In-line assay monitor for uranium hexafluoride

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863934

Wallace, Steven A ^[1]

---

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 (United States)
• 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

in-line
assay
monitor
uranium
hexafluoride
determining
content
uranium-235
gas
isotopic
separation
provided
removes
necessity
complete
access
operating
parameters
intended
safeguard
applications
assure
weapons
grade
produced
enrichment
cascade
method
carrying
involve
cooling
radiation
pervious
chamber
connected
fluid
communication
selected
withdraw
specimen
solidify
irradiated
means
ionizing
source
energy
185
kev
gamma
emissions
simultaneously
transmitted
sample
counted
stored
multiple
channel
analyzer
determined
comparison
accumulated
counts
reference
latter
measure
total
process
eliminates
knowing
conditions
obtains
data
scintillation
crystals
sophisticated
mechanical
designs
scintillation crystals
multiple channel
operating conditions
fluid communication
radiation source
ionizing radiation
operating condition
uranium hexafluoride
operating parameters
mechanical design
isotopic separation
scintillation crystal
chamber connected
kev energy
channel analyzer
method involve
gas isotopic
hexafluoride gas
in-line assay
operating parameter
assay monitor
kev gamma
/250/