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DOE OSTI2023

SpecFIDLER User Manual (Software V.2.5.0)

The Spectroscopic Field Instrument for Detection of Low Energy Radiation (SpecFIDLER) allows response teams to detect and quantify plutonium contamination on the ground. Notional scenarios include dispersion from a weapon accident, or the launch failure of a space probe containing a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. Unlike other instruments, the thin-window sodium iodide detector is sensitive to the low-energy gamma rays emitted by plutonium isotopes. The system supports both mobile survey as well as stationary sampling. This manual provides information about installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting the SpecFIDLER. The scope of this document includes the physical hardware, software for data acquisition, and algorithms for data analysis. Recent changes to the software and algorithms aim to streamline the operation of the system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2024

SpecFIDLER User Manual (Software V.2.6.0)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2020

SpecFIDLER User Manual (Software V.2.3.0)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2021

Event Response and Criticality Alarm Systems [Slides]

The smallest accident, in terms of fission yield and dose rate, that a criticality alarm system is required to detect. Need for a CAS shall be evaluated for all activities in which the inventory in individual unrelated areas exceeds 700g U-235, 500g U-233, 450 g Pu-239 OR 450g of any combination of these three isotopes. Unique configurations exist such that critical mass requirements may be less than the limits noted above.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Design of Radiation Tolerant High-Temperature Structural Health Monitoring Sensors

Acoustic emission sensors are vital in the nuclear industry for real-time structural health monitoring and early detection of material degradation. By capturing high-frequency stress waves emitted from defects like cracks, corrosion, or fatigue, acoustic emission sensors enable non-invasive monitoring of critical components such as reactor vessels, piping, and containment structures. This technology supports predictive maintenance, enhances safety, and ensures regulatory compliance by providing early warnings of potential failures. It is also instrumental in research, particularly in material testing reactors, where it is used to monitor the behavior of fuels and materials under irradiation, by allowing the detection of cracking or other acoustic signals in real time. This enables the evaluation of performance and accident behavior of advanced fuel concepts.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗

DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of an Accident Tolerant Fuel Leak in the Advanced Test Reactor

Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF), which are nuclear fuel sources designed to withstand operational irregularities and incidents, have been a topic of interest in the nuclear industry for several decades. Interest in ATF technology surged following the 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. At the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), one of Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) four operating nuclear reactors, the ATF program is a collaborative effort between the national laboratory and various stakeholders within the nuclear industry. This program focuses on the research and development of novel fuel compositions, cladding, and component materials with enhanced accident-resistant properties. During one of ATR’s 60-day operating cycles in 2024, the reactor experienced five unplanned shutdowns. Following the fifth shutdown, radiation monitors detected an increase in radiation levels coming from the loop piping. Subsequent water samples confirmed the cause was a leak of fission products from the ATF experiment, designated as ATF-2C. The source of the leak was identified as the instrumented section of the test train. The primary discussions in this paper are 1) the design of the ATF test train, 2) the operating parameters leading up to and following the detection of the leak, and 3) the quantification and characterization of the released fission products.

Accident Tolerant Fuels↗

DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of an Accident Tolerant Fuel Leak in the Advanced Test Reactor

Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF), which are nuclear fuel sources designed to withstand operational irregularities and incidents, have been a topic of interest in the nuclear industry for several decades. Interest in ATF technology surged following the 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. At the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), one of Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) four operating nuclear reactors, the ATF program is a collaborative effort between the national laboratory and various stakeholders within the nuclear industry. This program focuses on the research and development of novel fuel compositions, cladding, and component materials with enhanced accident-resistant properties. During one of ATR’s 60-day operating cycles in 2024, the reactor experienced five unplanned shutdowns. Following the fifth shutdown, radiation monitors detected an increase in radiation levels coming from the loop piping. Subsequent water samples confirmed the cause was a leak of fission products from the ATF experiment, designated as ATF-2C. The source of the leak was identified as the instrumented section of the test train. The primary discussions in this presentation are 1) the design of the ATF test train, 2) the operating parameters leading up to and following the detection of the leak, and 3) the quantification and characterization of the released fission products.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2023

