Nondestructive uranium enrichment determination in process holdup deposits

Conference · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5380833

Hagenauer, R C

A new technique has been developed for analyzing the gamma-ray spectra of uranium compounds to determine the relative abundance of all gamma-ray-emitting isotopes present. The technique works well for samples whose gamma-ray absorption properties are not well defined and has become an invaluable tool for characterizing inventory samples and residual uranium held up in process equipment. The gamma rays in a spectrum obtained with a hyperpure germanium detector are corrected for self-absorption, container attenuation, and branching ratios. The technique is being used (1) to calculate the relative abundance of uranium isotopes (i.e., {sup 232}U, {sup 234}U, {sup 235}U, and {sup 238}U) contained in nuclear materials, (2) to calculate the specific neutron activity emanating from deposits quantitatively measured using nondestructive neutron measurement techniques, and (3) to identify and correct for interference from other neutron-emitting isotopes (e.g., {sup 237}Np). The technique works well on a variety of deposits (e.g., UO{sub 2}F{sub 2} and UF{sub 6}) even if the deposits are infinitely thick'' to 186-keV gamma rays or are contained in thick-walled pipes. To date, results indicate excellent agreement between calculated and assigned enrichment values. 4 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge K-25 Site, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOD; Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OT21400
• OSTI ID: 5380833
• Report Number(s): K/ITP-417; CONF-910774-68; ON: DE91016730; TRN: 91-024847
• Resource Relation: Conference: 32. Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) annual meeting, New Orleans, LA (United States), 28-31 Jul 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ENRICHED URANIUM
PROCESSING
URANIUM
ISOTOPE RATIO
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
GAMMA SPECTRA
ATTENUATION
CONTAINERS
I CODES
RADIOISOTOPES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
COMPUTER CODES
ELEMENTS
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
METALS
SPECTRA
055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects
400102 - Chemical & Spectral Procedures