VisCas – Visualisation of fuel rods in loaded casks

The specific questions are:

• Can individual fuel rods be analysed using a suitable experimental setup in combination with suitable evaluation algorithms?
• Can the position, shape and integrity of individual fuel rods be assessed, for example by visualising the three-dimensional density distribution of the fuel?
• Can leaked fuel be recognised or excluded?

To answer these questions, the work is divided into two parts: a theoretical part for the modelling, simulation and data analysis framework and an application part where the knowledge gained is used to evaluate, design and describe future experimental implementations.

The modelling and simulations are carried out using the GEANT4 simulation tool. One aim of the theoretical part is to adapt the previously used, simplified loading data of an existing model to real data. An analysis will then be made of the extent to which the model can be simplified to reduce computational time and the volume of result data without compromising the accuracy of the results.

The experimental data and results obtained in the MuTomCa project (see MuTomCa project description in this report) will also be analysed.

Based on the findings and further GEANT4 simulations on detector positions and resolution as a function of the measurement duration, a design for an improved experimental setup for visualising individual fuel rods will be developed.