Automated pneumatic transfer irradiation system for delayed neutron counting
The Geological Survey TRIGA Reactor has been used for uranium and thorium neutron activation analysis by delayed neutron counting for the past eleven years. As the requirements for analysis increased the original General Atomic pneumatic system was upgraded in several stages. By 1979 we had reached the practical limits of safe through-put for that system and a new pneumatic transfer system was built. A single large Roots type blower is used to drive four individual transfer tubes simultaneously (two termini in the core and two outside the reflector). A microprocessor controls the operation and is paced by a minicomputer, which is also used to collect and reduce the counting data. Two irradiations and counting cycles are performed on each sample, one in the core, a Cd-lined terminus for thorium, and one in the reflector mounted terminus for uranium. Video displays at both the reactor console and the pneumatic system operating station indicate the status of the system and the locations of the samples at all times. This highly automated system is capable of 1,200 irradiations for delayed neutron counting in a 10 hour day, and, in addition, incorporates programmable versatility for other irradiation-counting experiments, and provides a high degree of reactor and radiological safety with only remote operator attention. (author)
- Research Organization:
- General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (United States); Argonne National Laboratory-West, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21149367
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-09N0101; TOC-14; TRN: US09N0113028973
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 8. biennial U.S. TRIGA users' conference, Idaho Falls, ID (United States), 8-10 Mar 1982; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Related Information: In: 8. biennial U.S. TRIGA users' conference. Papers and abstracts, 240 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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