Nondestructive Verification of Relative Burnup Values and Cooling Times of Irradiated MTR Fuel Elements

摘要

Sixteen irradiated MTR fuel elements have been examined using nondestructive gamma-ray and neutron techniques. The consistency of declared burnup values and cooling times has been measured. Measured parameters have been identified that best predict the burnup and cooling time values of individual elements and their relative importances have been quantified using established statistical methods of analysis. Various detector systems, including germanium, cadmium telluride, and Be( gamma ,n) detector, and fission chamber have been used to measure the axial activity profiles. (ERA citation 05:000972)