Improved Shielding Design with an Accelerated Monte Carlo Simulation for a Neutron Generator at Missouri S&T

Abstract

Currently, Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) has a neutron generator that is limited in its operational time per year by regulatory limits. Previous work has identified key areas that require additional shielding and made recommendations; accordingly, this study was conducted to optimize the additional shielding design for the neutron generator at Missouri S&T to enable long-term usage. Dose analysis was performed using Monte Carlo simulation. Moreover, an automatic weight window generator - ADVANTG was employed to reduce the necessary computation time of the Monte Carlo simulation. The effectiveness of the proposed design is compared with previous work. Additional shielding offered significant dose reductions to 1.018, 1.127, 0.680, 1.243, and 1.400 mRem/h representing a decrease of 55.7%, 48.5%, 59.0%, 90.8%, and 70.5% for the north, south, west, east, and floor, respectively compared to similar values reported in previous studies. Additional shielding, from 5 cm to 20 cm in thickness, was suggested, depending on the current shielding. The neutron generator is projected to maintain a 300-hour operation time per year with the suggested shielding design.

Department(s)

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Comments

This work is supported by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Faculty Development Grant under Grant No. NRC-HQ-12-G-38-0039.

Keywords and Phrases

Dosimetry; Intelligent systems; Neutron beams; Neutron sources; Neutrons; Shielding; Computation time; Current shielding; Neutron generators; Operation time; Regulatory limit; Science and Technology; Shielding design; Variance reductions; Monte Carlo methods; Monte Carlo simulation; Radiation dose

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0149-1970

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2017 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 2017

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