An Improved Criticality Alarm System

Conference · Sat Nov 02 00:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.1991.259147· OSTI ID:10118216

Tyree, W. H. ^[1]; Gilpin, H. E. ^[1]; Balmer, D. K. ^[1]; Vennitti, D. A. ^[1]

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1. EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant

The Rocky Flats Plant near Golden, Colorado is the primary facility for the production of plutonium components used in the US arsenal of nuclear weapons. It is operated by EG&G under contract to the US Department of Energy (DOE). There are ten production buildings on plant site with neutron-based criticality alarm systems. These systems have been in operation for the past seventeen years. Changes in the interpretation of A.N.S.I. standards and DOE Orders have precipitated an evaluation of detector sensitivity and placement criteria. As a result of this evaluation, improvements in detector design and calibration have improved detector sensitivity by a factor of six. Testing performed on the design defined a minimum sensitivity as required by A.N.S.I. 8.3 and provided information for saturation and survivability for a fission event of up to 1X10¹⁷ fissions in 80 microseconds. A rigorous testing and calibration program has been developed and is in place. Neutron sensitivity is certified at a nearby reactor which is traceable to N.I.S.T.

• Research Organization: EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC34-90DP62349
• OSTI ID: 10118216
• Report Number(s): RFP-4460; CONF-911106-68; ON: DE92007361
• Resource Relation: Conference: 1991 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, Santa Fe, NM (United States), 2-9 Nov 1991; Other Information: PBD: [1991]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ALARM SYSTEMS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS
SENSITIVITY
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
CRITICALITY
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
DESIGN
COMPLIANCE
NEUTRON DETECTION
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Plutonium Components
US Nuclear Weapons Arsenal
Detector Sensitivity and Placement Criteria Evaluation
Detector Design
Calibration
Testing Program
054000
440101
HEALTH AND SAFETY
GENERAL DETECTORS OR MONITORS AND RADIOMETRIC INSTRUMENTS