High fidelity ground deposition measurement with robots after explosive radiological dispersion

A team of scientists from the Remote Sensing Laboratory at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, has assembled a remote-controlled robot to field a few sodium iodide scintillators of different size and shape 18″ above ground for measurement of ground deposition of gamma-emitting particles after an explosion of a radiological dispersal device. This system uses a high-precision differential GPS device with submeter accuracy for radiation mapping. The system is most useful in characterizing large-area contamination and detecting gamma radioactivity in invisible, submicron particulate debris deposited on the ground at surface level or embedded in subsurface up to 3″ deep. The system was assembled as part of a larger effort to integrate advanced radiological detection devices into autonomous or remote-controlled robotic systems to eliminate or minimize the need for emergency responders to enter areas that pose significant health and safety risks to humans following a major radiological incident or accident. Research into autonomous algorithms is required to develop automated robotic systems for radiological survey and characterization activities in highly contaminated areas. The scope of this project also includes developing communications pathways and supporting infrastructure capabilities for different types of robotic technologies. The expected result is an advanced autonomous robotic system with integrated radiation detection electronics that allows emergency response personnel to view data remotely and in real time for radiological emergency response and consequence management purposes.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2021

Identification of Metal Stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana Using Hyperspectral Reflectance Imaging

Industrial accidents, such as the Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters, release harmful chemicals into the environment, covering large geographical areas. Natural flora may serve as biological sensors for detecting metal contamination, such as cesium. Spectral detection of plant stresses typically employs a few select wavelengths and often cannot distinguish between different stress phenotypes. In this study, we apply hyperspectral reflectance imaging in the visible and near-infrared along with multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis to identify unique spectral signatures of three stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana : salt, copper, and cesium. While all stress conditions result in common stress physiology, hyperspectral reflectance imaging and MCR analysis produced unique spectral signatures that enabled classification of each stress. As the level of potassium was previously shown to affect cesium stress in plants, the response of A. thaliana to cesium stress under variable levels of potassium was also investigated. Increased levels of potassium reduced the spectral response of A. thaliana to cesium and prevented changes to chloroplast cellular organization. While metal stress mechanisms may vary under different environmental conditions, this study demonstrates that hyperspectral reflectance imaging with MCR analysis can distinguish metal stress phenotypes, providing the potential to detect metal contamination across large geographical areas.

multivariate curve resolution↗

DOE OSTI2025

Descriptor: Infrastructure Perception and Control: Multi-Sensor Object Tracking Dataset (IPC-MSOT)

Traffic intersections are crucial and challenging nodes in transportation networks where multiple lanes of vehicles and pedestrians converge. Traffic accidents often occur at traffic intersections, including a large proportion of traffic fatalities and about one-half of all traffic injuries in the United States. Object detection data were collected in 2024 across three intersections in Colorado Springs, CO, USA, over the course of multiple days and various times to induce a heterogeneous mix of traffic conditions and behaviors. The purpose of the data collection exercises was to learn various attributes about infrastructure sensors and to build a repository of high-resolution, object-level data that can be used for research and development (e.g., to develop multisensor data fusion algorithms). The Infrastructure Perception and Control:Multi-Sensor Object tracking (IPC-MSOT) dataset was collected as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) project, where the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory collaborated to collect object-level trajectory data from road users using multiple types of infrastructure sensors deployed at different intersections. This dataset allows for testing of late-stage sensor fusion algorithms and their ability to ingest multimodal sensor data, and it can be utilized by traffic engineers to design and evaluate trajectory-based signal control strategies.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2024

Integrating PCTRAN with AI-Driven Host-Intrusion Detection and Secured Container Systems for Advanced Malware Analysis (Summer Internship Report)

