New technology for transmission measurements in process pipes.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional radiation transmission techniques for pipe content analysis rely on radioactive sources requiring periodic replacement.
• Gaseous or low-density materials present significant challenges for accurate density measurements in pipes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, non-intrusive transmission measurement technique using an X-ray tube instead of a radioactive source.
• To enhance the accuracy and stability of transmission measurements for process monitoring applications.
• To create an improved enrichment monitor for uranium hexafluoride (UF6) in process pipes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an X-ray tube with a notch filter for a narrow transmission line and a silicon detector for monitoring output.
• Employed a high-throughput gamma spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) detector and a multichannel analyzer (MCA) with dead time correction for transmitted X-ray measurement.
• Developed methods for measuring pipe wall thickness without pipe evacuation, using tungsten shielding and collimators.

Main Results:

• Achieved stable transmission measurements with accuracy within a fraction of a percent.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of using an X-ray tube to eliminate the need for radioactive sources.
• Presented data from an enrichment monitor incorporating these innovations for UF6 analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed X-ray tube-based transmission technique offers a stable, accurate, and safer alternative to traditional radioactive source methods.
• The innovations facilitate non-intrusive, real-time monitoring of process pipe contents, including challenging low-density materials.
• The improved enrichment monitor design enhances the capability for precise UF6 enrichment determination in industrial settings.