Waste inspection tomography (WIT)

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:28250

Bernardi, R T; Han, K S

The WIT program will provide an inspection system that offers the nuclear waste evaluator a unique combination of tools for regulatory-driven characterization of low-level waste (LLW), transuranic waste (TRU), and mixed waste drums. WIT provides nondestructive, noninvasive, and environmentally safe inspections using X-ray and gamma ray technologies, with reasonable cost and throughput. Two emission imaging techniques will be employed for characterizing materials in waste containers. The first of these is gamma emission tomography, commonly called single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Rather than using an external radiation source, SPECT uses the emission of radioactive materials within the object of interest for imaging. In this case, emission from actual nuclear waste within a container will provide a three-dimensional image of the radioactive substances in the container. The second emission technique will use high-purity germanium detectors for gamma ray spectroscopy. This technique, called nondestructive assay (NDA), can identify the emitting isotopic species and strength. Work in emission tomography and assay of nuclear waste has been undertaken at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory using a technique called Passive Tomography. Results from a process development unit are presented.

• Research Organization: Bio-Imaging Research, Inc., Lincolnshire, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-93MC30173
• OSTI ID: 28250
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/30173--95/C0414; CONF-9411149--18; ON: DE95007971
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
DESIGN
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
IMAGES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MIXTURES
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY