• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.1075-1080
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• 2019

This paper presents a study on thermal neutron reflection properties of neutron guide for cylinder, spindle, elliptic and parabolic geometries using $^{241}Am-Be$ neutron source (5.2 Ci) and $BF_3$ detector, whereas neutron guide is important instrument for transportation of neutrons. To this goal, the required inner and outer radii of neutron guide have been calculated to achieve the highest guided thermal neutron flux based on MCNPX Monte Carlo code. The maximum flux of cylinder geometry with a length 50 cm has been obtained at an inner radius 9 cm and an outer radius 21 cm. Also, the maximum value of thermal neutron albedo is $0.46{\pm}0.001$ at 12 cm thickness of parabolic guide.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.1441-1453
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• 2024

The yield stability of the neutron generator directly affects the accuracy of elemental analysis. This paper presents an industrial fully automatic neutron generator with a 48 mm neutron tube based on PLC to improve the stability and reliability of the neutron generator in industrial applications. By integrating a Kalman Filter with the PID algorithm in a PLC, the neutron yield of the generator is remarkably stabilized, achieving 1 × 10⁸n/s. The neutron generator has been employed for industrial online elemental analysis. The results demonstrate that only a slight fluctuation of ±0.82 % exists in the neutron yield, and the reproducibility of the generator holds at a significant level of 0.05. This improved neutron generator can be applied to the online bulk analysis of carbon in coal-fired power stations and absolute measurement of neutron source emission rate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.787-788
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.793-794
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• 2005

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2004

In-phantom neutron flux distribution is measured at the HANARO BNCT irradiation facility. The measurements are performed with Au foil and wires. The thermal neutron flux and Cd ratio obtained at the HANARO BNCT facility are $1.19{\times}10^9\;n/cm^{2}s$ and 152, respectively, at 24 MW reactor power. The measured in-phantom neutron flux has a maximum value at a depth of 3 mm in the phantom and then decreases rapidly. The maximum flux is about $25\%$ larger than that of the phantom surface, and the measured value at a depth of 22 mm in the phantom is about a half of the maximum value. In addition, the neutron beam is limited well within the aperture of the neutron collimator. The two-dimensional in-phantom neutron flux distribution is determined. Significant neutron irradiation is observed within 20 mm from the phantom surface. The measured neutron flux distribution can be utilized in irradiation planning for a patient.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.11c
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• pp.789-792
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• 2003

pMOSFET having 10 ${\mu}um$ thickness Gd layer has been tested to be used as a slow neutron sensor. The total thermal neutron cross section for the Gd is 47,000 barns and the cross section value drops rapidly with increasing neutron energy. When slow neutrons are incident to the Gd layer, the conversion electrons are emitted by the neutron absorption process. The conversion electrons generate electron-hole pairs in the $SiO_2$ layer of the pMOSFET. The holes are easily trapped in Oxide and act as positive charge centers in the $SiO_2$ layer. Due to the induced positive charges, the threshold turn-on voltage of the pMOSFET is changed. We have found that the voltage change is proportional to the accumulated slow neutron dose, therefore the pMOSFET having a Gd nuclear reaction layer can be used for a slow neutron dosimeter. The Gd-pMOSFET were tested at HANARO neutron beam port and $^{60}CO$ irradiation facility to investigate slow neutron response and gamma response respectively. Also the pMOSFET without Gd layer were tested at same conditions to compare the characteristics to the Gd-pMOSFET. From the result, we have concluded that the Gd-pMOSFET is very sensitive to the slow neutron and can be used as a slow neutron dosimeter. It can also be used in a mixed radiation field by subtracting the voltage change value of a pMOSFET without Gd from the value of the Gd-pMOSFET.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.512-521
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• 1999

A feasibility study was performed to design an epithermal neutron beam for BNCT using the neutron of 2.45 MeV on the average produced from $^2H(d,n)^3$He reaction induced by plasma focus in the z-pinch instead of the conventional accelerator-based $^3H(d, n)^4$He neutron generator. Flux and spectrum were analyzed to use these neutrons as the neutron source for BNCT. Neutronic characteristics of several candidate materials in this neutron source were investigated Using MCNP Code, and $^7LiF$ ; 40%Al + 60%$AIF_3$, and Pb Were determined as moderator, filter, and reflector in an epithermal neutron beam design for BNCT, respectively. The skin-skull-brain ellipsoidal phantom, which consists of homogeneous regions of skin-, bone-, or brain-equivalent material, was used in order to assess the dosimetric effect in brain. An epithermal neutron beam design for BNCT was proposed by the repeated work with MCNP runs, and the dosimetric properties (AD, AR, ADDR, and Dose Components) calculated within the phantom showed that the neutron beam designed in this work is effective in tumor therapy. If the neutron source flux is high enough using the z-pinch plasma, BNCT using the neutron source produced from $^2H(d,n)^3$He reaction will be very feasible.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2008

A detection system was set up to measure the neutron generation rate of a recently developed D-D neutron generator. The system is composed of a Si detector, He-3 detector, and electronics for pulse height analysis. The neutron generation rate was measured by counting protons using the Si detector, and the data was crosschecked by counting neutrons with the He-3 detector. The efficiencies of the Si and He-3 detectors were calibrated independently by using a standard alpha particle source $^{241}Am$ and a bare isotopic neutron source $^{252}Cf$, respectively. The effect of the cross-sectional difference between the D(d,p)T and $D(d,n)^3He$ reactions was evaluated for the case of a thick target. The neutron generation rate was theoretically corrected for the anisotropic emission of protons and neutrons in the D-D reactions. The attenuations of neutron on the path to the He-3 detector by the target assembly and vacuum flange of the neutron generator were considered by the Monte Carlo method using the MCNP 4C2 code. As a result, the neutron generation rate based on the Si detector measurement was determined with a relative uncertainty of ${\pm}5%$, and the two rates measured by both detectors corroborated within 20%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.2999-3005
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• 2022

The new experimental setup has been built at the 11b channel of the IBR-2 research reactor at FLNP, JINR, to study the elemental composition of samples by registration of prompt gamma emission during thermal neutron capture. The setup consists of a curved mirror neutron guide and a radiation-resistant HPGe high-purity germanium detector. The detector is surrounded by lead shielding to suppress the natural background gamma level. The sample is placed in a vacuum channel and surrounded by a LiF shield to suppress the gamma background generated by scattered neutrons. This work presents characteristics of the experimental setup. An example of hydrogen concentration determining in a diamond powder made by detonation synthesis is given and on its basis, the sensitivity of the setup is calculated being ~4 ㎍.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2016

Background: The moderated neutron calibration fields using $^{241}Am$-Be sources and a graphite moderator have been constructed at the Facility of Radiation Standard (FRS) in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Materials and Methods: The neutron spectra of the fields were evaluated by the Monte-Carlo calculations and measurements using the Bonner Multi-sphere Spectrometer. Results and Discussion: The fields have continuous neutron spectra from several MeV to thermal neutron energy, with fluence-averaged energies of 0.84 MeV and 0.60 MeV. Reference values of fluence rates and ambient/personal dose equivalent rates were determined from neutron spectra by measurements. Conclusion: Currently, the fields are available for calibration or performance test of neutron measuring instruments.