Year
1979
Abstract
Three recent developments, when combined, have the potential for greatly improving accountability measurements in the nuclear fuel cycle. The techniques are particularly valuable when measuring the contents of vessels which are difficult to calibrate by weight or volume. Input dissolver accountability measurements, in particular, benefit from the application of these techniques. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory has developed the capability for isotopic analysis of U and Pu samples at the nanogram level with an accuracy of 0.1 relative %. The Central Bureau for Nuclear Materials Measurement in Gee!, Belgium has developed the capability of preparing mixed, solid metal U and Pu spikes with an accuracy of better than 0.1 relative %. Idaho Nuclear Energy Laboratory and C. K. Mathews at Bhabha Atomic Research have demonstrated a technique for determining the ratio of sample size to total solution measured which is independent of both the weight and the volume of the solution being measured. The advantages and limitations of these techniques are discussed. An analytical scheme which takes advantage of the special features of these techniques is proposed.