ULTRASONIC SEAL PROGRAM FOR MOX FUEL ASSEMBLY SAFEGUARDS

At the suggestion of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Joint Research Centre, Ispra, and Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, undertook a study directed at developing ultra- sonic seals for international safeguards use on fuel assemblies containing mixed oxide fuel. This joint venture has its genesis from the previous work the two laboratories have pursued in trie area of ultrasonic seals, most notably the successful demonstration of such seals on BWR Fuel Assemblies in the Kahl Reactor, FRG. From that demonstration, it was recognized that the VAK III seal of JRC is an excellent design, and that the Seal Pattern Reader (SPAR) of Sandia is the preferred approach to reading ultrasonic seals. In this program, those two aspects of ultrasonic seal technology are joined with the focus being on the sealing of PWR assemblies. This paper discusses the origin of this program, highlights the progress that has been made to date, and outlines the future activities.