Calibration of a neutron coincidence counter for measurement of the plutonium content of wet oxalate cakes

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6223175

Crane, T W

A novel calibration procedure has been applied to the dual-ring thermal neutron coincidence counter used at the Los Alamos Plutonium Processing Facility to measure the plutonium content of wet oxalate cakes. The calibration uses the measured content of the plutonium oxide product and the coincidence counter response to estimate the plutonium content in up to four wet plutonium oxalate cakes. These estimated mass values are then used to calibrate the counter. The calibration calculation is iterative in determining the calibration function coefficients and plutonium masses for oxalate material.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6223175
• Report Number(s): LA-9744-MS; ON: DE83013332
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
NEUTRON DETECTORS
CALIBRATION
PLUTONIUM
ACCOUNTING
COINCIDENCE METHODS
OXALATES
ACTINIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
ELEMENTS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
RADIATION DETECTORS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects
440100 - Radiation Instrumentation