Passive Gamma Spectroscopy for Enriched Uranium Mass Flow Measurements

摘要

A method of measuring the flow of enriched uranium (EU) through specific points inprocess streams based on passive gamma spectroscopy is being investigated. The goal is to usemultiple spectra to construct a concentration profile as a function of time. The concentrationprofile will then be coupled to flow rates to estimate the transfer of EU through the measurementpoint. Computer simulations are being used to estimate count rates for various situations.Variables include EU concentrations, detector types, detector sizes and sample sizes.Simulations are also being used to estimate the effectiveness of shielding configurations in orderto minimize the amount of shielding required. Data filtering techniques are being sought thatwill convert noisy data into accurate concentration profiles. Variations in count rates such asthose that would result from concentration changes are being simulated by moving a point sourcealong the cylindrical axis of a detector while multiple spectra are acquired. The results of themodeling efforts and simulation experiments are provided in this presentation.