Development of NDA instruments for the Los Alamos SIS (Special Isotope Separation) Facility

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5913407

Li, T. K.; Rinard, P. M.; Schneider, C. M.; Atencio, J. D.; Hyman, D. H.; Kroncke, K. E.; Painter, J.; Siebelist, R.; Holbrooks, O.; Halbig, J. K.

The Los Alamos Special Isotope Separation Facility produces special plutonium isotopes and converts plutonium scrap by using the molecular laser isotope separation (MLIS) process in a gaseous plutonium hexafluoride (PuF/sub 6/) phase. To provide important process-development and accountability information, we have developed and installed four nondestructive assay (NDA) instruments for that facility. These instruments are (1) an in-line plutonium isotopic analysis system to measure plutonium isotopes in gaseous, solid, and liquid phases, (2) an in-line sodium iodide (NaI) monitoring system consisting of six 2-in. by 2-in., two 2-in. by 24-in., and one 2-in. by 22-in. NaI detectors at specified components (a feed bottle, a feed-transfer cold trap, a compressor, a heat exchanger, a collector, a nozzle prefilter, and a tails cold trap) in the flow loop, (3) a portable high-resolution germanium gamma-ray system for plutonium isotopic analysis, and (4) a portable NaI gamma-ray holdup monitor. This paper discusses the measurement principles, hardware and software designs, and performance associated with these NDA instruments. 2 refs, 11 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5913407
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-89-2259; CONF-890736-57; ON: DE89015272
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
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