Feasibility of nondestructive assay measurements in uranium enrichment plants
Applications of nondestructive assay methods to measurement problems in uranium enrichment facilities are reviewed. The results of a number of test and evaluation projects that were performed over the last decade at ORGDP and Portsmouth are presented. Measurements of the residual holdup in the top enrichment portion of the shut-down K-25 cascade were made with portable neutron and gamma-ray detectors, and inventory estimates based on these data were in good agreement with ORGDP estimates. In the operating cascade, the tests showed that portable NaI detectors are effective for monitoring NaF and alumina media for gaseous effluent traps and that gas phase enrichments and inventories, as well as large deposits of uranium, can be detected with portable neutron and gamma-ray instrumentation. A wide variety of scrap and waste materials, including barrier and compressor blades, incinerator ash and trapping media, and miscellaneous waste, were measured using passive gamma-ray and neutron methods and 14-MeV neutron interrogation. Methods developed for rapid verification of UF/sub 6/ in shipping containers with portable neutron and gamma-ray instruments are now used routinely by safeguards inspectors. Passive assay methods can also be used to measure continuously the enrichments of /sup 235/U and /sup 234/U in the UF/sub 6/ product and tails withdrawals of a gaseous diffusion plant. A system that was developed and installed in the extended-range product withdrawal station of the Portsmouth facility measures enrichment with a relative accuracy of 0.5%. A stand-alone neutron detector has also been successfully evaluated for the measurement of the isotopic abundance of /sup 234/U in UF/sub 6/ in sample cylinders, an application of potential importance to Minor Isotope Safeguards Technology. Recommendations are made on the role of NDA measurements for enrichment plant safeguards, including additional tests and evaluations that may be needed, particularly for advanced uranium enrichment processes.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6809319
- Report Number(s):
- LA-7212-MS; TRN: 78-013431
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS
SAFEGUARDS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GAMMA DETECTION
INVENTORIES
NEUTRON DETECTION
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PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
RADIATION DETECTORS
RECOMMENDATIONS
URANIUM 235
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
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FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
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ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
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MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
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NUCLEI
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055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
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050501 - Nuclear Fuels- Uranium Enrichment- Gaseous Diffusion- (-1989)