COMPACT NOVEL GAMMA / NEUTRON SIMULTANEOUS NUCLIDE
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM, FOR REAL-TIME VERIFICATION OF SNM,
REMOTE INSPECTIONS OF UNATTENDED CYLINDER AND SPENT FUEL
CASKS

A new light and compact NDA measuring system, allows operators to execute gamma and neutron passive NDA measurements and is capable to identify SNM through gamma and neutron identification simultaneously. Moreover, the identification of neutron sources such as Cf-252, Am-Be, Pu, U, Am-Li, Pu-Be, etc. is possible also in presence of high gamma field, and covers scenarios where is present heavy shielding, moderating material, and masking sources. The presented NDA instrument, weights 7.5 kg, including battery guaranteeing > 8 h continuous operation. It uses two detectors, runs Pulse Shape Discrimination in real time and includes an intelligent processing algorithm (patent pending) that combines multiple parameters of gamma and neutron radiation to uniquely characterize the material under essay. The basis of this technology is already in use in the fast neutron collar deployed by the IAEA Safeguards for fresh fuel verification (FNCL system), and the product here presented, called SNIPER-GN, is a variation conceived as unattended verification station both for cylinders as well as for casks. The paper is describing the results of SNM identification and measurements in different configurations and is extrapolating and describing the potential use in all major identified unattended scenarios. The system could be used also in attended mode and is already design for scalability to variate detection efficiency as well as different level of gamma resolution. The system is capable to determine in passive mode ranges of enrichment level both for Pu-239 and U-235. The system could offer an opportunity to verify the possibility in the future fissile material measurements through the cask wall verification of shielded/unshielded casks, NDA for partial defect testing and with some additional R&D could be enhanced with position sensitive integrated technologies such as fast segmented plastic detectors with fast DAQ processing for multi-assembly configurations, defect tests of spent fuel assemblies.