Measurements Made in Support of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion PlantCascade Characterization Program

摘要

At the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, a cascade characterization program has beenrninitiated to support eventual D&D of the three cascade buildings (Buildings X-326, X-330 andrnX-333) formerly used to produce enriched uranium. The current program focuses on the twornbuildings used to process uranium enrichments above 2.5%. Measured items include converters,rncompressors, coolers, interconnecting piping, and auxiliary process equipment. Items werernmeasured using qualitative and quantitative gamma-ray measurements and quantitative neutronrnmeasurements. Numerous measurement challenges were addressed, including backgroundrncontribution from cylinder lots located near Building X-330, item contribution from cascaderncomponents in close proximity to each other, and combination of multiple measurements onrnlarge components and cascade equipment. Software to provide storage and retrieval of raw andrnprocessed data, to perform the analyses, and to overcome these obstacles was and is beingrnwritten as the project progresses. Measurement and analysis techniques will be addressed andrnpreliminary results provided.