Field Trial of LANL On-Line Advanced Enrichment Monitor for UF6 GCEP

Year
2012
Author(s)
D.W MacArthur - Los Alamos National Laboratory
K. D. Ianakiev - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Robert F. Parker - Los Alamos National Laboratory
P. J. Friend - Urenco Ltd.
M. Lombardi - Los Alamos National Laboratory
A. Dunford - Urenco UK Ltd.
Abstract
This paper reports on collaborative efforts between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and URENCO on a field trial of the Advanced Enrichment Monitor (AEM) system. AEM technology has been developed under joint funding of the NA-22 and NA-241 Program Offices of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy. The system architecture consists of passive (186-keV line spectroscopy and pressure-based correction for UF6 gas density), and active (186-keV line spectroscopy and transmission-measurement-based correction for UF6 gas density). The prototype of a passive measurement system using operator-supplied pressure data was installed in August 2011. The AEM data together with operator’s pressure data were transmitted to LANL for post processing. The system has been in operation tracking the enrichment produced for different customers since then. The active system, based on an independent transmission measurement for UF6 gas density as well as direct pickup of operator pressure transducer information, was installed in April 2012. Calibration of both passive and active enrichment monitoring systems has been performed using the LANL pressure transients method and operator mass spectrometry data without need of an empty pipe measurement. The spectroscopy data and pressure data have been transmitted to LANL. The enrichment was calculated by post processing of transmitted data. Good agreement (usually below one percent relative) was obtained between both passive and active AEM and mass spectroscopy.