High performance gamma measurements of equipment retrieved from Hanford high-level nuclear waste tanks
The cleanup of high level defense nuclear waste at the Hanford site presents several progressive challenges. Among these is the removal and disposal of various components from buried active waste tanks to allow new equipment insertion or hazards mitigation. A unique automated retrieval system at the tank provides for retrieval, high pressure washing, inventory measurement, and containment for disposal. Key to the inventory measurement is a three detector HPGe high performance gamma spectroscopy system capable of recovering data at up to 90% saturation (200,000 counts per second). Data recovery is based on a unique embedded electronic pulser and specialized software to report the inventory. Each of the detectors have different shielding specified through Monte Carlo simulation with the MCNP program. This shielding provides performance over a dynamic range of eight orders of magnitude. System description, calibration issues and operational experiences are discussed.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-96RL13200
- OSTI ID:
- 16924
- Report Number(s):
- HNF-SA-3137-FP; ON: DE98059770; BR: EW3120071; ON: DE98059770; BR: EW3120071; TRN: US0111116
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 17 Mar 1997; Supercedes report DE98059770; PBD: 17 Mar 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
STORAGE FACILITIES
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
REMEDIAL ACTION
HANFORD RESERVATION
HIGH-PURITY GE DETECTORS
DESIGN
CALIBRATION