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Title: An unattended verification station for UF 6 cylinders: Field trial findings

Abstract

In recent years, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pursued innovative techniques and an integrated suite of safeguards measures to address the verification challenges posed by the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Among the unattended instruments currently being explored by the IAEA is an Unattended Cylinder Verification Station (UCVS), which could provide automated, independent verification of the declared relative enrichment, 235U mass, total uranium mass, and identification for all declared uranium hexafluoride cylinders in a facility (e.g., uranium enrichment plants and fuel fabrication plants). Under the auspices of the United States and European Commission Support Programs to the IAEA, a project was undertaken to assess the technical and practical viability of the UCVS concept. The first phase of the UCVS viability study was centered on a long-term field trial of a prototype UCVS system at a fuel fabrication facility. A key outcome of the study was a quantitative performance evaluation of two nondestructive assay (NDA) methods being considered for inclusion in a UCVS: Hybrid Enrichment Verification Array (HEVA), and Passive Neutron Enrichment Meter (PNEM). This paper provides a description of the UCVS prototype design and an overview of the long-term field trial. In conclusion, analysis results andmore » interpretation are presented with a focus on the performance of PNEM and HEVA for the assay of over 200 “typical” Type 30B cylinders, and the viability of an “NDA Fingerprint” concept as a high-fidelity means to periodically verify that material diversion has not occurred.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [3];  [4];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [2]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  4. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
OSTI Identifier:
1399116
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1395279; OSTI ID: 1429995
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-124757; LA-UR-16-23442
Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002; TRN: US1702598
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725; AC05-76RL01830; AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 874; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; Nondestructive assay; Nuclear safeguards; Uranium enrichment; Uranium hexafluoride

Citation Formats

Smith, L. E., Miller, Karen A., McDonald, B. S., Webster, J. B., Zalavadia, M. A., Garner, James R., Stewart, Scott L., Branney, Sean J., Todd, L. C., Deshmukh, N. S., Nordquist, Heather A., Kulisek, J. A., and Swinhoe, Martyn T. An unattended verification station for UF6 cylinders: Field trial findings. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2017.08.003.
Smith, L. E., Miller, Karen A., McDonald, B. S., Webster, J. B., Zalavadia, M. A., Garner, James R., Stewart, Scott L., Branney, Sean J., Todd, L. C., Deshmukh, N. S., Nordquist, Heather A., Kulisek, J. A., & Swinhoe, Martyn T. An unattended verification station for UF6 cylinders: Field trial findings. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.08.003
Smith, L. E., Miller, Karen A., McDonald, B. S., Webster, J. B., Zalavadia, M. A., Garner, James R., Stewart, Scott L., Branney, Sean J., Todd, L. C., Deshmukh, N. S., Nordquist, Heather A., Kulisek, J. A., and Swinhoe, Martyn T. Sat . "An unattended verification station for UF6 cylinders: Field trial findings". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.08.003. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1399116.
@article{osti_1399116,
title = {An unattended verification station for UF6 cylinders: Field trial findings},
author = {Smith, L. E. and Miller, Karen A. and McDonald, B. S. and Webster, J. B. and Zalavadia, M. A. and Garner, James R. and Stewart, Scott L. and Branney, Sean J. and Todd, L. C. and Deshmukh, N. S. and Nordquist, Heather A. and Kulisek, J. A. and Swinhoe, Martyn T.},
abstractNote = {In recent years, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pursued innovative techniques and an integrated suite of safeguards measures to address the verification challenges posed by the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Among the unattended instruments currently being explored by the IAEA is an Unattended Cylinder Verification Station (UCVS), which could provide automated, independent verification of the declared relative enrichment, 235U mass, total uranium mass, and identification for all declared uranium hexafluoride cylinders in a facility (e.g., uranium enrichment plants and fuel fabrication plants). Under the auspices of the United States and European Commission Support Programs to the IAEA, a project was undertaken to assess the technical and practical viability of the UCVS concept. The first phase of the UCVS viability study was centered on a long-term field trial of a prototype UCVS system at a fuel fabrication facility. A key outcome of the study was a quantitative performance evaluation of two nondestructive assay (NDA) methods being considered for inclusion in a UCVS: Hybrid Enrichment Verification Array (HEVA), and Passive Neutron Enrichment Meter (PNEM). This paper provides a description of the UCVS prototype design and an overview of the long-term field trial. In conclusion, analysis results and interpretation are presented with a focus on the performance of PNEM and HEVA for the assay of over 200 “typical” Type 30B cylinders, and the viability of an “NDA Fingerprint” concept as a high-fidelity means to periodically verify that material diversion has not occurred.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2017.08.003},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = C,
volume = 874,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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