ENRICHMENT MEASUREMENT IN LOW ENRICHED 235U FUEL PELLETS

Year
1972
Author(s)
Martin S. Zucker - Brookhaven National Laboratory
Gordon Gunderson - USAEC Regulatory Operations
Abstract
A multi-channel analyzer and Nal-photomultiplier tube were used to measure the J5U enrichment in low enriched U02 pellets. A selection of pellets ranging from 0.857o to 167=, in enrichment and of diverse origins was found to yield an accurately linear relation between a properly defined counting rate and the percent 235y enrichment. It was found necessary to perform the background subtraction carefully in order for the resulting linear plot to pass through the origin. A simple technique for making pellet measurements was developed based on this observation which is sufficiently accurate to separate the usual neighboring values of enrichment. Field applications and experiences with this technique for low enriched fuel pellet measurements will be described.