Electronics system for transuranic waste assays using a photon interrogation technique
This report documents the development of electronics for a neutron detection system used in experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of a photon interrogation technique for transuranic (TRU) waste assays. The system consists of the neutron detection and signal conditioning circuits, variable time-gate generators, and a data acquisition system. The data acquisition system is configured using commercially available scalers, timers, teletype, and control components. The remainder of the system, with the exception of the neutron detectors, uses components designed in-house. The neutron detection system consists of /sup 3/He proportional counters installed in a polyethylene moderator assembly. The counters are direct-coupled to a high-count-rate, current-sensitive preamplifier. The preamplifier and an additional two-stage amplifier are also installed in the moderator assembly. Signal conditioning includes baseline restoration and fast discrimination. A variable time-gate generator with logic gates allows for separation of prompt and delayed neutron counts, and generation of prompt and delayed deadtimes. The /sup 3/He proportional counters will detect not only the neutrons from the TRU waste sample, but also the high-energy photons used to induce fission in the sample. The burst of photons (gamma flash) tends to overload and paralyze the electronics. This system has been designed to recover from a worst-case gamma flash overload within 10 microseconds. The system has met all the requirements generated for the photon interrogation experiments.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-07-1570
- OSTI ID:
- 5686365
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-PHYS-5076; TRN: 80-002559
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
AMPLIFIERS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DELAYED NEUTRONS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HE-3 COUNTERS
NEUTRON DETECTION
PHOTON BEAMS
PREAMPLIFIERS
PROMPT NEUTRONS
BARYONS
BEAMS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DETECTION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FERMIONS
FISSION NEUTRONS
HADRONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
WASTES
400103* - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)
052001 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing