New developments in image-based characterization of coated particle nuclear fuel

Jeffery R. Price, Deniz Aykac, John D. Hunn, Andrew K. Kercher, Robert N. Morris

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe in this paper new developments in the characterization of coated particle nuclear fuel using optical microscopy and digital imaging. As in our previous work, we acquire optical imagery of the fuel pellets in two distinct manners that we refer to as shadow imaging and cross-sectional imaging. In shadow imaging, particles are collected in a single layer on an optically transparent dish and imaged using collimated back-lighting to measure outer surface characteristics only. In cross-sectional imaging, particles are mounted in acrylic epoxy and polished to near-center to reveal the inner coating layers for measurement. For shadow imaging, we describe a curvature-based metric that is computed from the particle boundary points in the FFT domain using a low-frequency parametric representation. We also describe how missing boundary points are approximated using band-limited interpolation so that the FFT can be applied. For cross-section imaging, we describe a new Bayesian-motivated segmentation scheme as well as a new technique to correct layer measurements for the fact that we cannot observe the true mid-plane of the approximately spherical particles.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMachine Vision Applications in Industrial Inspection XIV - Proceedings of SPIE-IS and T Electronic Imaging
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
EventMachine Vision Applications in Industrial Inspection XIV - San Jose, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 16 2006Jan 17 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6070
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceMachine Vision Applications in Industrial Inspection XIV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Jose, CA
Period01/16/0601/17/06

Keywords

  • Coated-particle nuclear fuel
  • Image segmentation
  • Image-based inspection
  • Metrology
  • TRISO fuel

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