High Wattage Calorimeter System for Measurement of the EP-61 Container

EG&G Mound Applied Technologies has developed a calorimeter for the measurement of high wattage samples while maintaining the accuracy usually associated with lower wattage samples. The calorimeter system is suitable for measuring General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) type samples in both the EP-61 \"flashlight\" and the Fuel Clad Canister (FCC) packaging configurations. The system is configured with a Mound Electrical Calibration Heater (MECH) which can be used as a secondary system standard. Tests of the system using samples of both the FCC and the EP-61 type have produced assay results with an accuracy of less than ±0.05% at one sigma, while use of the MECH has produced results with an accuracy of less than ±0.04% at one sigma. The system has been tested over the range from 40 to 120 watts.