Direct fissile assay of highly enriched UF/sub 6/ using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response
A new nondestructive method for direct assay of /sup 235/U mass contained in Model 5A uranium hexafluoride (UF/sub 6/) product storage cylinders has been successfully tested in the laboratory and under field conditions. The technique employs passive neutron self-interrogation and uses the ratio of coincidences-to-totals counts as a measure of bulk fissile mass. The accuracy of the method is 6.8% (1 sigma) based on field measurements of 44 Model 5A cylinders, 11 of which were either only partially filled or contained reactor return material. The cylinders contained UF/sub 6/ with enrichments from 5.96% to 97.6%. Count times were 3 to 6 min depending on /sup 235/U mass. Samples ranged from below 1 kg to over 16 kg of /sup 235/U. Because the method relies primarily on fast neutron self-interrogation, complete sampling of the UF/sub 6/ takes place. This feature alleviates inhomogeneity problems and offers increased assurance of the presence of stated amounts of bulk fissile material as compared with current verification methods.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5584817
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-83-3266; CONF-831106-12; ON: DE84003780
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Topical meeting on safeguards technology - the process safeguards interface, Hilton Head Island, SC, USA, 28 Nov 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
URANIUM 235
RADIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
COINCIDENCE METHODS
CYLINDERS
ENRICHED URANIUM
NEUTRON DETECTION
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
METALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
URANIUM
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects
400103 - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)