A high-stability neutron generator for industrial online elemental analysis

Xiang-quan Chen; Lei Xiong; Hui Xie; Jing-fu Guo; Xue-ming Zhang; Yong-jun Dong

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Apr 2024)

A high-stability neutron generator for industrial online elemental analysis

Xiang-quan Chen,
Lei Xiong,
Hui Xie,
Jing-fu Guo,
Xue-ming Zhang,
Yong-jun Dong

Affiliations

Xiang-quan Chen: School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Development and Application Innovation Under Jilin Province, Changchun, 130024, China
Lei Xiong: School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Development and Application Innovation Under Jilin Province, Changchun, 130024, China
Hui Xie: School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Development and Application Innovation Under Jilin Province, Changchun, 130024, China
Jing-fu Guo: School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Development and Application Innovation Under Jilin Province, Changchun, 130024, China
Xue-ming Zhang: School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Development and Application Innovation Under Jilin Province, Changchun, 130024, China
Yong-jun Dong: School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Development and Application Innovation Under Jilin Province, Changchun, 130024, China; Corresponding author. School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 56, no. 4
pp. 1441 – 1453

Abstract

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The yield stability of the neutron generator directly affects the accuracy of elemental analysis. This paper presents an industrial fully automatic neutron generator with a 48 mm neutron tube based on PLC to improve the stability and reliability of the neutron generator in industrial applications. By integrating a Kalman Filter with the PID algorithm in a PLC, the neutron yield of the generator is remarkably stabilized, achieving 1 × 108n/s. The neutron generator has been employed for industrial online elemental analysis. The results demonstrate that only a slight fluctuation of ±0.82 % exists in the neutron yield, and the reproducibility of the generator holds at a significant level of 0.05. This improved neutron generator can be applied to the online bulk analysis of carbon in coal-fired power stations and absolute measurement of neutron source emission rate.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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