Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response
Abstract
Apparatus and method for the direct, nondestructive evaluation of the .sup.235 U nuclide content of samples containing UF.sub.6, UF.sub.4, or UO.sub.2 utilizing the passive neutron self-interrogation of the sample resulting from the intrinsic production of neutrons therein. The ratio of the emitted neutron coincidence count rate to the total emitted neutron count rate is determined and yields a measure of the bulk fissile mass. The accuracy of the method is 6.8% (1.sigma.) for cylinders containing UF.sub.6 with enrichments ranging from 6% to 98% with measurement times varying from 3-6 min. The samples contained from below 1 kg to greater than 16 kg. Since the subject invention relies on fast neutron self-interrogation, complete sampling of the UF.sub.6 takes place, reducing difficulties arising from inhomogeneity of the sample which adversely affects other assay procedures.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866026
- Patent Number(s):
- 4617466
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- direct; fissile; assay; enriched; uranium; random; self-interrogation; neutron; coincidence; response; apparatus; method; nondestructive; evaluation; 235; nuclide; content; samples; containing; uo; utilizing; passive; sample; resulting; intrinsic; production; neutrons; therein; ratio; emitted; count; rate; total; determined; yields; measure; bulk; mass; accuracy; sigma; cylinders; enrichments; ranging; 98; measurement; times; varying; 3-6; contained; below; kg; 16; subject; relies; fast; complete; sampling; takes; reducing; difficulties; arising; inhomogeneity; adversely; affects; procedures; nondestructive evaluation; enriched uranium; fast neutron; count rate; adversely affect; passive neutron; neutron coincidence; times varying; samples containing; nuclide content; emitted neutron; neutron count; coincidence count; /250/376/
Citation Formats
Menlove, Howard O, and Stewart, James E. Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web.
Menlove, Howard O, & Stewart, James E. Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response. United States.
Menlove, Howard O, and Stewart, James E. Wed .
"Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866026.
@article{osti_866026,
title = {Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response},
author = {Menlove, Howard O and Stewart, James E},
abstractNote = {Apparatus and method for the direct, nondestructive evaluation of the .sup.235 U nuclide content of samples containing UF.sub.6, UF.sub.4, or UO.sub.2 utilizing the passive neutron self-interrogation of the sample resulting from the intrinsic production of neutrons therein. The ratio of the emitted neutron coincidence count rate to the total emitted neutron count rate is determined and yields a measure of the bulk fissile mass. The accuracy of the method is 6.8% (1.sigma.) for cylinders containing UF.sub.6 with enrichments ranging from 6% to 98% with measurement times varying from 3-6 min. The samples contained from below 1 kg to greater than 16 kg. Since the subject invention relies on fast neutron self-interrogation, complete sampling of the UF.sub.6 takes place, reducing difficulties arising from inhomogeneity of the sample which adversely affects other assay procedures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986}
}