Fugate, Michael Lynn | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2019

Monitoring an Electro-Refining Process (Rev. 1)

In this report we examine measurements from two different sensors for detecting a diversion of plutonium in an electro-refining (ER) process. One method is based on counts from a high dose neutron detector (HDND). The other is based on spectra from a micro-calorimeter sensor. The spectra come from ER-salt, fission product waste, and from a source term. The goal is to differentiate between normal and off normal operating conditions using neutron counts or changes in counts in the spectra. Unfortunately, there is no electro-refining process that we can actually monitor to obtain real data from various operating conditions so we will use simulated data to illustrate our approach.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2019

Modeling of Pyroprocessing Hot Cell for Process Monitoring Evaluation

In this report, we examine studies undertaken to determine the applicability of applying measurements with a neutron counter within a pyroprocessing hot cell. The studies focus on the modeling of the hot cell and neutron counter in Monte Carlo N- Particle Code (MCNP) to determine expected radiation effects and applicability of neutron counters. The neutron counter of focus was the High Dose Neutron Detector (HDND) developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). We studied the HDND to determine what would be the detector response under normal background conditions with operating process equipment as well as the background’s potential effect on counting applications involving a U/TRU ingot produced by the pyroprocessing electrorefiner. To perform this task, we were required to develop models of the pyroprocessing process cell and unit operations and generate source terms for various different times in the process. The data for the pyroprocessing materials came from SNL’s Safeguards and Security Process Model (SSPM) as part of MPACT’s advanced integration mission. This report will discuss the development of the pyroprocessing process cell and unit operations models in MCNP as well as various simulations to determine the applicability of the HDND for process monitoring efforts in the hot cell.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