Developing a method for the accurate, direct, and independent assay of the fissile isotopes in bulk materials (such as used fuel) from next-generation domestic nuclear fuel cycles is a goal of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Fuel Cycle R&D, Material Protection and Control Technology (MPACT) Campaign. To meet this goal, MPACT supports a multi-institutional collaboration to study the feasibility of Lead Slowing Down Spectroscopy. This technique is an active nondestructive assay method that has the potential to provide independent, direct measurement of Pu and U isotopic masses in used fuel with an uncertainty considerably lower than the approximately 10% typical of today’s confirmatory assay methods. This paper will present efforts on the development of time-spectral analysis algorithms, fast neutron detector advances, and validation and testing measurements.
Revised: January 16, 2014 |
Published: August 30, 2012
Citation
Kulisek J.A., K.K. Anderson, A.M. Casella, C.J. Gesh, G.A. Warren, V.A. Gavron, and M. Devlin, et al. 2012.Status on Establishing the Feasibility of Lead Slowing Down Spectroscopy for Direct Measurement of Plutonium in Used Fuel. In 53rd Annual Meeting of the Institue of Nuclear Materials Managment 2012 (INMM 2012). Deerfield, Illinois:Institute of Nuclear Materials Management.PNNL-SA-88756.