Optimization study of some neutron imaging parameters in a reactor based neutron radiography facility

Neutron imaging technique can be used as a means of material Non-Destructive testing. One of common neutron sources for neutron radiography is nuclear research reactor. In this work, several neutron imaging parameters such as aperture distance and the radiography plane location from the neutron source as well as the aperture diameter have been computationally optimized to deliver a proposed neutron beam. According to the results, the aperture diameter of 3.5-4 cm which was located at 55-85 cm from the outer layer of reactor core and the position of image plane at 300-400 cm fulfills delivering of the suitable neutron flux and other required conditions. W, Fe and Pb walls with an identified length formed the convergent-divergent collimator and shielded the neutron and gamma out of beam path. Bi and Fluental filters with an optimal dimension were used to efficiently improve the neutron beam profile at a sample position. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.