A miniature modular multichannel analyzer system for automated, low- resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7179542

Sprinkle, Jr, J K; Halbig, J K; Klosterbuer, S F; Russo, P A ^[1]; Smith, S E ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Y-12 Plant

Throughout the nuclear complex, the demand for measurements of nuclear materials holdup is increasing. Plant-wide campaigns to quantify holdup in ventilation ducts and holdup measurements in support of duct remediation are in progress at most DOE sites. Plans to satisfy more stringent requirements for holdup measurements are being developed. Facility decommissioning that accompanies downsizing the complex will require extensive holdup measurement efforts. In the early phases of planning for the modem complex, holdup measurements for new facilities are being specified at the facility design stage. Beyond the DOE, international inspection activities are relying, increasingly, on holdup measurements for verification. Developments in nondestructive assay technologies in the past decade have provided some support for measurements of this Mx. The user's requirements of ruggedness and reliability have been satisfied with compact gamma-ray detectors and spectroscopy instrumentation, but improvements are still needed in simplicity, portability, and speed. Current portable spectroscopy instruments require user sophistication as well as more than one person for transport between measurement locations. However, it is becoming clear that the real measurement need is the simultaneous operation of dozens of units, each by a single relatively unsophisticated user, to perform thousands of measurements per inventory period. The rapid and reliable conversion of measurement data to holdup quantities is essential.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7179542
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-92-2332; CONF-9207102--44; ON: DE92018919
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
055001 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
BUILDUP
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DUCTS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SPECTROSCOPY
VENTILATION SYSTEMS