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Technical basis for the use of a correlated neutron source in the uranium neutron coincidence collar

Journal Article · · Nuclear Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/NT16-50· OSTI ID:1342866
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Active neutron coincidence systems are commonly used by international inspectorates to verify a material balance across the various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. The Uranium Neutron Coincidence Collar (UNCL) is one such instrument; it is used to measure the linear density of 235U (g 235U/cm of active length in assembly) in fresh light water reactor fuel in nuclear fuel fabrication facilities. The UNCL and other active neutron interrogation detectors have historically relied on americium lithium (241AmLi) sources to induce fission within the sample in question. Californium-252 is under consideration as a possible alternative to the traditional 241AmLi source. Finally, this work relied upon a combination of experiments and Monte Carlo simulations to demonstrate the technical basis for the replacement of 241AmLi sources with 252Cf sources by evaluating the statistical uncertainty in the measurements incurred by each source and assessing the penetrability of neutrons from each source for the UNCL.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1342866
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-26893
Journal Information:
Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 197; ISSN 0029-5450
Publisher:
American Nuclear Society (ANS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (3)

Comparison of fresh fuel experimental measurements to MCNPX calculations using self-interrogation neutron resonance densitometry
  • LaFleur, Adrienne M.; Charlton, William S.; Menlove, Howard O.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 680 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.01.073
journal July 2012
The development of a new, neutron, time correlated, interrogation method for measurement of 235U content in LWR fuel assemblies
  • Menlove, H. O.; Menlove, S. H.; Rael, C. D.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 701 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.10.081
journal February 2013
Monte carlo feasibility study of an active neutron assay technique for full-volume UF6 cylinder assay using a correlated interrogation source
  • Miller, Karen A.; Menlove, Howard O.; Swinhoe, Martyn T.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 703 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.10.128
journal March 2013

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Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
active interrogation
neutron interrogation source
safeguards