Experimental Evaluation of the Differential die-Away Pulsed-Neutron Technique for the Fissile Assay of Hot Irradiated Fuel Waste

摘要

Hot irradiated fuel waste packages containing self neutron sources up to 10 exp 7 n/s may be assayed successfully with a 25-mg exp 239 Pu detection sensitivity using a differential die-away fissile assay system based on a Sandia-designed 14-MeV neutron generator. With a minor design change, our system can accommodate contact gamma dose rates up to 10 exp 4 R/h with no loss of fissile assay sensitivity. (ERA citation 07:042622)