{sup 235}U Holdup Measurement Program in support of facility shutdown

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:10134457

Thomason, R S; Griffin, J C; Lien, O G; McElroy, R D

In 1989, the Department of Energy directed shutdown of an enriched uranium processing facility at Savannah River Site. As part of the shutdown requirements, deinventory and cleanout of process equipment and nondestructive measurement of the remaining {sub 235}U holdup were required. The holdup measurements had safeguards, accountability, and nuclear criticality safety significance; therefore, a technically defensible and well-documented holdup measurement program was needed. Appropriate standards were fabricated, measurement techniques were selected, and an aggressive schedule was followed. Early in the program, offsite experts reviewed the measurement program, and their recommendations were adopted. Contact and far-field methods were used for most measurements, but some process equipment required special attention. All holdup measurements were documented, and each report was subjected to internal peer review. Some measured values were checked against values obtained by other methods; agreement was generally good.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 10134457
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS--91-482; CONF-910901--28; ON: DE92008830
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
BUILDUP
CALIBRATION
FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
MATERIAL BALANCE
MEASURING METHODS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SHUTDOWN
URANIUM 235