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Fast neutron coincidence counter using scintillators for safeguards verification of the TRU/RE waste

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Abstract

To minimize the environmental burden of the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, nuclide management process is one of good candidates to separate and collect major nuclides in the spent nuclear fuel. After high heat load nuclides, high mobile nuclides, and long-lived nuclides are separated, collected, and fabricated as the waste form for the disposal. From safeguards perspective, nuclear material of the TRU/RE waste form should be verified. The amount of Plutonium can be estimated by Cm/Pu ratio using burnup code calculations and Cm-244 measurement. In this study, a fast neutron coincidence counter for Cm-244 neutron measurement of the TRU/RE waste form was designed with EJ-276 plastic scintillation detectors using PTRAC of MCNP6.2. The preliminary experimental performance evaluation using one EJ-276 plastic scintillation detector was conducted. And total and coincidence counting efficiency using a Cf-252 neutron source was calculated with respect to the number of detectors.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea Government (MSIT) (NRF-2021M2E3A3040093 and 2021M2A7A1080748). This study was presented at the International Conference on Nuclear Analytical Techniques in 2022 (NAT2022), which was held in Daejeon, Korea, from Dec. 7 to 9, 2022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technology Development Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989 beongil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea

    Chaehun Lee, Seonkwang Yoon & Seong-Kyu Ahn

  2. Department of Quantum System Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea

    Hee Seo

  3. Department of Quantum Energy Chemical Engineering, University of Science & Technology, 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea

    Chaehun Lee

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  1. Chaehun Lee
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  2. Seonkwang Yoon
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  3. Seong-Kyu Ahn
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  4. Hee Seo
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Correspondence to Chaehun Lee.

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Lee, C., Yoon, S., Ahn, SK. et al. Fast neutron coincidence counter using scintillators for safeguards verification of the TRU/RE waste. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 5283–5288 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09084-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09084-z

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