Year
1972
Abstract
As part of the USA EC sponsored Plant Instrumentation Program and Integrated Safeguards Experiment, nondestructive nuclear assay instrumentation was used under actual plutonium fuels fabrication conditions. Instrumentation under evaluation included calorimetry, passive neutron and passive gamma counting techniques. System capabilities were developed and defined during a qualification phase on fuel standards designed to typify difficult plutonium fuels measurement areas. Selected instrumentation was then utilized during two fuel rod fabrication campaigns. Over-all nondestructive assay instrument operating performance is discussed. Nondestructive assay results are integrated into campaign material balances showing a significant decrease in material unaccounted for values over traditional methods of accounting.