Partial Defect Verification of Spent Fuel with the new IAEA Cerenkov
Viewing Devices

The neXt generation Cerenkov Viewing Device (XCVD) was authorized in 2019 for gross defect verification of spent nuclear fuel in wet storage. The XCVD’s increased sensitivity has enabled more efficient and reliable verifications, especially of low-burnup, long-cooled spent fuel. The XCVD digital recording capability also enables inspection review and image post-processing. Due to its performance and cost-effectiveness, the XCVD is slated to replace the Improved Cerenkov Viewing Device (ICVD) for gross defect verification. The characteristics and performance of the XCVD would also enable its use for partial defect verification of spent fuel. At the beginning of 2023, the DCVD was the only instrument authorized for partial defect verification of spent fuel and places a significant burden on inspectors and facility personnel. The XCVD is significantly lighter, more efficient and less costly compared to the DCVD, making the XCVD an excellent non-intrusive technical solution for partial defect verification of spent fuel assemblies. The XCVD also can be deployed as the instrument payload of the Robotized Cerenkov Viewing Device (RCVD), offering unprecedented gains in efficiency and data quality. Beginning in 2022, the IAEA has thoroughly evaluated the XCVD’s quantitative performance compared to the DCVD. This paper describes the main outcomes of this comparative evaluation, using data collected in the laboratory and in the field to draw conclusions about the feasibility and advantages of using XCVD for partial defect verification.