A NEW METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE U-235 ENRICHMENT OF FLAT FUEL PLATES
A non-destructive method for determining the U/sup 235/ enrichment of aluminum-clad flat reactor fuel plates is presented. This method is based on the assignment of the 186-kev photons to the U/sup 235/ and the 92-kev photons to the U/sup 235/ daughter Th/sup 234/ and U/sup 235/. Hence, the ratio of the relative intensities of the 186-kev to 92-kev photons emitted by the fuel plate when used with the proper equation gives the per cent U/sup 235/ enrichment. An empirical equation was derived, which agreed very closely with experimental data. gamma 186/ gamma 92 =24.6695 E/(17.6215E + 100), where E is the enrichment of U/sup 235/ in per cent. The values of gamma 186/ gamma 92 from the equation as compared to the experimental values are given a table. A theoretical equation based on U/sup 235/ and Th/sup 234/ decay schemes gave for well-resolved gamma- ray intensities, gamma 186/ gamma 92 = 6.5870E/(0.7324E + 100). The method was used to analyze the Philippine open-pool reactor fuel plates. Better results can be obtained if the empirical relationship is redetermined for each particular experimental setup used. (A.G.W.)
- Research Organization:
- Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, Manila
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-030156
- OSTI ID:
- 4689880
- Journal Information:
- Proc. Japan Conf. Radioisotopes, Journal Name: Proc. Japan Conf. Radioisotopes Vol. Vol: 5th, No. 3
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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