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Title: Neutron spectrometry for UF6 enrichment verification in storage cylinders

Abstract

Verification of declared UF6 enrichment and mass in storage cylinders is of great interest in nuclear material nonproliferation. Nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques are commonly used for safeguards inspections to ensure accountancy of declared nuclear materials. Common NDA techniques used include gamma-ray spectrometry and both passive and active neutron measurements. In the present study, neutron spectrometry was investigated for verification of UF6 enrichment in 30B storage cylinders based on an unattended and passive measurement approach. MCNP5 and Geant4 simulated neutron spectra, for selected UF6 enrichments and filling profiles, were used in the investigation. The simulated neutron spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA technique is a well-established technique and has a wide area of application including feature analysis, outlier detection, and gamma-ray spectral analysis. Results obtained demonstrate that neutron spectrometry supported by spectral feature analysis has potential for assaying UF6 enrichment in storage cylinders. Thus the results from the present study also showed that difficulties associated with the UF6 filling profile and observed in other unattended passive neutron measurements can possibly be overcome using the approach presented.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1171829
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1235372
Report Number(s):
SAND-2015-0987J
Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9499; TRN: US1600476
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 62; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9499
Publisher:
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; UF6; uranium enrichment; 30B cylinders; neutron spectrometry; nondestructive assay; MCNP5 simulation; Geant4 simulation; principal component analysis

Citation Formats

Mengesha, Wondwosen, and Kiff, Scott D. Neutron spectrometry for UF6 enrichment verification in storage cylinders. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1109/TNS.2015.2389214.
Mengesha, Wondwosen, & Kiff, Scott D. Neutron spectrometry for UF6 enrichment verification in storage cylinders. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2015.2389214
Mengesha, Wondwosen, and Kiff, Scott D. 2015. "Neutron spectrometry for UF6 enrichment verification in storage cylinders". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2015.2389214. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1171829.
@article{osti_1171829,
title = {Neutron spectrometry for UF6 enrichment verification in storage cylinders},
author = {Mengesha, Wondwosen and Kiff, Scott D.},
abstractNote = {Verification of declared UF6 enrichment and mass in storage cylinders is of great interest in nuclear material nonproliferation. Nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques are commonly used for safeguards inspections to ensure accountancy of declared nuclear materials. Common NDA techniques used include gamma-ray spectrometry and both passive and active neutron measurements. In the present study, neutron spectrometry was investigated for verification of UF6 enrichment in 30B storage cylinders based on an unattended and passive measurement approach. MCNP5 and Geant4 simulated neutron spectra, for selected UF6 enrichments and filling profiles, were used in the investigation. The simulated neutron spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA technique is a well-established technique and has a wide area of application including feature analysis, outlier detection, and gamma-ray spectral analysis. Results obtained demonstrate that neutron spectrometry supported by spectral feature analysis has potential for assaying UF6 enrichment in storage cylinders. Thus the results from the present study also showed that difficulties associated with the UF6 filling profile and observed in other unattended passive neutron measurements can possibly be overcome using the approach presented.},
doi = {10.1109/TNS.2015.2389214},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1171829}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science},
issn = {0018-9499},
number = 1,
volume = 62,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 29 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Jan 29 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

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