Muography applied to nuclear waste storage sites

D’Alessandro, R. et al. (2017) Muography applied to nuclear waste storage sites. Annals of Geophysics, 60(1), S0106. (doi: 10.4401/ag-7381)

Abstract

Legacy storage sites for nuclear waste can pose a serious environmental problem. In fact, since certain sites date from the middle of the last century when safety protocols had not been properly established and strict bookkeeping was not enforced, a situation has evolved where the content of storage silos is basically known only with a large uncertainty both on quantity and quality. At the same time maintenance work on old storage structures is becoming ever more urgent and yet this work requires exactly that information which is now lacking on the type of waste that was stored inside. Because of the difficulty in accessing the storage silos and the near impossibility of making visual inspections inside, techniques have to be developed which can determine the presence or absence of heavy elements (i.e. uranium) within the structures. Muography is a very promising technique which could allow the survey of previously inaccessible structures. We have begun an evaluation performing feasibility studies using simulations based on real case scenarios. This paper will outline the storage site scenarios and then present some of the results obtained from the Monte Carlo simulations.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mahon, Mr David and Yang, Dr Guangliang and Shearer, Dr Craig and Kaiser, Professor Ralf and Ireland, Professor David
• Authors: D’Alessandro, R., Ambrosino, F., Bonechi, L., Cimmino, L., Ireland, D. G., Kaiser, R., Mahon, D., Mori, N., Noli, P., Saracino, G., Shearer, C., Viliani, L., and Yang, G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Annals of Geophysics
• Publisher: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
• ISSN: 1593-5213
• ISSN (Online): 2037-416X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
• First Published: First published in Annals of Geophysics 60(1): S0106
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License