A technical review of the SWEPP gamma-ray spectrometer system
The SWEPP Gamma-ray Spectrometer (SGRS) was developed by INEL researchers as a nonintrusive method of determining the isotopic ratios of TRU and U materials in a 208-liter waste drums. The SGRS has been in use at SWEPP since mid-1994. Enough questions have been raised regarding the system reliability and technical capabilities, that, coupled with a desire to procure an additional gamma-ray spectroscopy system in order to increase the drum throughput of SWEPP, have prompted an independent technical review of the SGRS. The author was chosen as the reviewer, and this report documents the results of the review. While the SGRS is accurate in its isotopic ratio results, the system is not calculationally robust. The primary reason for this lack of calculational reliability is the implementation of the attenuation corrections. Suggested changes may improve the system reliability dramatically. The SGRS is a multiple detector spectrometry system. Tests were conducted on various methods for combining the four detector results into a single drum representative value. No clear solution was reached for the cases in which the isotopic ratios are vertically segregated; however, some methods showed promise. These should be investigated further. 14 refs. , 15 figs., 23 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- OSTI ID:
- 215296
- Report Number(s):
- INEL-96/0068; ON: DE96009904; TRN: 96:010645
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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