Methods for nondestructive assay holdup measurements in shutdown uranium enrichment facilities
Measurement surveys of uranium holdup using nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques are being conducted for shutdown gaseous diffusion facilities at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site (formerly the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant). When in operation, these facilities processed UF{sub 6} with enrichments ranging from 0.2 to 93 wt % {sup 235}U. Following final shutdown of all process facilities, NDA surveys were initiated to provide process holdup data for the planning and implementation of decontamination and decommissioning activities. A three-step process is used to locate and quantify deposits: (1) high-resolution gamma-ray measurements are performed to generally define the relative abundances of radioisotopes present, (2) sizable deposits are identified using gamma-ray scanning methods, and (3) the deposits are quantified using neutron measurement methods. Following initial quantitative measurements, deposit sizes are calculated; high-resolution gamma-ray measurements are then performed on the items containing large deposits. The quantitative estimates for the large deposits are refined on the basis of these measurements. Facility management is using the results of the survey to support a variety of activities including isolation and removal of large deposits; performing health, safety, and environmental analyses; and improving facility nuclear material control and accountability records. 3 refs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge K-25 Site, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OT21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6027175
- Report Number(s):
- K/ITP-414; CONF-910901--23; ON: DE92003247
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Nondestructive assay measurements of gaseous diffusion process equipment
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CLEANING
DATA ANALYSIS
DECOMMISSIONING
DECONTAMINATION
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ORGDP
QUALITY ASSURANCE
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS