An underwater neutron coincidence counter for measurement of spent fuels
An underwater neutron coincident counter has been designed and constructed for the measurement of spent nuclear fuel--the spent-fuel coincident counter (SFCC). The SFCC is a medium-detection-efficiency design that incorporates an ionization chamber (IC) for gamma-ray dose evaluation from the spent nuclear fuel. The absolute neutron detection efficiency is 14.5% for {sup 252}Cf sources. The SFCC is hermetically sealed, as it is installed {approximately}5 m below water level in a spent-fuel storage pond. There are 20 {sup 3}He tubes arranged within a polyethylene ring in a single band. There is an inner ring of 6.8 cm of lead to provide shielding from the fission product gamma rays. A single IC is primarily used to determine the dose impinging upon the {sup 3}He tubes and to determine the appropriate operational parameters to avoid gamma-ray pile effects in the {sup 3}He tubes. To further minimize gamma-ray pileup effects, each {sup 3}He tube is connected to a PDT110A preamplifier. The single and double neutron count rates, in addition to the IC measurement information from the SFCC, are used to determine the Pu mass of the spent-fuel assemblies and the decay heat and for classification of the assembly type. This information is required such that safety criteria are met for the safe packaging of the spent-fuel assemblies.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20005808
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 81; Conference: American Nuclear Society 1999 Winter Meeting, Long Beach, CA (US), 11/14/1999--11/18/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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