Objective
Specific Objectives
- Design, construction and test of a European prototype of a high efficiency passive neutron counter for bulk Pu samples;
- Start of experiments with a new active neutron test facility based on interrogation with a pulsed neutron source;
- Investigation of usability of multiplicity counting for passive assay of bulk Pu and Pu contaminated waste: experiments in PERLA and simulation for optimisation of detector parameters, for verification of dead-time correction methods, and comparison of analysis methods;
- Improvement on MCNP-PTA and preparation of a first release to outside users;
- Make computer cluster for running MCNP-PTA available to European researchers via internet access;
- Test of a new amplifier for neutron counters designed by Politechnico di Milano;
- Characterisation and calibration of a JCC-51 counter in active/passive thermal/fast mode;
- Prepare accreditation of PERLA for calorimetric measurements;
- Set-up an automatic movement system for x, y, z translation and rotation for radioactive sources to simulate gamma radiation sources of different geometries;
- Extend the development of tank monitoring instrumentation to render it completely operational in the unattended mode with remote communications possibilities;
- Develop a set of data evaluation techniques, taking into consideration factors influencing measurement accuracy;
- Analysis of Dounreay plant data;
- Upgrading of small sample calorimeter, installation of climatic chamber;
- Installation of pulsed neutron source and fast neutron detector modules for measurement of prompt neutron from fissile material;
- Further development of the machine-learning module for automatic feature selection in safeguards surveillance images: demonstration of relevance feedback in image retrieval; survey of machine learning techniques for automatic classification of surveillance images;
- Software development for ensuring that an installation was built according to the approved design using CAD models as reference; detecting non-authorised modifications; tracking and documenting changes in successive inspections. This work is based on laser-based technologies capable of modelling multi-scale objects (from a pipe to a whole building);
- Development of an advanced and agile robotics mobile platform for remote inspection and demonstration in a mock-up of a nuclear storage area;
- Realisation of demonstration version of speckle effect identification technique;
- Development of a new generation of lower cost simplified design seals and reading devices: production of prototype bolts, test of a new Ultrasonic Reading card;
- Installation and operation of new anechoic chamber for immunity and emission testing under RF perturbations according to IEC and EN standards;
- Set up and calibrate new test benches for in field measurement of conducted and radiated RF and magnetic perturbations;
- Accreditation of TEMPEST to new ISO 17025 quality standard;
- Report on aging tests of JRC Passive transponder seals;
- Deposit patent on transponder based padlock;
- Develop new reader and first prototypes of new version of transponder based seal with authentication using encryption or watermarking technologies;
- Development of image analysis routines to be included in SIT (the GIS based system for verification of safeguards declarations);
- Development of second release of IAC (Information Analysis Centre) CD.
Planned Deliverables
Specific deliverables to DGs:
The project provides underpinning R&D and methodology, equipment and software prototypes that may be evaluated by the customer DG's for use in the implementation of their safeguards policy, and, if found promising, further developed or produced in the framework of the support programmes to DG RELEX
(IAEA) or DG TREN.
As a result of the research:
New methods, algorithms, software and instruments are developed for assisting safeguards control agencies. Technology watch is performed and new technologies, or technologies transferred from other fields, are evaluated in view of their potential use for safeguards. This can result into suggestions to improve the cost effectiveness of safeguards equipment and approaches.
More specifically the following deliverables correspond to the objectives stated above:
- European prototype high efficiency passive neutron counter for bulk Pu samples;
- Report on multiplicity counting for passive assay of bulk Pu and Pu contaminated waste;
- Improved version of MCNP-PTA with access via Internet;
- Characterisation and calibration of a JCC-51 counter in active/passive thermal/fast mode;
- Procedures to for accreditation of PERLA for calorimetric measurements;
- Automatic movement system for x, y, z translation and rotation for radioactive;
- Demo of remote control tank solution monitoring system;
- Report on tank measurement data evaluation techniques;
- Report on analysis of Dounreay plant data;
- Calorimeter in climatic chamber;
- Operational pulsed neutron source and fast neutron detector modules for measurement of prompt neutron from fissile material;
- Operational machine learning module for automatic feature selection in safeguards surveillance images;
- Software for design verification using CAD models;
- Operational robotics mobile platform for remote inspection and demonstration in a mock-up of a nuclear storage area;
- Demonstration version of speckle effect identification technique;
- Simplified design seals and reading devices;
- Operational anechoic chamber for immunity and emission testing under RF perturbations according to IEC and EN standards;
- Operational test benches for in field measurement of conducted and radiated RF and magnetic perturbations;
- Accreditation of TEMPEST to new ISO 17025 quality standard;
- Report on aging tests of JRC Passive transponder seals;
- Patent on transponder based padlock;
- Reader and first prototypes of new version of transponder based seal with authentication using encryption or watermarking technologies;
- Expanded version of SIT;
- Second release of IAC (Information Analysis Centre) CD
- ESARDA Seminar and proceedings.
