Evaluation of a new gamma emission imaging system and method for nuclear waste in nuclear power plant environments

We have developed a new radiation imaging method and system and it provides visualization of 2D or pseudo 3D distributions of gamma emitting sources selected along with superimposed CCD images.The main principle of the imaging method is recovering resolution degradation caused by attenuation and using an ultrahigh sensitive collimation. This is achieved by applying deconvolution of the system response function.To validate the performance of the new method within a real environment setup, we have conducted evaluation studies of various objects in controlled nuclear waste storage areas in nuclear power plants.The imaging system successfully demonstrated visualizing of contaminated hot spot locations with corresponding isotopes ID and activity.The new imaging technique and system are able to provide cost-effective solutions in the field of decommissioning, separation and decontamination of nuclear waste, and 24/7 radiation-leak monitoring of sites in NPP.