Objective This research is concerned with non-destructive assay techniques for fissile material determination in waste material mainly in waste drums. Fissile material has been determined by active neutron interrogation with an Sb-Be neutron source which required shieldings due to the approx. 2 E12 Bq Sb-124 and had detection limits between 1 mg and 1 g fissionable material depending on sample size and matrix composition.Neutron transport calculations at SCK/CEN Mol are intended to achieve a theoretical understanding and an improvement of the assay system with different neutron sources by modelling the neutron transport properties in the waste drum and the assay system. A replacement of the Sb-Be neutron source by other low energy neutron sources, such as Am-Li, will lead to an assay system with minimum shielding requirements and constant source strength. The replacement of the Sb-Be neutron source by Am-Li is therefore an important objective of this research. The aim of the final assay system is an easy-to-use and reliable instrument for the estimation or determination of the fissile material content of various packages, mainly waste drums.Work programme: Checking and optimization of the Sb-Be system by comparison with neutron transport calculations.Active neutron interrogation with other neutron sources, in particular Am-Li and comparison with neutron transport calculations.Modification of the system for passive neutron counting capabilities.Test and performance of the active/passive neutron assay system with actual samples, mainly waste drums from the nuclear fuel cycle. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels Programme(s) FP2-RADWASTOM 4C - Specific research and technical development programme (Euratom) in the field of management and storage of radioactive waste, 1990-1994 Topic(s) A.3.3 - Radionuclide assay: development of standard methods and equipment for specific applications Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH EU contribution No data Address Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße 52428 Jülich Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BELGIAN NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTRE Belgium EU contribution No data Address 200,Herrmann Debrouxlaan 40-42 1160 BRUXELLES See on map Total cost No data