Summary of 2001 Deliverables: 31/12/2001
- The laboratory to host the new active neutron test facility based on interrogation with a pulsed neutron generator was prepared and mechanical infrastructure was build;
- Assembly and operation of the Computer Cluster for fast Monte Carlo calculations;
- Improvement of the MCNP-PTA code to include the intrinsic neutron production by spontaneous fission and (alpha, n) reactions to allow the simulation of passive counting devices;
- Installation of a climatic chamber for testing of nuclear measurement equipment under controlled environmental conditions;
- Participation to the MC Simple Case Benchmark proposed by the ESARDA NDA-WG to improve the Monte Carlo simulation of neutron counters;
- Preliminary design of identification technique based on speckle effect;
- New test benches and calibration methods were realised for harmonics immunity testing, for magnetic field immunity testing, for conducted RF field testing, and for thermal and humidity testing;
- A prototype transponder based padlock was developed and produced;
- A prototype was developed connecting the solution monitoring equipment with remote data transmission;
- A multi tank scanning valve system was developed and connected to a data acquisition system for monitoring up to 15 tanks;
- The calibration system set-up was completed for calibration of pressure transducers used in portable monitoring instruments;
- A monitoring diagnostics tool for large amounts of data was completed;
- Release of first version of GIS based software package for integrating and analysing nuclear site level information derived from INFCIRC-153 and INFCIRC-540 declarations;
- Survey of new equipment for design information verification; development of new user friendly version of the 3-D reconstruction software; development of methods and equipment for data models from small pipes to large industrial installations and tests on real facilities (TAME and Bld. 68);
- Mechanical and electrical design of a mobile robotics platform for remote inspection in storage areas;
- The overall structure for IAC - a documentation/information centre for non-proliferation information - was established and populated with data. A first version of IAC was released on CD;
- The 23rd ESARDA conference was organised in Bruges.
Output Indicators and Impact
Uptake of developed methodology and instruments by the Inspectorates (ESO and IAEA).
Summary of the project
This project is organised in a number of activities dealing with advancement of the state of the art in the following fields:
- Mass and volume measurement techniques, remote data transmission equipment and data analysis tools for accurate measurements in large processing equipment;
- Non destructive assay: methods and techniques to improve gamma, neutron and calorimetry measurements and related analysis algorithms;
- Surveillance and robotics techniques for controlling areas where nuclear materials are present;
- Seals and identification techniques for uniquely identifying items and providing evidence of tampering;
- Information treatment to integrate information into models that can assist in the detection of potentially undeclared activities;
- Statistical prediction and interpretation of errors in procedures used for measuring nuclear materials.
Moreover, the project covers networking with other research organisations in the framework of ESARDA (European Safeguards Research and Development Association).
Rationale
The safeguards R&D work underpins the support JRC provides to the EURATOM Safeguards Office (under DG TREN), to the IAEA in Vienna (through DG RELEX) and to other DG RELEX related activities (e.g. TACIS programme). This work is necessary to maintain a state of the art position in the technical field of safeguards and to prepare for new challenges that are faced by the safeguards community: e.g. the introduction of the SSS (Strengthening of Safeguards Systems) regime, the enlargement of the Union and corresponding introduction of new (for the EU) nuclear fuel cycle facilities, the need for accountancy and control of excess weapons material entering in the civil fuel cycle.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences internet internet access
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics neutrinos
- natural sciences physical sciences acoustics
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
Ispra
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.