SBIR-STTR Award

High Count Rate, High Temperature Neutron/Gamma Detector for Advanced Reactors
Award last edited on: 12/18/2020

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOE
Total Award Amount
$1,299,902
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
37c
Principal Investigator
Lakshmi Soundara-Pandian

Company Information

Radiation Monitoring Devices Inc (AKA: RMD Inc)

44 Hunt Street Suite 2
Watertown, MA 02472
   (617) 668-6801
   info@rmdinc.com
   www.rmdinc.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 05
County: Middlesex

Phase I

Contract Number: DESC0020950
Start Date: 6/29/2020    Completed: 3/28/2021
Phase I year
2020
Phase I Amount
$199,965
One of the goals of Department of Energy’s Material Protection, Accounting and Control Technologies Campaign is to develop nuclear material accounting methods for next generation, advanced fuel cycles such as Molten Salt Reactors. There are several challenges for nuclear material accounting of Molten Salt Reactors, for example, the high temperature and high dose rates, at which the measurements need to be performed. The goal of the proposed research is to develop high-count-rate, high temperature neutron/gamma-ray detectors that can operate in a Molten Salt Reactor environment. We propose to develop a new high performance detector that can handle high count rates and high temperatures in advanced fuel cycles by designing and implementing an integrated readout electronics system that performs pulse shape discrimination to separate gamma and neutron events. We will utilize dual-mode sensors developed at Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. that provide excellent gamma spectroscopic capabilities and high sensitivity to neutrons. In Phase I of the proposed research, we will demonstrate the feasibility of such a detector by assembling a proof-of-principle system with one of the new fast, high sensitivity scintillator materials developed at Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. We will study the effect of the event rate and temperature on the gamma-ray spectral energy resolution and gamma/neutron discrimination for dual mode scintillation materials. At the end of Phase I, we will make a decision on the type of scintillator that will be pursued in Phase II. A radiation detection system capable of simultaneous detection of gamma-rays and neutrons at high count rates and temperatures, with good gamma-ray resolution and neutron efficiency will easily find its application in nuclear power plant management, well logging, nuclear plant decommissioning, dosimetry, homeland security, and nuclear physics.

Phase II

Contract Number: DE-SC0020950
Start Date: 8/23/2021    Completed: 8/22/2023
Phase II year
2021
Phase II Amount
$1,099,937
One of the goals of DOE’s MPACT program is to develop nuclear material accounting NMA methods for next generation, advanced fuel cycles such as Molten Salt Reactors MSR. There are several challenges for NMA of MSR, for example, the high temperature and high dose rates, at which the measurements need to be performed. The goal of the proposed research is to develop highcountrate, high temperature neutron/gammaray detectors that can operate in an MSR environment. We will utilize dualmode sensors developed at RMD that provide excellent gamma spectroscopic capabilities and high sensitivity to neutrons. A robust detector using an advanced scintillation material integrated within a hightemperature design and interfaced with custom, digital readout electronics to perform pulse shape discrimination PSD for independent gamma ray spectroscopy and neutron detection under high radiation fields will support NMA at MSR. In Phase I of the research, we demonstrated the feasibility of the detector by studying the effect of the event rate and temperature on the gammaray spectral energy resolution and gamma/neutron discrimination for dual mode scintillation materials. Based on our findings we have down selected to one of the materials for building the prototype instruments in Phase II. The goal of Phase II is to construct the prototype instrument for MSR monitoring. The effort will consist of developing 1 scintillatorPMT assemblies to operate at temperatures exceeding 150 C; 2 the FPGAbased readout electronics and firmware for gamma ray spectroscopy and neutron detection at event rates exceeding 1 million counts per second; 3 the mechanics and system assembly for field testing. A radiation detection system capable of simultaneous detection of gammarays and neutrons at high count rates and temperatures, with good gammaray resolution and neutron efficiency will easily find its application in nuclear power plant management, well logging, nuclear plant decommissioning, dosimetry, homeland security, and nuclear physics.