Year
2004
Abstract
At the end of 2001, the Department of Energy (USA) made an IQ-3 Waste Assay System, including a comprehensive support program, available to South Africa. The system was made available to assist both South Africa and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in resolution of an anomaly related to drummed waste at the Pelindaba facility. Uranium at the Pelindaba facility was contained in drums of several different sizes with widely varying uranium concentration, enrichment and matrix composition. A calibration scheme was needed to enable accurate measurement of all of these item types using the IQ3. Fabrication of calibration containers to include all drum types, uranium concentrations, and matrix compositions was not practical. As a result, initial calibrations were performed using selected container types and matrices. Additional calibrations were obtained using these empirical calibrations as a basis and then using modelling to account for changed parameters. In addition, tests were developed to determine if the selected calibration was appropriate for the measurement. The processes used to perform the calibrations and test the measurement results are described, and selected results provided.