In-Vessel Inspection Probing Technique Using Optical Fibers Under High Radiation Dose Available to Purchase

A high-radiation resistant optical fiber has been developed in order to investigate the interiors of the reactor pressure vessels and the primary containment vessels of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The radiation resistance of an optical fiber was improved by increasing the amount of hydroxyl up to 1000 ppm in pure silica fiber. We have tried to apply the optical fiber for remote imaging technique by means of fiberscope. The improved image fiber consists of common cladding and a large number of fiber cores made from pure silica that contains 1000 ppm hydroxyl. The transmissive rate of an infrared image was not affected after the irradiation of 1 MGy. The radiation resistant optical fiber is available for remote ultimate analysis by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in order to identify whether a material is fuel debris or not. We have developed the fiber-coupled LIBS system to detect plasma emission efficiently in near-infrared region. In addition, we have performed a gamma ray dose rate measurement using an optical fiber of which scintillator is attached to the tip. As a result, the concept of applicability of a probing system using the high-radiation resistant optical fibers has been confirmed.