée. Les performances de la formation de voies sont alors étudiées suivant différents paramètres (i.e. position source, amortissement, fréquence, type de bruit de fond, etc.). Le premier modèle consiste en une plaque plane infinie en contact avec un fluide lourd et excitée par un monopole acoustique situé dans ce fluide. L’analyse des déplacements transverses de la plaque nous permet d’établir un critère sur l’échantillonnage spatial du champ vibratoire par l’antenne. Un second modèle, plus représentatif de la virole du générateur de vapeur, est ensuite proposé. Une coque cylindrique élastique infinie, remplie par un fluide lourd est considérée. Le caractère « fini » de ce système dans les directions radiales et circonférentielles fait apparaitre un comportement modal. Son impact sur la formation de voies est étudié. La méthode est finalement testée expérimentalement. Des mesures sont réalisées sur une maquette composée d’un cylindre en acier rempli d’eau, placé dans un circuit hydraulique dont on maitrise le débit. La source acoustique est générée à partir d’un hydrophone. On étudie alors le gain d’antenne pour différents débits et niveaux d’excitation de la source<br>This thesis deals with a new method to detect a sodium-water reaction in a steam generator of a fast sodium-cooled nuclear reactor. More precisely, the objective is to detect a micro-leak of water (flow &lt; 1 g/s) in less than 10 seconds by measuring the external shell vibrations of the component. The strong background noise in operation makes impossible the use of a detection system based on a threshold overrun. A beamforming method applied to vibrations measured by a linear array of accelerometers is developed in this thesis to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and to detect and locate the leak in the steam generator. A numerical study is first realized. Two models are developed in order to simulate the signals measured by the accelerometers of the array. The performances of the beamforming are then studied in function of several parameters, such as the source location and frequency, the damping factor, the background noise considered. The first model consists in an infinite plate in contact with a heavy fluid, excited by an acoustic monopole located in this fluid. Analyzing the transverse displacements in the wavenumber domain is useful to establish a criterion to sample correctly the vibration field of the plate. A second model, more representative of the system is also proposed. In this model, an elastic infinite cylindrical shell, filled with a heavy fluid is considered. The finite dimensions in the radial and circumferential directions lead to a modal behavior of the system which impacts the beamforming. Finally, the method is tested on an experimental mock-up which consists in a cylindrical pipe made in stainless steel and filled with water connected to hydraulic circuit. The water flow speed can be controlled by varying the speed of the pump. The acoustic source is generated by a hydrophone. The performances of the beamforming are studied for different water flow speeds and different amplitude and frequencies of the source