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Title: Verification of Uranium Mass and Enrichments of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Using the Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/754364· OSTI ID:754364

This paper describes how the Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS), developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, was used to verify the mass and enrichment of hundreds of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) metal items in storage at the Y-12 Plant. The verifications had a relative spread of {+-}5% (3 sigma) with relative mean deviations from their declared values of +0.2% for mass and {minus}0.2% for enrichment. NMIS's capability to perform quantification of HEU enabled the Y-12 Plant to meet their nuclear material control and accountability (NMC and A) requirements. These verifications were performed in the storage vault in a very time and cost effective manner with as many as 55 verifications in one shift of operation.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
754364
Report Number(s):
Y/LB-16,056; TRN: US0005255
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 7 Apr 2000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English