Use of gamma spectrometry for determination of burn-up in spent fuel elements and fuel assemblies of atomic power station

A widely used gamma-spectrometry control of fission products, where there is no need to destroy the fuel rods, is discussed. Technological and physical problems encountered in investigating fuel assemblies from large power reactors have been discussed. With reference to the studies conducted at Rheinsberg atomic power station, it has been shown that the absolute burn-up for such assemblies can be calculated within +-8% accuracy, the accuracy for the relative distribution being +-3%. These results are supplemented with those from gamma-spectrometric research carried out at other atomic power stations