Neutron monitoring of plutonium at the ZPPR storage vault
We investigated a method for monitoring a typical large storage vault for unauthorized removal of plutonium. The method is based on the assumption that the neutron field in a vault produced by a particular geometric configuration of bulk plutonium remains constant in time and space as long as the configuration is undisturbed. To observe such a neutron field, we installed an array of 25 neutron detectors in the ceiling of a plutonium storage vault at Argonne National Laboratory West. Each neutron detector provided an independent spatial measurement of the vault neutron field. Data collected by each detector were processed to determine whether statistically significant changes had occurred in the neutron field. Continuous observation experiments measured the long-term stability of the system. Removal experiments were performed in which known quantities of plutonium were removed from the vault. Both types of experiments demonstrated that the neutron monitoring system can detect removal or addition of bulk plutonium (11% /sup 240/Pu) whose mass is as small as 0.04% of the total inventory.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5465677
- Report Number(s):
- LA-9108-MS; ON: DE82010018
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
055001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACCOUNTING
ACTINIDES
ANL
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION MONITORING
SAFEGUARDS
STORAGE FACILITIES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACCOUNTING
ACTINIDES
ANL
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION MONITORING
SAFEGUARDS
STORAGE FACILITIES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS