Technology survey for real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system
Abstract
We surveyed several promising measurement technologies for the real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system. The vitrifier is being developed by Westinghouse Savannah River Corp. and will be used to demonstrate vitrification of plutonium dissolved in nitric acid for fissile material disposition. The risk of developing a criticality hazard in the off-gas processing equipment can be managed by using available measurement technologies. We identified several potential technologies and methods for detecting plutonium that are sensitive enough to detect the accumulation of a mass sufficient to form a criticality hazard. We recommend gross alpha-monitoring technologies as the most promising option for Westinghouse Savannah River Corp. to consider because that option appears to require the least additional development. We also recommend further consideration for several other technologies because they offer specific advantages and because gross alpha-monitoring could prove unsuitable when tested for this specific application.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 206478
- Report Number(s):
- LA-13058-MS
ON: DE96007461; TRN: 96:009318
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jan 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; PLUTONIUM; VITRIFICATION; OFF-GAS SYSTEMS; MONITORING; PERFORMANCE; AMERICIUM; CURIUM; TANKS
Citation Formats
Berg, J M, and Veirs, D K. Technology survey for real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web. doi:10.2172/206478.
Berg, J M, & Veirs, D K. Technology survey for real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/206478
Berg, J M, and Veirs, D K. 1996.
"Technology survey for real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/206478. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/206478.
@article{osti_206478,
title = {Technology survey for real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system},
author = {Berg, J M and Veirs, D K},
abstractNote = {We surveyed several promising measurement technologies for the real-time monitoring of plutonium in a vitrifier off-gas system. The vitrifier is being developed by Westinghouse Savannah River Corp. and will be used to demonstrate vitrification of plutonium dissolved in nitric acid for fissile material disposition. The risk of developing a criticality hazard in the off-gas processing equipment can be managed by using available measurement technologies. We identified several potential technologies and methods for detecting plutonium that are sensitive enough to detect the accumulation of a mass sufficient to form a criticality hazard. We recommend gross alpha-monitoring technologies as the most promising option for Westinghouse Savannah River Corp. to consider because that option appears to require the least additional development. We also recommend further consideration for several other technologies because they offer specific advantages and because gross alpha-monitoring could prove unsuitable when tested for this specific application.},
doi = {10.2172/206478},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/206478},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}