Pulsed Neutron Measurments With A DT Neutron Generator for an Annular HEU Uranium Metal Casting

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/992087· OSTI ID:992087

Mihalczo, John T ^[1]; Archer, Daniel E ^[1]; Wright, Michael C ^[1]; Mullens, James Allen ^[1]

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1. ORNL

Measurements were performed with a single annular, stainless-steel-canned casting of uranium (93.17 wt% 235U) metal ( ~18 kg) to provide data to verify calculational methods for criticality safety. The measurements used a small portable DT generator with an embedded alpha detector to time and directionally tag the neutrons from the generator. The center of the time and directional tagged neutron beam was perpendicular to the axis of the casting. The radiation detectors were 1x1x6 in plastic scintillators encased in 0.635-cm-thick lead shields that were sensitive to neutrons above 1 MeV in energy. The detector lead shields were adjacent to the casting and the target spot of the generator was about 3.8 cm from the casting at the vertical center. The time distribution of the fission induced radiation was measured with respect to the source event by a fast (1GHz) processor. The measurements described in this paper also include time correlation measurements with a time tagged spontaneously fissioning 252Cf neutron source, both on the axis and on the surface of the casting. Measurements with both types of sources are compared. Measurements with the DT generator closely coupled with the HEU provide no more additional information than those with the Cf source closely coupled with the HEU and are complicated by the time and directionally tagged neutrons from the generator scattering between the walls and floor of the measurements room and the casting while still above detection thresholds.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 992087
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-2007/092; NN2001000; NNPORES
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English