Determination of Optimal Imaging Parameters for the Reconstruction of a Nuclear Fuel Assembly Using Limited Angle Neutron Tomography

Abstract

The core components of nuclear reactors (e.g., fuel assemblies, spacer grids, control rods) encounter harsh environments due to high temperature, physical stress, and a tremendous level of radiation. The integrity of these elements is crucial for safe operation of nuclear power plants; post-irradiation examination (PIE) can reveal information about the integrity of these components. Neutron computed tomography (CT) is one important PIE measurement tool for nondestructively evaluating the structural integrity of these items. CT typically requires many projections to be acquired from different view angles, after which a mathematical algorithm is used for image reconstruction. However, when working with heavily irradiated materials and irradiated nuclear fuel, obtaining many projections is laborious and expensive. Image reconstruction from a smaller number of projections has been explored to achieve faster and more cost-efficient PIE. Classical reconstruction methods (e.g., filtered backprojection), unfortunately, do not typically offer stable reconstructions from a highly asymmetric, few-projection data set and often create severe streaking artifacts. We propose an iterative reconstruction technique to reconstruct curved, plate-type nuclear fuel assemblies using limited-angle CT. The performance of the proposed method is assessed using simulated data and validated through real projections. We also discuss the systematic strategy for establishing the conditions of reconstructions and finding the optimal imaging parameters for reconstructions of the fuel assemblies from few projections using limited-angle CT. Results show that a fuel assembly can be reconstructed using limited-angle CT if 36 or more projections are taken from a particular direction with 1° angular increment.

Meeting Name

International Workshop on Imaging (2015: Sep. 7-10, Varenna, Italy)

Department(s)

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Comments

The research work was supported by Department of Energy (DOE) through a subcontract (contract no. 00129577) from Idaho National Laboratory.

Keywords and Phrases

Control rods; Fuels; Image processing; Image reconstruction in medical imaging; Iterative methods; Medical imaging; Neutron radiography; Neutrons; Nuclear power plants; Nuclear reactors; Repair; Tomography; Filtered back-projection; Irradiated materials; Iterative reconstruction techniques; Mathematical algorithms; Neutron computed tomographies; Nuclear fuel assemblies; Postirradiation examination; Reconstruction method; Computerized tomography; Inspection with neutrons

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1748-0221

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2016 Institute of Physics - IOP Publishing and Sissa Medialab srl, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2016

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