Uncertainty analysis of the SWEPP drum assay system for graphite content code 300
The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory is being used as a temporary storage facility for transuranic waste generated by the U.S. Nuclear Weapons program at the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) in Golden, Colorado. Currently, there is a large effort in progress to prepare to ship this waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. In order to meet the TRU Waste Characterization Quality Assurance Program Plan nondestructive assay compliance requirements and quality assurance objectives, it is necessary to determine the total uncertainty of the radioassay results produced by the Stored Waste Examination Pilot Plant (SWEPP) Passive Active Neutron (PAN) radioassay system. This paper discusses a modified statistical sampling and verification approach used to determine the total uncertainty of a SWEPP/PAN measurement. In this modified approach the total performance of the SWEPP/PAN nondestructive assay system is simulated using computer models of the assay system and the resultant output is compared with the known input to assess the total uncertainty. The first waste form to be tested using this approach is weapons grade plutonium-contaminated graphite molds contained in 207 liter drums. The validity of the simulation approach is verified by comparing simulated output against results from calibration measurements using known plutonium sources and a graphite waste form calibration drum. For actual graphite waste form conditions, a set of 50 cases covering a statistical sampling of the conditions exhibited in graphite wastes was compiled using a Latin hypercube statistical sampling approach. The distributions from which Latin hypercube sample was drawn was derived from reviews of approximately 100 real-time radiography video tapes of RFP graphite waste drums, results from previous SWEPP/PAN measurements on graphite waste drums, and shipping data from RFP where the graphite waste was generated.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- OSTI ID:
- 130646
- Report Number(s):
- INEL-95/0475; ON: DE96002355; TRN: 96:000109
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Sep 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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