This study presents a solution for enhancing the security of the Personal Computer Transient Analyzer (PCTRAN) PC-based Nuclear Power Plant Simulator by integrating the software with an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven host-intrusion detection system (HIDS), in addition to a secured container system, for malware analysis. PCTRAN is a Windows XP-based software package that has the ability to simulate a variety of accident and transient conditions for nuclear power plants (NPPs). It offers a high-resolution replica of the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) and displays the status of important parameters allowing for operator interaction. By including AI-driven HIDS for the NSSS, the framework can identify security threats in real-time, ensuring the integrity of the nuclear simulation environment. Additionally, the secured container system offers the ability to isolate and analyze malware, preventing potential threats from affecting core systems. The integration process involves extensive testing and validation in order to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance with security policies. This framework sets a new precedent for secure simulation and training in NPP operations, and offers insight for future advancements in cybersecurity.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Experimental Testing of Personal Dosimetry Interference from a Portable X-ray Generator

The determination of the disposition route for a legacy drum in a nuclear facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex is supported by non-destructive testing of the drum and its contents. An advanced radiation measurements organization at the Y-12 National Security Complex proposed a series of active measurements using a portable x-ray generator, imaging the drum and its contents with 360-degree visualization. In rooms near the current storage location for the drum, Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS) annunciation is degraded, and Personal Radiation Dosimetry Instruments (PRDI’s) are routinely worn by personnel. The Y-12 Development Organization has procured advanced radiation detection devices and a variety of radiation sources for use in active measurements. These devices are being used to support Y-12 operations and safety engineering disciplines to safely address complex challenges throughout the complex. This paper presents the results of experimental testing of the PRDI’s used at Y-12 with the x-ray generator [1], and notes the unique utilization of a decommissioned facility for this work.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Design of a Loss of Coolant Blowdown Capsule for Remote Assembly with High Burnup Fuel

The Transient Water Irradiation System is an enhanced capability capsule type irradiation vehicle designed to support fuel safety research for light water reactor specimens in the Transient Reactor Test Facility and is designed to simulate loss of coolant and reactivity-initiated accidents. The capsule was designed, deployed, and commissioned with fresh fuel specimens to validate instrumentation and prepare for previously irradiated high burnup specimens. The irradiation system features an extensive in-situ instrumentation package to detect phenomena typical to light water reactor fuels. To accommodate the assembly with high burnup specimens inside the Hot Fuel Examination Facility, and to ensure instrumentation integrity is maintained throughout assembly, the design was updated to support remote handling. The updated design features a hinge mechanism which allows for remote pre-irradiated specimen loading and assembly while protecting sensitive instrumentation by relocating during loading. Fixtures and equipment have been developed to handle the experiment capsule and components in cell, and to support remote assembly. The experiment module also includes radiation shielding and contamination control to support operations after removal from the hot cell.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Knowledge Transfer and Training in Safeguards for Decommissioned Nuclear Facilities (Project Final Report for FY2022)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) applies safeguards to nuclear facilities that are not operating, including those undergoing decommissioning, and the IAEA’s effort in this area is both considerable and increasing. Specifically, the IAEA Department of Safeguards’ Division of Concepts and Planning (SGCP-003: Safeguards Approaches) identified an R&D need to “Develop safeguards implementation guidelines for facilities under decommissioning and safeguards concepts for post-accident facilities under decommissioning”. Nuclear facilities undergoing decommissioning are not exempt from safeguards agreements between the IAEA and Host State, and, accordingly, the requirement for verification of no diversion of nuclear material and detection of undeclared activities at decommissioned facilities remain even after facility shutdown. However, the effort required to meet safeguards objectives diminishes as nuclear material and essential equipment are removed during the decommissioning process which shifts the emphasis from verification of ever-diminishing fissile or source material inventories to verification of changes in facility design and equipment operability.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

DOE OSTI2025

Fission gas trapped in Chornobyl fuel microparticles reveals details of reactor operations

The isotopic ratios of fission gas would provide important source information of a nuclear fuel sample found in the environment. However, it is believed that during a reactor accident like Chornobyl all fission gas is lost and that the radioactive particles found in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone today are depleted in gases by the initial explosion and subsequent fire. We disprove this hypothesis by detection and analysis of trapped krypton and xenon in these particles. Our analysis of krypton and xenon isotopes by noble gas mass spectroscopy in combination with resonance ionization mass spectrometry establishes that important information about reactor operations like age, neutron flux and plutonium fission fraction can still be reconstructed from individual micrometer-sized particles even after decades of weathering in the environment.

