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Title: Fast Critical Assembly Safeguards (Summary Report, October 1978 - September 1979)

Abstract

Nuclear material inventory verification techniques for large split-table type fast critical assemblies are being studied under this program. Emphasis has been given to techniques that minimize fuel handling in order to reduce facility down time and radiation exposure to the inventory team. The techniques studied include autoradiography, reactivity, and spectral index measurements. Autoradiographic techniques capable of verifying the core loading diagram for a uranium or plutonium core have been demonstrated and examples of results are given. Results of reactivity and spectral index measurements for detection of simulated diversion of fuel from a large plutonium core are presented. These measurements indicate that the sensitivity of reactivity measurements to fuel removal is sufficient to detect a removal of 2 kg in a 2600 kg core. Reactivity compensation by the addition of polyethylene was readily detected by spectral index measurements using indium foils, if the foils were located within 10 cm of the moderator. The measurements made in this study were relative to a known reactor configuration and were made using facility equipment. Independent verification of reactivity and spectral index measurements by a safeguards inspector may be difficult.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OSTI Identifier:
5697184
Report Number(s):
ANL-80-13(Vol.1)
TRN: 80-005592
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31-109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; NUCLEAR MATERIALS DIVERSION; DETECTION; ZERO POWER REACTORS; SAFEGUARDS; AUTORADIOGRAPHY; INVENTORIES; NEUTRON SPECTRA; NUCLEAR FUELS; PLUTONIUM; POLYETHYLENES; REACTIVITY; SENSITIVITY; URANIUM; ZPPR REACTOR; ACTINIDES; ELEMENTS; ENERGY SOURCES; EPITHERMAL REACTORS; EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS; FAST REACTORS; FUELS; MATERIALS; METALS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC POLYMERS; POLYMERS; POLYOLEFINS; REACTOR MATERIALS; REACTORS; RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS; RESEARCH REACTORS; SPECTRA; TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS; Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); Fuel Handling; Radiation Exposure; Autoradiography; Reactivity; Spectral Index Measurement; 055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards, Inspection, & Accountability- Technical Aspects; 220600 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Research, Test & Experimental Reactors

Citation Formats

Brumbach, S. B., Roche, C. T., Perry, R. B., and Amundson, P. I. Fast Critical Assembly Safeguards (Summary Report, October 1978 - September 1979). United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.2172/5697184.
Brumbach, S. B., Roche, C. T., Perry, R. B., & Amundson, P. I. Fast Critical Assembly Safeguards (Summary Report, October 1978 - September 1979). United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5697184
Brumbach, S. B., Roche, C. T., Perry, R. B., and Amundson, P. I. 1980. "Fast Critical Assembly Safeguards (Summary Report, October 1978 - September 1979)". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5697184. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5697184.
@article{osti_5697184,
title = {Fast Critical Assembly Safeguards (Summary Report, October 1978 - September 1979)},
author = {Brumbach, S. B. and Roche, C. T. and Perry, R. B. and Amundson, P. I.},
abstractNote = {Nuclear material inventory verification techniques for large split-table type fast critical assemblies are being studied under this program. Emphasis has been given to techniques that minimize fuel handling in order to reduce facility down time and radiation exposure to the inventory team. The techniques studied include autoradiography, reactivity, and spectral index measurements. Autoradiographic techniques capable of verifying the core loading diagram for a uranium or plutonium core have been demonstrated and examples of results are given. Results of reactivity and spectral index measurements for detection of simulated diversion of fuel from a large plutonium core are presented. These measurements indicate that the sensitivity of reactivity measurements to fuel removal is sufficient to detect a removal of 2 kg in a 2600 kg core. Reactivity compensation by the addition of polyethylene was readily detected by spectral index measurements using indium foils, if the foils were located within 10 cm of the moderator. The measurements made in this study were relative to a known reactor configuration and were made using facility equipment. Independent verification of reactivity and spectral index measurements by a safeguards inspector may be difficult.},
doi = {10.2172/5697184},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5697184}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}