Vertical Storage Cask Gap Shielding

November 7, 2019

“Discrete exposure savings listed at 41 mrem. However, the shielding also provided critical radiological configuration control during this high profile first time evolution.” -Timothy Bigler, Point Beach Nuclear Point Beach was set to perform a Vertical Storage Cask inspection and required shielding for the VCC/MSB gap created when the shield ring was removed. The need […]

MCNP Case Study – Dry Cask Shielding

March 28, 2017

One year ago we introduced our new ability to simulate complex radiation profiles and thereby design the most effective shielding possible (‘NPO uses MCNP to simulate Dry Cask’, March 2016).  Since then we’ve designed and built more than a few shielding systems using this new ability.  Now the day has finally come where we can […]

Neutron Radiation: The Concern, Reason, and Solution

December 1, 2016

FULL ARTICLE Executive Summary Nuclear Power Outfitters (NPO) offers a wide range of materials that can be used to attenuate neutron radiation. In contrast to the high density/high atomic weight element materials used for gamma attenuation (lead, bismuth, tungsten), neutron radiation is most effectively shielded using relatively low density materials with high hydrogen content, such […]

Neutron Shielding – Borated Polyethylene

August 31, 2016

Borated Polyethylene (BPE) is one of the primary materials NPO uses for shielding Neutron Radiation. Our standard BPE is 5% Boron by weight. The benefit of adding Boron is that capture by B-10 reduces the dose from secondary gamma production. It primarily captures through (n, alpha), and the alphas are easily re-absorbed in the material. […]