Nondestructive boxed transuranic (TRU) waste assay systems

John T. Caldwell; Stephanie A. Jones; Randy F. Lucero

doi:10.1117/12.339058

29 January 1999 Nondestructive boxed transuranic (TRU) waste assay systems

John T. Caldwell, Stephanie A. Jones, Randy F. Lucero

Proceedings Volume 3536, Nuclear Waste Instrumentation Engineering; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339058
Event: Photonics East (ISAM, VVDC, IEMB), 1998, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

A brief history of boxed waste assay systems (primarily those developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory) is presented. The characteristics and design process involved with current generation systems--as practiced by BII--are also discussed in some detail. Finally, a specific boxed waste assay system and acceptance test results are presented. This system was developed by BII and installed at the Waste Receiving and Packaging (WRAP) facility in Hanford, Washington in early 1997. The WRAP system combines imaging passive/active neutron (IPAN) techniques with gamma- ray energy analysis (GEA) to assay crates up to 2.5 m X 2.5 m X 6.5 m in size. (Systems that incorporate both these methodologies are usually denoted IPAN/GEA types.) Two separate gamma-ray measurements are accomplished utilizing 16 arrayed NaI detectors and a moveable HPGe detector, while ³He detectors acquire both active and passive neutron data. These neutron measurements use BII's proprietary imaging methodology. Acceptance testing of the system was conducted at Hanford in January 1998. The system's operating performance was evaluated based on accuracy and sensitivity requirements for three different matrix types. Test results indicate an average 13% active mode accuracy for 10 nCi/g loadings of Pu waste and 5% passive mode accuracy for 10 g loadings of Pu waste. Sensitivity testing demonstrated an active mode lower limit of detection of less than 5 nCi/g of ²³⁹Pu for the medium matrix and less than 20 pCi/g of fission and activation products at 3(sigma) above background.

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John T. Caldwell, Stephanie A. Jones, and Randy F. Lucero "Nondestructive boxed transuranic (TRU) waste assay systems", Proc. SPIE 3536, Nuclear Waste Instrumentation Engineering, (29 January 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339058

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KEYWORDS

Sensors

Imaging systems

Plutonium

Fourier transforms

Magnesium

Cadmium

Calibration

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