Potential Methods for Measuring Uranium Mass Flow in a Production Environment

Chemical processing of enriched uranium (EU) at the Y12 National Security Complex involves the use of complex material storage and movement configurations. In order to achieve near-real-time accountability, a better knowledge of EU quantities in each sub-process is necessary. Monitoring transfer points for EU flow could help achieve this. Instruments that will measure fluid flow are available, but better instruments are needed that quickly and accurately measure uranium concentrations. Concentration ranges vary from parts per million levels to grams EU per liter levels. Three methods are being investigated in hopes that instruments can be developed that will meet requirements for the various concentration ranges. Potentiometric, photometric and radiometric techniques are being evaluated. This presentation is an overview of the three methods that includes the perceived benefits of each and the likely problems to be encountered.