Field test results for radioactive waste drum characterization with Waste Inspection Tomography (WIT)

Conference · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:539238

Bernardi, R T ^[1]

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1. Bio-Imaging Research, Inc., Lincolnshire, IL (United States)

This paper summarizes the design, fabrication, factory testing, evaluation and demonstration of waste inspection tomography (WIT). WIT consists of a self-sufficient, mobile semi-trailer for Non-Destructive Evaluation and Non-Destructive Assay (NDE/NDA) characterization of nuclear waste drums using X-ray and gamma-ray tomographic techniques. The 23-month WIT Phase I initial test results include 2 MeV Digital Radiography (DR), Computed Tomography (CT), Anger camera imaging, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy, Collimated Gamma Scanning (CGS), and Active and Passive Computed Tomography (A&PCT) using a 1.4 mCi source of {sup 166}Ho. These techniques were initially demonstrated on a 55-gallon phantom drum with three simulated waste matrices of combustibles, heterogeneous metals, and cement using check sources of gamma active isotopes. Waste matrix identification, isotopic identification, and attenuation-corrected gamma activity determination were all demonstrated nondestructively and noninvasively. Preliminary field tests results with nuclear waste drums are summarized. WIT has inspected drums with 0 to 20 grams plutonium 239. The minimum measured was 0.131 gram plutonium 239 in cement. 8 figs.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-93MC30173
• OSTI ID: 539238
• Report Number(s): CONF-970126--; ON: DE97052960
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
CONTAINERS
FIELD TESTS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
PLUTONIUM 239
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
X-RAY SPECTRA