Implementing a technique to improve the accuracy of shuffler assays of waste drums

Conference · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:273741

Rinard, P M

The accuracy of shuffler assays for fissile materials is generally limited by the accuracy of the calibration standards, but when the matrix in a large drum has a sufficiently high hydrogen density (as exists in paper, for example) the accuracy in the active mode can be adversely affected by a nonuniform distribution of the fissile material within the matrix. This paper reports on a technique to determine the distribution nondestructively using delayed neutron signals generated by the shuffler itself. In assays employing this technique, correction factors are applied to the result of the conventional assay according to the distribution. Maximum inaccuracies in assays with a drum of paper, for example, are reduced by a factor of two or three.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 273741
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--96-2250; CONF-960767--3; ON: DE96012654
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
35 ARMS CONTROL
40 CHEMISTRY
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
ACCURACY
ARMS CONTROL
CONTAINERS
DELAYED NEUTRON ANALYSIS
FISSILE MATERIALS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
PLUTONIUM
RADIOASSAY
SYMMETRY
TESTING
VERIFICATION