Method and apparatus for measuring reactivity of fissile material
Abstract
Given are a method and apparatus for measuring nondestructively and noninvasively (i.e., using no internal probing) the burnup, reactivity, or fissile content of any material which emits neutrons and which has fissionable components. The assay is accomplished by altering the return flux of neutrons into the fuel assembly by means of changing the reflecting material. The existing passive neutron emissions in the material being assayed are used as the source of interrogating neutrons. Two measurements of either emitted neutron or emitted gamma-ray count rates are made and are then correlated to either reactivity, burnup, or fissionable content of the material being assayed, thus providing a measurement of either reactivity, burnup, or fissionable content of the material being assayed. Spent fuel which has been freshly discharged from a reactor can be assayed using this method and apparatus. Precisions of 1000 MWd/tU appear to be feasible.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5840469
- Application Number:
- ON: DE83018101
- Assignee:
- ERA-08-053722; EDB-83-175504
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; FISSILE MATERIALS; NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS; SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS; BURNUP; FISSIONABLE MATERIALS; FUEL ASSEMBLIES; NEUTRON DETECTION; REACTIVITY; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; DETECTION; FUEL ELEMENTS; MATERIALS; RADIATION DETECTION; REACTOR COMPONENTS; 055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards, Inspection, & Accountability- Technical Aspects; 400103 - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)
Citation Formats
Lee, D M, and Lindquist, L O. Method and apparatus for measuring reactivity of fissile material. United States: N. p., 1982.
Web.
Lee, D M, & Lindquist, L O. Method and apparatus for measuring reactivity of fissile material. United States.
Lee, D M, and Lindquist, L O. Tue .
"Method and apparatus for measuring reactivity of fissile material". United States.
@article{osti_5840469,
title = {Method and apparatus for measuring reactivity of fissile material},
author = {Lee, D M and Lindquist, L O},
abstractNote = {Given are a method and apparatus for measuring nondestructively and noninvasively (i.e., using no internal probing) the burnup, reactivity, or fissile content of any material which emits neutrons and which has fissionable components. The assay is accomplished by altering the return flux of neutrons into the fuel assembly by means of changing the reflecting material. The existing passive neutron emissions in the material being assayed are used as the source of interrogating neutrons. Two measurements of either emitted neutron or emitted gamma-ray count rates are made and are then correlated to either reactivity, burnup, or fissionable content of the material being assayed, thus providing a measurement of either reactivity, burnup, or fissionable content of the material being assayed. Spent fuel which has been freshly discharged from a reactor can be assayed using this method and apparatus. Precisions of 1000 MWd/tU appear to be feasible.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 07 00:00:00 EDT 1982},
month = {Tue Sep 07 00:00:00 EDT 1982}
}