Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:50:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 00025.pdf: 1416886 bytes, checksum: 707fc9df397d0d3d2fb2ba9945199c80 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Escola Politecnica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - POLI/USP

One of two project reports. Part B can be found at: / Track-etch imaging is investigated as a recording method for neutron radiographic purposes. A theoretical model is formulated and evaluated together with experimental data which is analyzed in an attempt to explore the possibility of maximizing optical contrast. A central converter system with Lithium-6 as the converter and cellulose-nitrate as the recorders is used. It is found that the maximum contrast is achieved by using a clear cellulose-nitrate recorder at least 10 µm thick and a Lithium-6 converter of approximately 140 µm thickness. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

No description available.

This dissertation presents a novel method for removing scattering effects from Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS) imaging. The NMIS uses fast neutron radiography to generate images of the internal structure of objects non-intrusively. If the correct attenuation through the object is measured, the positions and macroscopic cross-sections of features inside the object can be determined. The cross sections can then be used to identify the materials and a 3D map of the interior of the object can be reconstructed. Unfortunately, the measured attenuation values are always too low because scattered neutrons contribute to the unattenuated neutron signal. Previous efforts to remove the scatter from NMIS imaging have focused on minimizing the fraction of scattered neutrons which are misidentified as directly transmitted by electronically collimating and time tagging the source neutrons. The parameterized scatter removal algorithm (PSRA) approaches the problem from an entirely new direction by using Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the point scatter functions (PScFs) produced by neutrons scattering in the object. PScFs have been used to remove scattering successfully in other applications, but only with simple 2D detector models. This work represents the first time PScFs have ever been applied to an imaging detector geometry as complicated as the NMIS. By fitting the PScFs using a Gaussian function, they can be parameterized and the proper scatter for a given problem can be removed without the need for rerunning the simulations each time. In order to model the PScFs, an entirely new method for simulating NMIS measurements was developed for this work. The development of the new models and the codes required to simulate them are presented in detail. The PSRA was used on several simulated and experimental measurements and chi-squared goodness of fit tests were used to compare the corrected values to the ideal values that would be expected with no scattering. Using the PSRA resulted in an improvement of the chi-squared test by a factor of 60 or more when applied to simple homogeneous objects.

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:25:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:03:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 11313.pdf: 4364467 bytes, checksum: 80dca67e716c2de36cf87cbbab397c48 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Intituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN-SP

Dynamic flow of material has been studied using fast neutron radiography (FNR) and positron emission particle tracking (PEPT). A new fast neutron imaging system was commissioned at The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Pretoria, as part of this study, although FNR measurements were ultimately performed at PhysikalischTechnische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig. The PEPT studies were undertaken at the PEPT Cape Town facility located at iThemba LABS, Cape Town. The steady state motion of media, within a laboratory-scale tumbling mill, was studied for a range of speed and media mixes, using both FNR and PEPT. Several operational parameters were derived from the data, which could be related to potential improvements to the milling efficiency. The blending of FNR and PEPT data for the study of steady state flow, was explored for the first time. In addition, the flow of water through porous media was studied using FNR, which enabled the determination of the hydraulic conductivity, and hence intrinsic permeability, of the media within the column. The potential of using FNR, without or without PEPT, for the study of material in motion is discussed.