Inspection of reactor fuel- and absorber-elements by means of neutron radiography with a small size antimony-beryllium neutron source

For applications of neutron radiography in hot cells a small size Antimony-Beryllium neutron source has been designed and constructed. It has cylindrical shape with a diameter and a length of about 20 cm. The measured thermal neutron flux is 1.1x108 n/cm2s per kCi 124Sb. The results of an inspection of a spent BWR absorber element are shown. The neutron radiographs done with the Dysprosium transfer method revealed defects in the absorber tubes and loss of absborber material. The track etch foil imaging technique was used at the examination of a fuel element dummy of the ship NS OTTO HAHN as test for a method for the detection of defective fuel pins. (Auth.)