Poisson Neutron Generator Ripple Reduction for Fissile Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for detecting fissile material are inefficient and hazardous due to high neutron intensity requirements and the inability to distinguish between electric neutron source neutrons and induced fission neutrons, with traditional electric neutron sources producing unwanted correlations caused by AC ripple in DC power supplies.

Innovation Solution

A neutron detection system utilizing a Poisson neutron generator with a low-ripple DC power supply and multiplicity counting methods to differentiate between source and induced fission neutrons, employing a digital data acquisition unit for real-time processing and a fission meter apparatus with a multiplicity counter and neutron detector to identify excess grouped neutrons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If traditional electric neutron sources are used to induce fission, then detection speed is improved, but unwanted correlations are introduced due to AC ripple in DC power supplies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoidneutron correlation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful AC ripple component from the DC power supply by introducing a ripple reduction circuit that filters out the AC frequency components, thereby eliminating the unwanted neutron correlations while preserving the beneficial fission induction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary ripple reduction circuit between the AC power source and the neutron generator, which acts as a mediator to convert the correlated neutron output into uncorrelated neutrons by removing the periodic modulation caused by AC ripple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If high neutron intensity is used to accelerate detection, then detection efficiency is improved, but safety hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection efficiencyVSAvoidsafety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the neutron correlation parameter from correlated to uncorrelated by using the ripple reduction circuit, which allows for optimized neutron intensity levels that maintain detection efficiency while reducing the hazardous effects of high neutron flux

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If electrically generated neutron sources are used, then operator safety is improved compared to radioactive sources, but unwanted neutron correlations are produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidneutron source quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of AC ripple-induced neutron correlations into a benefit by using the ripple reduction circuit to eliminate the correlations, thereby maintaining the safety advantages of electrically generated sources while improving the quality of the neutron output for accurate fissile material detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient and safe detection of fissile material by distinguishing between electric source and induced fission neutrons, reducing the need for high neutron intensity and minimizing the impact of electrical ripple, thereby improving the speed and accuracy of fissile material identification.

Implementation Method 1

They are neutron source devices that contain compact linear accelerators and that produce neutrons by fusing isotopes of hydrogen together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclear fusion: Nuclear Fusion

Implementation Method 2

Induced fast neutrons having energies above 500 keV by the interrogated fissionable material are detected

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclear fission: Nuclear Fission

Data Source

PatentUS9880300B2Accelerating fissile material detection with a neutron source

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NAT SECURITY LLC

AI summary

A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly to count neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a Poisson neutron generator for in-beam interrogation of a possible fissile neutron source and a DC power supply that exhibits electrical ripple on the order of less than one part per million. Certain voltage multiplier circuits, such as Cockroft-Walton voltage multipliers, are used to enhance the effective of series resistor-inductor circuits components to reduce the ripple associated with traditional AC rectified, high voltage DC power supplies.