Abstract
• Large technological gap exists with state-of-the-art neutron detectors. • Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors offer unique properties to merge this gap. • Experiments were carried out to directly compare the CTMFD vs Ludlum 42-49B. • MCNP simulation was performed to characterize neutron flux incident on the detectors. • CTMFD showed higher sensitivities compared directly with Ludlum-42-49B (He-3) detector. This paper presents results of neutron detection sensitivity between a ∼ 2.5 kg, non-borated Centrifugally Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector (CTMFD) as compared to a commercial state of the art moderated, 4.5 kg He-3 based Ludlum (42-49B™) neutron detector of similar form factor. The study used: a collimated 1 Ci plutonium-beryllium (α, n) neutron source emitting 2.2 × 10 6 n/s. Water, concrete and lead shielding materials of thicknesses ranging from none to up to 0.3 m were used. The CTMFD as deployed was configured for detection of fast energy neutrons. Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) code-based simulations were conducted to account for 3-D effects and for computing cpm/mrem/h sensitivity estimates. At 0.6 MPa (6 bar) negative pressure (Pneg) state, and without benefiting from detecting epithermal neutrons, the CTMFD was found to offer up to ∼5 + times higher cpm/mrem/h sensitivity vs the Ludlum-42-49B. At Pneg ∼ 1.1 MPa (11 bar) the gain exponentially rises to ∼100× higher for the CTMFD vs Ludlum-42-49B.
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