Year
2009
Abstract
A method of measuring the flow of enriched uranium (EU) through specific points in process streams based on passive gamma spectroscopy is being investigated. The goal is to use multiple spectra to construct a concentration profile as a function of time. The concentration profile will then be coupled to flow rates to estimate the transfer of EU through the measurement point. Computer simulations are being used to estimate count rates for various situations. Variables include EU concentrations, detector types, detector sizes and sample sizes. Simulations are also being used to estimate the effectiveness of shielding configurations in order to minimize the amount of shielding required. Data filtering techniques are being sought that will convert noisy data into accurate concentration profiles. Variations in count rates such as those that would result from concentration changes are being simulated by moving a point source along the cylindrical axis of a detector while multiple spectra are acquired. The results of the modeling efforts and simulation experiments are provided in this presentation.