Non-destructive inspection system comprising neutron radiation source and neutron radiation method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11747288-B2
Application number	US-201917279537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2019
Priority date	Sep 27, 2018
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

A non-destructive inspection system 1 includes a neutron radiation source 3 capable of emitting neutrons N, and a neutron detector 14 capable of detecting neutrons Nb produced via an inspection object 6a among neutrons N emitted from the neutron radiation source 3. The neutron radiation source 3 includes a linear accelerator 11 capable of emitting charged particles P accelerated; a first magnet section 12 including magnets 12a and 12b facing each other, the magnets 12a and 12b being capable of deflecting the charged particles P in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of emission of the charged particles P from the linear accelerator 11; and a target section 13 capable of producing neutrons N by being irradiated with the charged particles P that have passed through the first magnet section 12.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-destructive inspection system comprising:
a neutron radiation source capable of emitting neutrons; and
a neutron detector capable of detecting neutrons back-scattered inside an inspection object among neutrons emitted from the neutron radiation source,
the neutron radiation source including:
a linear accelerator capable of emitting accelerated charged particles;
a first magnet section including magnets facing each other, the magnets being capable of deflecting the accelerated charged particles in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of emission of the accelerated charged particles emitted from the linear accelerator; and

a target section capable of producing neutrons by being irradiated with the accelerated charged particles that have passed through the first magnet section.

2. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the linear accelerator is capable of emitting a proton beam having a flat cross section, the proton beam being the accelerated charged particles, and
a direction in which the magnets of the first magnet section face each other corresponds to a minor axis direction of the flat cross section of the emitted proton beam.

3. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the magnets of the first magnet section comprise electromagnets, and
the first magnet section is configured to change an electric current to energize the electromagnets to trigger a change in a magnetic flux density between the magnets.

4. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first magnet section comprises a mechanism configured to control a distance between the magnets of the first magnet section facing each other to trigger a change in a magnetic flux density between the magnets.

5. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the magnets of the first magnet section are turnable around an axis being the direction of emission of the accelerated charged particles.

6. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the neutron radiation source further includes a second magnet section, and
the second magnet section includes magnets facing each other in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the magnets of the first magnet section face each other.

7. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 6 , wherein:
the second magnet section is capable of changing a magnetic flux density between the magnets of the second magnet section facing each other.

8. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vehicle, wherein:
the neutron radiation source is mounted on the vehicle, and
the direction of emission of the accelerated charged particles emitted from the linear accelerator is substantially parallel to a direction of a movement of the vehicle.

9. The non-destructive inspection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the neutron detector is capable of detecting neutrons that have penetrated the inspection object.

10. A neutron radiation method comprising:
emitting accelerated charged particles through a linear accelerator;
allowing a first magnet section, including magnets facing each other, to deflect the accelerated charged particles in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of emission of the accelerated charged particles emitted from the linear accelerator;
allowing a target section to produce neutrons by being irradiated with the accelerated charged particles that have passed through the first magnet section; and
detecting neutrons back-scattered inside an inspection object among the produced neutrons.

Assignees

• Topcon Corp
• Riken

Inventors

• Nagano Shigenori
• Tsukada Hisashi
• Otake Yoshie
• IKADO Koji
• Yoshimura Yuichi
• Sunaga Hideyuki

Classifications

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title

• G01V5/222

  measuring scattered radiation · CPC title

• G01V5/232

  having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor (G01V5/226 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N23/204 Primary

  using neutrons · CPC title

• G01N23/025 Primary

  using neutrons · CPC title