Mathematical determination of /alpha/ and /beta/ for the rotating-slit enrichment monitor

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5847148

Stirpe, D; Hafer, J F

To measure the /sup 235/U enrichment of UF/sub 6/ gas in header pipes of enrichment facilities using the enrichment monitor, it is necessary to determine the geometrical factors, /alpha/ and /beta/. We report on a method of calculating the values of these factors through numerical integration of Lambert's Law. The header pipe diameter, the dimensions of the collimating slit, the diameter of the gamma-ray detector, and the distance of this detector from the axis of the header pipe determine the geometrical configuration of the problem. The limits of integration are obtained by the condition that the radiating volume of UF/sub 6/ gas, dV, must be able to ''see'' the element of detector area, dA, through the collimating slit. Expressions for these limits are derived by using three-dimensional analytical geometry. Additional limits on dV are given by the pipe diameter, and additional limits on dA are given by the slit width or the detector diameter. Effects of attenuation of the gamma-ray signal through the pipe wall are also calculated. The distance of the gamma-ray signal through the pipe wall depends on the positions of dV and dA; this distance can also be obtained by using three-dimensional analytical geometry. Values for /alpha/ and /beta/ are given for the three pipe diameters, 4, 7, and 10 cm, for a slit length of 7.3 cm, and for the slit widths, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cm. 3 refs., 11 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5847148
• Report Number(s): LA-11646-MS; ON: DE90000004
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ENRICHED URANIUM
CALCULATION METHODS
GAMMA DETECTION
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LAMBERT LAW
PIPES
RADIATION MONITORS
URANIUM 235
URANIUM FLUORIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MONITORS
NUCLEI
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
URANIUM
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
050500* - Nuclear Fuels- Uranium Enrichment
440101 - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
990230 - Mathematics & Mathematical Models- (1987-1989)