Open AccessNon-destructive assay of EBR-II blanket elements using resonance transmission analysis.
Author(s) -
R. T. Klann,
W.P. Poenitz
Publication year - 1998
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/12067
Subject(s) - blanket , resonance (particle physics) , uranium 238 , uranium , analytical chemistry (journal) , fission , radiochemistry , uranium 235 , chemistry , plutonium 239 , uranium 233 , plutonium 240 , nuclear physics , materials science , neutron , physics , atomic physics , plutonium , mox fuel , chromatography , composite material
Resonance transmission analysis utilizing a faltered reactor beam was examined as a means of determining the {sup 239}Pu content in Experimental Breeder Reactor-II depleted uranium blanket elements. The technique uses cadmium and gadolinium falters along with a {sup 239}Pu fission chamber to isolate the 0.3 eV resonance in {sup 239}Pu. In the energy range of this resonance (0.1 eV to 0.5 ev), the total microscopic cross-section of {sup 239}Pu is significantly greater than the cross-sections of {sup 238}U and {sup 235}U. This large difference allows small changes in the {sup 239}Pu content of a sample to result in large changes in the mass signal response. Tests with small stacks of depleted uranium and {sup 239}Pu foils indicate a significant change in response based on the {sup 239}Pu content of the foil stack. In addition, the tests indicate good agreement between the measured and predicted values of {sup 239}Pu up to approximately two weight percent