TY - CONF A1 - Chierici, Andrea A1 - Ciolini, Riccardo A1 - Lo Frano, Rosa A1 - D’Onofrio, Antonio A1 - Sabbarese, Carlo A1 - Pandalone, Antonio A1 - Romoli, Mauro A1 - di Meo, Paolo A1 - Finocchiaro, Paolo A1 - Conti, Enrico A1 - Gonella, Franco A1 - Andreetto, Paolo A1 - Checchia, Paolo A1 - Niederleithinger, Ernst A1 - d’Errico, Francesco T1 - Innovative Non-Destructive Techniques for Radioactive Waste Packages Monitoring N2 - A monitoring and surveillance system is a mandatory element to ensure that a radioactive waste disposal facility provides and meets the required level of safety during both its operational and closure periods. In this study an innovative approach for the identification and monitoring of the structural integrity of stored radioactive drums is presented. The activities were carried out in the context of the European Project PREDIS, whose goal is the development of a robust and reliable sensing technology for monitoring and long-term storage of radioactive waste packaging systems. Specifically, the focus was set on the development of innovative and smart sensor technologies, non-destructive examination tools, and/or devices capable to improve the safety of the storage by minimizing the number of interventions of cemented waste packages. Both conventional and innovative techniques, such as muon-tomography, SiLiF neutron and SciFi gamma detection, or contactless and smart radio transceiver technology provided with radiation monitoring sensors, have been considered and adapted for the use under repository conditions. Indeed, gamma and neutron detection techniques exploit the radiological information coming from inside the drums, while imaging techniques proved to be effective in spotting high density objects embedded inside the concrete: together, they allow to improve safety and security and can provide an early alert on behavioral changes hinting at anomalies in the drums. T2 - ASME 2023 International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management CY - Stuttgart, Germany DA - 03.10.2023 KW - Radioactive waste KW - Waste packages KW - Radiation monitoring KW - Muon tomography KW - Integrity testing PY - 2023 SN - 978-0-7918-8753-0 DO - https://doi.org/10.1115/ICEM2023-110990 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - American Society of Mechanical Engineers AN - OPUS4-60218 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chierici, Andrea A1 - Cancemi, Salvatore Angelo A1 - Niederleithinger, Ernst A1 - Lo Frano, Rosa T1 - Enhanced radioactive waste drum monitoring: A sensorized LoRa-based network for identification and integrity assessment N2 - A reliable monitoring and oversight system is essential to guarantee the safe operation and eventual closure of radioactive waste disposal facilities. With recent technological advancements, there is now the capability to deploy distributed wireless sensor networks that are cost-effective and low in power consumption. Such networks are versatile, finding applications in several civil, environmental, and industrial sectors. This work presents a novel system and method for identifying and continuously monitoring the integrity of stored radioactive waste packages. The proposed approach, developed by the University of Pisa in the context of the H2020 European Project PREDIS, employs a network of wireless node devices, provided with solid-state micro-power radiation detectors tasked with the measurement of gamma-rays and thermal neutrons coming from within cemented waste drums. Collected data are automatically transmitted across the storage site via Long Range radio technology and forwarded to cloud-based or offline platforms, allowing for further visualization, data processing, and safe storage. The system highlights the feasibility of autonomously and passively gathering data from radioactive waste drums over extended distances (more than 250 m in non-line-of-sight conditions), decreasing the reliance on portable or automated scanning mechanisms. In line with its capability for autonomous, long-range data collection, the system satisfies the requirement for structural integrity, containment, and confinement of packaging throughout both interim and long-term disposal of radioactive wastes, thereby playing a key role in reinforcing the safe management of radioactive waste. KW - Radioactive waste KW - Integrity monitoring KW - Radiation sensors KW - Cloud storage KW - LoRaWAN PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.113231 SN - 0029-5493 VL - 424 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-60217 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -