Concept of capture credit based on neutron-induced gamma ray spectroscopy

Abstract

Capture credit (CapC) based on neutron-induced gamma ray spectroscopy (NIGS) is proposed to confirm the subcriticality of fuel debris in which nuclear fuel and structural materials are co-melted or mixed. By NIGS, rates of some capture reactions can be measured in relation to fission reactions. By the ratio, we can credit the negative reactivity inserted by the capture reactions. The theory of CapC is described. In order to demonstrate the benefit to take CapC for storage of the fuel debris, numerical simulations are performed for a hypothetical array of canisters in which the fuel debris is stored. A procedure of CapC based on NIGS is also proposed, which consists of several technologies: (1) NIGS, (2) simulations of a response and an efficiency of the γ ray detection, and (3) unfolding of the γ ray pulse height spectrum to obtain reaction rates. Experimental studies of NIGS have been launched in Kyoto university critical assembly facility. NIGS is firstly studied for simulated fuel debris of a few kinds of mixture of stainless steel and uranium in subcritical systems. The measured γ ray pulse height spectra and preliminary analyses indicate that CapC based on NIGS is worth to be investigated further for the efficient storage of fuel debris.