Year
1971
Abstract
During the past several years increased emphasis has been placed on the development and application of chemical analysis and nondestructive assay techniques for Safeguards measurements of special nuclear materials. The result of this work is a large collection of alternative measurement techniques for many production materials. These techniques have been applied to a bewildering array of container sizes, to materials of widely different chemical and physical forms, and in a variety of sampling patterns. This situation places a very real burden for staying up-to-date with a rapidly changing and expanding technology on those working to assure effective Safeguards control of special nuclear material in the nuclear industry. For example, an operator of a fuel fabrication plant must attempt to keep abreast of new developments in nondestructive assay methods and techniques. As part of his operation, the plant operator would like to be able to access the applicability, efficacy and accuracy of new assay techniques. In choosing to purchase a gamma spectrometer for use in his fuel fabrication production line, the plant operator must be able to critically evaluate the assay accuracies claimed by the manufacturer. He must be aware of possible shortcomings of the method due to self-absorption, sample alignment, count rate corrections, etc. Therefore, he must either be familiar with the gamma spectrometer technique or have access to current information on the capabilities of the technique. Similarly, in deciding to upgrade his chemical analysis capability, the operator must have a rational basis for a choice among a large number of possibilities. He must be aware of possible limitations due to pretreatment techniques, interfering elements and calibration procedures. In either case, knowledge of the technical capabilities, measurement uncertainties, and problems associated with implementing the techniques will provide him with a basis for evaluating each alternative solution.