Method and apparatus for measuring irradiated fuel profiles
Abstract
A new apparatus is used to substantially instantaneously obtain a profile of an object, for example a spent fuel assembly, which profile (when normalized) has unexpectedly been found to be substantially identical to the normalized profile of the burnup monitor Cs-137 obtained with a germanium detector. That profile can be used without normalization in a new method of identifying and monitoring in order to determine for example whether any of the fuel has been removed. Alternatively, two other new methods involve calibrating that profile so as to obtain a determination of fuel burnup (which is important for complying with safeguards requirements, for utilizing fuel to an optimal extent, and for storing spent fuel in a minimal amount of space). Using either of these two methods of determining burnup, one can reduce the required measurement time significantly (by more than an order of magnitude) over existing methods, yet retain equal or only slightly reduced accuracy.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864244
- Patent Number(s):
- 4335466
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; measuring; irradiated; fuel; profiles; substantially; instantaneously; obtain; profile; example; spent; assembly; normalized; unexpectedly; found; identical; burnup; monitor; cs-137; obtained; germanium; detector; normalization; identifying; monitoring; determine; removed; alternatively; methods; involve; calibrating; determination; complying; safeguards; requirements; utilizing; optimal; extent; storing; minimal; amount; space; determining; reduce; required; measurement; time; significantly; magnitude; existing; retain; equal; slightly; reduced; accuracy; storing spent; substantially identical; spent fuel; fuel assembly; irradiated fuel; minimal amount; germanium detector; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Lee, David M. Method and apparatus for measuring irradiated fuel profiles. United States: N. p., 1982.
Web.
Lee, David M. Method and apparatus for measuring irradiated fuel profiles. United States.
Lee, David M. Fri .
"Method and apparatus for measuring irradiated fuel profiles". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864244.
@article{osti_864244,
title = {Method and apparatus for measuring irradiated fuel profiles},
author = {Lee, David M},
abstractNote = {A new apparatus is used to substantially instantaneously obtain a profile of an object, for example a spent fuel assembly, which profile (when normalized) has unexpectedly been found to be substantially identical to the normalized profile of the burnup monitor Cs-137 obtained with a germanium detector. That profile can be used without normalization in a new method of identifying and monitoring in order to determine for example whether any of the fuel has been removed. Alternatively, two other new methods involve calibrating that profile so as to obtain a determination of fuel burnup (which is important for complying with safeguards requirements, for utilizing fuel to an optimal extent, and for storing spent fuel in a minimal amount of space). Using either of these two methods of determining burnup, one can reduce the required measurement time significantly (by more than an order of magnitude) over existing methods, yet retain equal or only slightly reduced accuracy.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}