A computer-vision aided Compton-imaging system for radioactive waste characterization and decommissioning of nuclear power plants

IF 1.5 3区物理与天体物理 Q3 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment Pub Date : 2025-04-04 DOI:10.1016/j.nima.2025.170449

Víctor Babiano-Suárez , Javier Balibrea-Correa , Ion Ladarescu , Jorge Lerendegui-Marco , César Domingo-Pardo

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Abstract

Nuclear energy production is inherently tied to the management and disposal of radioactive waste. Enhancing classification and monitoring tools is therefore crucial, with significant socioeconomic implications. This paper reports on the applicability and performance of a high-efficiency, cost-effective and portable Compton camera for detecting and visualizing low- and medium-level radioactive waste from the decommissioning and regular operation of nuclear power plants. The results demonstrate the good performance of Compton imaging for this type of application, both in terms of image resolution and reduced measuring time. A technical readiness level of TRL7 has been thus achieved with this system prototype, as demonstrated with dedicated field measurements carried out at the radioactive-waste disposal plant of El Cabril (Spain) utilizing a pluarility of radioactive-waste drums from decomissioned nuclear power plants. The performance of the system has been enhanced by means of computer-vision techniques in combination with advanced Compton-image reconstruction algorithms based on Maximum-Likelihood Expectation Maximization. Finally, we also show the feasibility of 3D tomographic reconstruction from a series of relatively short measurements around the objects of interest. The potential of this imaging system to enhance nuclear waste management makes it a promising innovation for the nuclear industry.

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计算机视觉辅助康普顿成像系统，用于核电厂的放射性废物表征和退役

核能生产与放射性废物的管理和处置有着内在的联系。因此，加强分类和监测工具至关重要，具有重大的社会经济影响。本文报道了一种高效、经济、便携的康普顿相机在核电站退役和正常运行中低水平放射性废物检测和可视化中的适用性和性能。结果表明康普顿成像在图像分辨率和减少测量时间方面都具有良好的性能。因此，这一系统原型已达到TRL7的技术就绪水平，在El Cabril（西班牙）放射性废物处理厂利用来自退役核电站的多种放射性废物桶进行了专门的实地测量，证明了这一点。利用计算机视觉技术，结合基于最大似然期望最大化的先进康普顿图像重建算法，增强了系统的性能。最后，我们还展示了3D层析成像重建的可行性，从一系列相对较短的测量周围感兴趣的对象。这种成像系统在加强核废料管理方面的潜力使其成为核工业的一项有前途的创新。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment 物理-光谱学

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

21.40%

发文量

787

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Section A of Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research publishes papers on design, manufacturing and performance of scientific instruments with an emphasis on large scale facilities. This includes the development of particle accelerators, ion sources, beam transport systems and target arrangements as well as the use of secondary phenomena such as synchrotron radiation and free electron lasers. It also includes all types of instrumentation for the detection and spectrometry of radiations from high energy processes and nuclear decays, as well as instrumentation for experiments at nuclear reactors. Specialized electronics for nuclear and other types of spectrometry as well as computerization of measurements and control systems in this area also find their place in the A section. Theoretical as well as experimental papers are accepted.