Neutron Radiography at NUR Reactor: Status and Prospects

Neutron radiography research in Algeria was initiated after NUR research reactor construction (1 MW light water) in 1990. The radial beam port N degrees 1 was devoted to support the facility. In the design calculations, the direct method was taken into consideration and a 10cm lead gamma filter was installed before the 3cm divergent in pool collimator aperture. Characterization experiments of the installation show that gamma pollution was important (n/gamma = 6.10(3) n/cm(2).mR). Furthermore, it became obvious that only transfer method could lead to confident results. This paper describes the technical characteristics of NUR reactor facility and some experiments on neutron radiography. In order to solve the gamma infiltration through the edges of the facility, one solution consists of reinforcing the shielding all around the neutron beam. Also, in order to increase the thermal neutron flux at the object plane, an attempt consists of changing lead by single-crystal bismuth filter.