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The WNSA INIE award has allowed for updates in the Oregon State University facilities and offerings of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics and Radiation Center . In the second year of funding, the award has meant the building of a new neutron radiography beam hall in the reactor bay, as well as updates in the C120 instrumentation laboratory and C104 classroom. Total funding for the first three years of WNSA is $4.0 million.
Nuclear Classroom Equipment
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Neutron Radiography
The use of neutrons for imaging is ideal for fluid systems or systems composed of light elements such as hydrogen and oxygen. Working with faculty from Department of Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering/Radiation Health Physics, a real-time neutron radiography and tomography capability is being developed with the Oregon State TRIGA® Reactor. The Neutron Radiography Facility will be used for a wide variety of neutron imaging capabilities such as neutron tomography imaging of tissue grow surrounding medical implants and standard radiography of the movement of fluids in soil. Additionally, real-time neutron radiography will be used to image unique features of two-phase flow and other dynamic fluid systems.
The new Oregon State Neutron Radiography Facility was constructed in 2004 (see story).
Tomography and dynamic systems are imaged utilizing a 1024 X 1024 pixel CCD (Charged Coupled Device) camera capable of taking images over a range of 1-1000 frames per second. The final characteristics of the neutron beam will soon be determined but it is anticipated that the beam will meet or exceed the necessary criterion for a Category I neutron radiography facility (ASTM E545-91, Standard Method for Determining Image Quality in Direct Thermal Neutron Radiographic Examination) with a thermal flux of approximately 5E6 n cm^-2 s^-1 and an L/D ratio of 130.
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Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics Distance Education
WNSA Program funds have been used to upgrade Radiation Center classroom C104 into an enhanced room for distance ed classes and enhanced multimedia presentations. The new system has microphones throughout the room, two remotely controlled cameras, a sympodium (“high tech monitor with touch screen”), a document camera, and DVD/VCR players.
The upgraded room helps address the WNSA program's goals of developing highly skilled nuclear scientists since graduate students who can not come to campus for class can take advantage of our offerings, and it further enhances our ability to share our expertise with others. Since 2003 nuclear engineering and radiation health physics classes have been transmitted across the country through the OSU E-Campus.
Radiochemistry Education
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Radiochemistry is the unique application or analysis of radioisotopes in chemical or environmental systems. Dr. Alena Paulenova came to the Radiation Center and NERHP department in 2003 through funding from WNSA. An actinide radiochemist, Dr. Paulenova brings capabilities to provide high quality quantitative analysis for a wide variety of radiochemical and environmental applications.
Building her laboratory and expanding the radiochemistry options at Oregon State University, Paulenova was recently awarded a NERI grant in spent fuel separations technology. She and Dr. Walter Loveland, Professor of Chemistry, have a Nuclear and Radiochemistry Research Group.
Underrepresented Scholarships
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