Application of hydrogen analysis by neutron imaging plate method to Zircaloy cladding tubes

Abstract Effectiveness of neutron imaging plate (NIP) method for hydrogen analysis is investigated by using standard samples with known hydrogen concentrations. A relationship between hydrogen concentration in Zircaloy tubes and numerical data in the NIP images was obtained by image analysis process. By using the relationship, local hydrogen concentrations in segregated tubes with heterogeneous hydrogen distribution were estimated in a small area; 0.1 × 0.1 mm 2 . Contribution of an oxide film in the tubes to the images is also investigated by using oxidized samples with and without hydrides. In the NIP images of the oxidized samples, oxide film was not recognized in the images of the sample. Results of numerical analysis also show no effect of the oxide film. These results show that the effect of oxygen in the image can be neglected when hydrogen analysis is performed on the Zircaloy tube with oxide film and hydrides by NIP method.