Chornobyl↗

DOE OSTI2020

Integrated Circuit Design for Radiation-Hardened Charge-Sensitive Amplifier Survived up to 2 Mrad

According to the continuous development of metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) fabrication technology, transistors have naturally become more radiation-tolerant through steadily decreasing gate-oxide thickness, increasing the tunneling probability between gate-oxide and channel. Unfortunately, despite this radiation-hardened property of developed transistors, the field of nuclear power plants (NPPs) requires even higher radiation hardness levels. Particularly, total ionizing dose (TID) of approximately 1 Mrad could be required for readout circuitry under severe accident conditions with 100 Mrad around a reactor in-core required. In harsh radiating environments such as NPPs, sensors such as micro-pocket-fission detectors (MPFD) would be a promising technology to be operated for detecting neutrons in reactor cores. For those sensors, readout circuits should be fundamentally placed close to sensing devices for minimizing signal interferences and white noise. Therefore, radiation hardening ability is necessary for the circuits under high radiation environments. This paper presents various integrated circuit designs for a radiation hardened charge-sensitive amplifier (CSA) by using SiGe 130 nm and Si 180 nm fabrication processes with different channel widths and transistor types of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS). These circuits were tested under γ–ray environment with Cobalt-60 of high level activity: 490 kCi. The experiment results indicate amplitude degradation of 2.85%–34.3%, fall time increase of 201–1730 ns, as well as a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 0.07–11.6 dB decrease with irradiation dose increase. These results can provide design guidelines for radiation hardening operational amplifiers in terms of transistor sizes and structures.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

SATS Transient Fission Gas Release Test with Irradiated Fuel under Loss of Coolant Accident Conditions

The transient fission gas release (tFGR) during the temperature ramp associated with a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) in light-water reactors (LWRs) is likely a significant contribution to the total pressure in a fuel rod and may cause an unexpected rod burst. The lack of data related to tFGR continues to be a key gap in understanding LWR cladding burst behavior under LOCA conditions. To fully characterize this behavior, tFGR data must be collected from several different systems that can capture all relevant testing conditions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed a system to measure the integral tFGR from irradiated fuel segments. This system was designed to integrate with the existing Severe Accident Test Station (SATS) and to build upon decades of experience capturing fission gas to characterize fuel behavior. The tFGR system consists of a sweep gas system to transport gases from the in-cell SATS apparatus to an out-of-cell fission gas detection system composed of a series of cold traps to capture the off-gas from the heating tests and a gamma spectrometry system to detect and measure 85 Kr. Initial system testing operations were completed during which 85 Kr collection and measurement were verified along with the ability to detect stable inert gases. A tFGR test with a high-burnup fuel specimen was successfully conducted by the in-cell SATS-tFGR system at ORNL. The posttest examination is under way, the result of which will be reported in FY24.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Advances in geophysical forensic event monitoring

Forensic analysis of man-made, non-nuclear events (such as industrial accidents, explosion experiments and mine collapses) has become more frequent and detailed owing to advancements in geophysical monitoring. Here, in this Technical Review, we demonstrate how geophysical forensic monitoring using seismic, infrasound and hydroacoustic recordings provides insights on events in the solid earth, atmosphere and underwater. Advanced techniques, including machine-learning-based models, have been developed to detect, identify and investigate these events, providing information on location, subevents, sources and explosive yield. The increase in data availability, application of advanced methods and computation and the growth of multitechnology approaches have increased the accuracy of forensic event analysis and enabled more realistic characterization of uncertainties. For example, the 2020 Beirut explosion in Lebanon demonstrated that various seismic, acoustic and other methods could be used to estimate explosive yield (and yield uncertainties) of about 1 ktonne, providing confidence in the application of these methods to smaller events where data are available. However, forensic investigations remain largely limited to known events with identified sources. Increased access to data, sophisticated analysis methods and high-resolution earth models will improve forensic event analysis further, enabling civil and scientific applications, such as localization in the search for the lost ARA San Juan submarine.

geophysics↗