Neutron Dieaway Methods for Criticality Safety Measurements of Fissile Waste

Conference · Sun Nov 26 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5584551

Coop, Kenneth L. ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

The differential dieaway technique (DDT), which uses a pulsed neutron source to interrogate containers of fissile materials with thermal neutrons, is reviewed. This method is widely used for certifying transuranic nuclear wastes for eventual emplacement at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. For purposes of criticality safety, an upper limit of 200 g of fissile material is permitted in a 55-gal waste drum. Problems involving waste-matrix effects and self-shielding may severely limit the accuracy of the DDT measurement. A dieaway method that uses both thermal and epithermal neutron interrogation, which has the potential for reducing these problems, is being developed. Recent experimental and calculational results for this development are described.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5584551
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--89-2124; CONF-891103--7; ON: DE89014225
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CONTAINERS
CRITICALITY
Differential Dieaway Technique (DDT)
ELEMENTS
Experimental and Calculational Results
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NEUTRON SOURCES
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PARTICLE SOURCES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES