Hot cell remote nuclear scanning of tank core samples

Conference · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:208387

Beck, M A; Blewett, G R; Troyer, G L ^[1]; Keele, B D ^[2]; Addleman, R S ^[3]

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1. Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
2. Bobolink, Knoxville TN (United States)
3. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)

A Westinghouse Hanford Company (WHC)-designed remote measurement system has been constructed for gamma and beta isotopic characterization of Hanford Site high-level waste tank core sample materials in a hot cell. A small, collimated, planar CdZnTe detector is used for gamma-ray spectroscopy. Spectral resolution of 2% full-width-at-maximum at 662 kiloelectronvolts (keV) has been obtained remotely using risetime compensation and limited pulse shape discrimination (PSD). Isotopic measurement of high-energy beta emitters was accomplished with a ruggedly made, deeply depleted, surface barrier silicon detector. The primary function of the remote nuclear screening system is to provide a fast, qualitative stratigraphic assessment (with isotopic information) of high-level radioactive material. Both gamma spectroscopy and beta measurements have been performed on actual core segments. Differences in radionuclide content, which correspond with color or texture variations, have been seen in constant cross section core samples, although for many samples the activity variation can be ascribed to geometry and/or mass factors. Discussion of the design, implementation, results and potential benefits will be presented.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-87RL10930
• OSTI ID: 208387
• Report Number(s): WHC-SA--2933-FP; CONF-960212--53; ON: DE96006882
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
42 ENGINEERING
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
CONTAINMENT
DESIGN
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
RADIATION DETECTORS
REMOTE HANDLING
TANKS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE