Determination of the phenomenology of a distillation tower during gamma scanning, using the MCNP5 code

In this work, the analysis of a gamma scan and a neutron scan is presented, by means of simulation in the Monte Carlo N-particle 5 code. The application of this technique is simulated to a tray distillation column that presents the following phenomenologies: flood, rain, foam, tray collapse and dry tray. Some technical problems that may be caused in the practice of this technique were also considered, which may influence the accuracy of the diagnosis of the results obtained. For the neutron scan, a fuel storage tank is simulated, which has 5 phases: solid, water, emulsions, oil and water vapor, and the behavior of the results obtained is analyzed through a graph. To understand the development of gamma and neutron scanning simulation, the basic principles of radioactivity and its interaction with matter, as well as detectors for radiation, are first explained. The operation of the Monte Carlo N-particle 5 code and the structure of a tray and packaging distillation tower are also discussed. (author)