Characterization of an enriched uranyl fluoride deposit in a valve and pipe intersection using time-of-flight transmission measurements with {sup 252}Cf

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/661435· OSTI ID:661435

Wyatt, M S ^[1]; Uckan, T; Mihalczo, J T; Valentine, T E ^[2]; Hannon, T F ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
3. East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

A method was developed and successfully applied to characterize large uranyl fluoride (UO{sub 2}F{sub 2}) deposits at the former Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant. These deposits were formed by a wet air in-leakage into the UF{sub 6} process gas lines over a period of years. The resulting UO{sub 2}F{sub 2} is hygroscopic, readily absorbing moisture from the air to form hydrates as UO{sub 2}F{sub 2}-nH{sub 2}O. The ratio of hydrogen to uranium can vary from 0--16, and has significant nuclear criticality safety impacts for large deposits. In order to properly formulate the required course of action, a non-intrusive characterization of the distribution of the fissile material within the pipe, its total mass, and amount of hydration was necessary. The Nuclear Weapons Identification System (NWIS) previously developed at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant for identification of uranium weapons components in storage containers was used to successfully characterize these deposits.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• OSTI ID: 661435
• Report Number(s): ORNL/CP--97759; CONF-980733--; ON: DE98003518
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
DEPOSITS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDRATES
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
ORGDP
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
URANYL FLUORIDES