DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED, UNATTENDED ASSAY SYSTEM FOR LWR-MOX FUEL PELLET TRAYS*

Year
1994
Author(s)
C. R. Hatcher - Los Alamos National Laboratory
S. Tsalas - European Commission
M. Swinhoe - Euratom Safeguards Directorate
J.E. Stewart - Los Alarnos National Laboratory
W. Harker - Los Alamos National Laboratory
E. Haas - Siemens
K. Chitumbo - International Atomic Energy Agency
Sotiris Synetos - European Commission, DG TREN
L. Bevaart - International Atomic Energy Agency
R. Olsen - International Atomic Energy Agency
Jack L. King - International Atomic Energy Agency
S. Abeynaike - Delta Technologies GmbH
L.L. Pollat - Los Alamos National Laboratory
P. Karasuddhi - International Atomic Energy Agency
Abstract
Four identical unattended plutonium assay systems have been developed for use at the new light-water-reactor mixed oxide (LWR-MOX) fuel fabrication facility at Hanau, Germany. The systems provide quantitative plutonium verification for all MOX pellet trays entering or leaving a large, intermediate store. Pellet-tray transport and storage systems are highly automated. Data from the \"I-Point\" (information point) assay systems will be shared by the Euratom and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Inspectorates. The I-Point system integrates, for the first time, passive neutron coincidence counting (NCC) with electro-mechanical sensing (EMS) in unattended mode. Also, provisions have been made for adding highresolution gamma spectroscopy. The system accumulates data for every tray entering or leaving the store between inspector visits. During an inspection, data are analyzed and compared with operator declarations for the previous inspection period, nominally one month.