In-line assay monitor for uranium hexafluoride

Patent · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863934

Wallace, Steven A ^[1]

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1. Knoxville, TN

An in-line assay monitor for determining the content of uranium-235 in a uranium hexafluoride gas isotopic separation system is provided which removes the necessity of complete access to the operating parameters of the system for determining the uranium-235 content. The monitor is intended for uses such as safeguard applications to assure that weapons grade uranium is not being produced in an enrichment cascade. The method and monitor for carrying out the method involve cooling of a radiation pervious chamber connected in fluid communication with the selected point in the system to withdraw a specimen and solidify the specimen in the chamber. The specimen is irradiated by means of an ionizing radiation source of energy different from that of the 185 keV gamma emissions from the uranium-235 present in the specimen. Simultaneously, the gamma emissions from the uranium-235 of the specimen and the source emissions transmitted through the sample are counted and stored in a multiple channel analyzer. The uranium-235 content of the specimen is determined from the comparison of the accumulated 185 keV energy counts and the reference energy counts. The latter is used to measure the total uranium isotopic content of the specimen. The process eliminates the necessity of knowing the system operating conditions and yet obtains the necessary data without need for large scintillation crystals and sophisticated mechanical designs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4278886
• OSTI ID: 863934
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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185
access
accumulated
analyzer
applications
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assure
carrying
cascade
chamber
chamber connected
channel
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communication
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complete
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content
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crystals
data
designs
determined
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emissions
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fluid
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hexafluoride
hexafluoride gas
in-line
in-line assay
intended
involve
ionizing
ionizing radiation
irradiated
isotopic
isotopic separation
kev
kev energy
kev gamma
knowing
latter
means
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mechanical
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monitor
multiple
multiple channel
necessity
obtains
operating
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operating parameters
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produced
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radiation
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reference
removes
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sample
scintillation
scintillation crystal
scintillation crystals
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source
specimen
stored
total
transmitted
uranium
uranium hexafluoride
uranium-235
weapons
withdraw