Published December 13, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

Upgrade of the Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometer for Precise Identification of Failed Fuel in a Fast Reactor

Creators

  • 1. Experimental Fast Reactor Department, Oarai Research and Development Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 4002 Narita, Oarai, Ibaraki 311-1393 (Japan)
  • 2. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568 (Japan)
  • 3. Research Institute of Nuclear Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui 910-8507 (Japan)

Description

Isotopic analysis of krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe) by resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) is an effective tool for identification of failed fuel in fast reactors to achieve their safety operation and high plant availability. Reliability of the failed fuel detection and location (FFDL) system depends on the precise determination of 78Kr/80Kr, 82Kr/80Kr and 126Xe/129Xe isotopic ratios, which is mainly hampered by statistical errors for detection of the corresponding isotopes except 82Kr generated in large amounts during operation of fast reactors. In this paper, we report on improvements of the laser optical system of our spectrometer to increase the resonance ionization efficiency of Kr and Xe atoms, focusing on (i) utilization of the uniform YAG laser beam to improve the wavelength conversion efficiency of sum frequency generation and (ii) reflection of the ultraviolet light by a concave mirror to increase the photon density. The results indicate that our upgraded resonance ionization mass spectrometer has enough performance for isotopic analysis of Kr and Xe required in the Monju FFDL system.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1063/1.3665327;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
AIP Conference Proceedings
Journal Volume
1412
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 295-302
ISSN
0094-243X
CODEN
APCPCS

Conference

Title
11. international conference on applications of nuclear techniques
Dates
12-18 Jun 2011
Place
Crete (Greece)

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43094033
Subject category
S22: GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; S46: INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Descriptors DEI
EFFICIENCY; FAST REACTORS; ISOTOPE RATIO; KRYPTON 78; KRYPTON 80; KRYPTON 82; MASS SPECTROMETERS; NEODYMIUM LASERS; NUCLEAR FUELS; OPTICAL SYSTEMS; PERFORMANCE; REACTOR SAFETY; RESONANCE IONIZATION MASS SPECTROSCOPY; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; XENON 126; XENON 129
Descriptors DEC
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ENERGY SOURCES; EPITHERMAL REACTORS; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; EVEN-ODD NUCLEI; FUELS; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES; ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; KRYPTON ISOTOPES; LASERS; MASS SPECTROSCOPY; MATERIALS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; NUCLEI; RADIATIONS; RADIOISOTOPES; REACTOR MATERIALS; REACTORS; SAFETY; SOLID STATE LASERS; SPECTROMETERS; SPECTROSCOPY; STABLE ISOTOPES; XENON ISOTOPES

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2011 American Institute of Physics