Passive Sensor Systems for Nuclear Material Monitoring

Conference · Sun Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10187920

Simpson, M. L. ^[1]; Boatner, L. A. ^[1]; Holcomb, D. E. ^[1]; McElhaney, S. A. ^[1]; Mihalczo, J. T. ^[1]; Muhs, J. D. ^[1]; Roberts, M. R. ^[1]; Hill, N. W. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Passive fiber optic sensor systems capable of confirming the presence of special nuclear materials in storage or process facilities are being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). These sensors provide completely passive, remote measurement capability. No power supplies, amplifiers, or other active components that could degrade system reliability are required at the sensor location. ORNL, through its research programs in scintillator materials, has developed a variety of materials for use in alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and neutron-sensitive scintillator detectors. In addition to sensors for measuring radiation flux, new sensor materials have been developed which are capable of measuring weight, temperature, and source location. An example of a passive sensor for temperature measurement is the combination of a thermophosphor (e.g., rare-earth activated Y₂O₃) with ⁶LiF (95% ⁶Li). This combination results in a new class of scintillators for thermal neutrons that absorb energy from the radiation particles and remit the energy as a light pulse, the decay rate of which, over a specified temperature range, is temperature dependent. Other passive sensors being developed include pressure-sensitive triboluminescent materials, weight-sensitive silicone rubber fibers, scintillating fibers, and other materials for gamma and neutron detection. The light from the scintillator materials of each sensor would be sent through optical fibers to a monitoring station, where the attribute quantity could be measured and compared with previously recorded emission levels. Confirmatory measurement applications of these technologies are being evaluated to reduce the effort, costs, and employee exposures associated with inventorying stockpiles of highly enriched uranium at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10187920
• Report Number(s): CONF-930749-73; ON: DE94000332; TRN: 93:025411
• Resource Relation: Conference: 34. Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Scottsdale, AZ (United States), 18-21 Jul 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
STOCKPILES
MEASURING METHODS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
PLUTONIUM
FIBER OPTICS
REMOTE SENSING
COST
SAFETY
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
RADIATION DETECTORS
ORNL
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
INVENTORIES
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Special Nuclear Materials (SNM)
Thermal Neutrons
Radiation Particles
Light Pulse
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Fiber Optic (FO)
055000
440100
440800
SAFEGUARDS, INSPECTION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
RADIATION INSTRUMENTATION
MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUMENTATION