Study on low density material detection capabilities of Neutron Radiography Experimental setups with neutron sources based on Nuclear Reactor and Deuterium-Tritium Generator
Published 11-12-2024
Keywords
- D-T generator,
- neutron flux,
- collimator ratio,
- CCD,
- neutron imaging
- attenuation ...More
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Abstract
Neutron Radiography (NR) is the method that is used to detect hydrogenous compounds in sealed metallic devices in aerospace applications, which are not detectable in X-Ray radiography. The experiments are carried out using two experimental facilities; one with a low-flux Neutron Radiography system using Deuterium–Tritium (D-T) neutron source and the other with a nuclear reactor as the source. Both facilities use a cooled intensified CCD based imaging system. Similar exposure times and image processing techniques such as averaging, flat field corrections etc. are used in both. Although reactor-based neutron imaging system produces images of much better quality owing to high collimator ratio, we have carried out feasibility study using D-T based neutron imaging system for qualitative imaging of neutron attenuating materials present inside SS304 or Al stepped samples. D-T generator based neutron imaging system has potential application for on-site measurements at plants/facilities where reactor source is not available. This paper presents a qualitative comparison of the detection capability of the two systems using samples prepared with SS304 and Al cases which are filled with low density compounds of variable neutron attenuation properties such as teflon, naphthalene, epoxy and wax
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