An unattended verification station for UF ${}_{\mathbf{6}}$ cylinders: Field trial findings

Journal Article · Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.08.003· OSTI ID:1399116

Smith, L. E. ^[1]; Miller, Karen A. ^[2]; McDonald, B. S. ^[1]; Webster, J. B. ^[1]; Zalavadia, M. A. ^[1]; Garner, James R.  ^[3]; Stewart, Scott L.  ^[3]; Branney, Sean J. ^[4]; Todd, L. C. ^[1]; Deshmukh, N. S. ^[1]; Nordquist, Heather A. ^[2]; Kulisek, J. A. ^[1]; Swinhoe, Martyn T. ^[2]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
4. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)

In recent years, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pursued innovative techniques and an integrated suite of safeguards measures to address the verification challenges posed by the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Among the unattended instruments currently being explored by the IAEA is an Unattended Cylinder Verification Station (UCVS), which could provide automated, independent verification of the declared relative enrichment, ²³⁵U mass, total uranium mass, and identification for all declared uranium hexafluoride cylinders in a facility (e.g., uranium enrichment plants and fuel fabrication plants). Under the auspices of the United States and European Commission Support Programs to the IAEA, a project was undertaken to assess the technical and practical viability of the UCVS concept. The first phase of the UCVS viability study was centered on a long-term field trial of a prototype UCVS system at a fuel fabrication facility. A key outcome of the study was a quantitative performance evaluation of two nondestructive assay (NDA) methods being considered for inclusion in a UCVS: Hybrid Enrichment Verification Array (HEVA), and Passive Neutron Enrichment Meter (PNEM). This paper provides a description of the UCVS prototype design and an overview of the long-term field trial. In conclusion, analysis results and interpretation are presented with a focus on the performance of PNEM and HEVA for the assay of over 200 “typical” Type 30B cylinders, and the viability of an “NDA Fingerprint” concept as a high-fidelity means to periodically verify that material diversion has not occurred.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725; AC05-76RL01830; AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1399116
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1395279; OSTI ID: 1429995
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-124757; LA-UR-16-23442; TRN: US1702598
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 874, Issue C; ISSN 0168-9002
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
Nondestructive assay
Nuclear safeguards
Uranium enrichment
Uranium hexafluoride