Experience With Environmental Swipe Sampling In A Newly Built Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant

In late 1997, the new gas centrifuge enrichment plant E23 went into operation at the Urenco Capenhurst site in the United Kingdom. Environmental swipe samples were collected in the process environment in five sampling campaigns; first during the initial commissioning period, followed by four collections as new cascades were brought on line and as enrichment levels were increased. The primary objective was to assess whether and how quickly swipe sampling in combination with particle analysis can detect increases in the product assay. Furthermore, the results should provide a better understanding of particle release mechanisms and serve to identify potential sampling locations for future sampling campaigns. The paper summaries the results of these measurements.