ASTM C1455-00
(Guide)Standard Guide for Nondestructive Assay of Special Nuclear Material Holdup Using Gamma-Ray Spectroscopic Methods
Standard Guide for Nondestructive Assay of Special Nuclear Material Holdup Using Gamma-Ray Spectroscopic Methods
SCOPE
1.1 This guide addresses methods used to prepare for and to perform, using gamma-ray measurements, the nondestructive assay (NDA) of radioisotopes, for example, 235U, or 239Pu, remaining as holdup in nuclear facilities. Holdup occurs in facilities where nuclear material is processed. This guide includes the measurement of holdup of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) in places where holdup may occur, such as in process equipment, and in exhaust ventilation systems. This guide includes information useful for management planning, selection of equipment, consideration of interferences, measurement program definition, and the utilization of resources.
1.2 The measurement of nuclear material help up in process equipment is both an art and a science. It is subject to the constraints of politics, economics plus health and safety requirements, as well as to the laws of physics. The measurement process often is long and tedious and is performed under difficult circumstances of location and environment. The work combines the features of a detective investigation and a treasure hunt. Nuclear material held up in pipes, ductwork, gloveboxes, heavy equipment, and so forth, usually is distributed in a diffuse and irregular manner. It is difficult to define the measurement geometry, identify the form of the material, and measure it without interference from adjacent sources of radiation. A scientific knowledge of radiation sources and detectors, calibration procedures, geometry and error analysis also is needed ().
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:C1455–00
Standard Guide for
Nondestructive Assay of Special Nuclear Material Holdup
1
Using Gamma-Ray Spectroscopic Methods
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1455; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Systems
C 1009 Guide for Establishing a Quality Assurance Pro-
1.1 This guide addresses methods used to prepare for and to
gram for Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Within the
perform, using gamma-ray measurements, the nondestructive
3
235 239
Nuclear Industry
assay (NDA) of radioisotopes, for example, U, or Pu,
C 1030 Test Method for Determination of Plutonium Isoto-
remaining as holdup in nuclear facilities. Holdup occurs in
3
pic Composition by Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy
facilities where nuclear material is processed. This guide
2.2 ANSI Standards:
includes the measurement of holdup of Special Nuclear Mate-
ANSI N15.37 Guide to the Automation of Nondestructive
rial (SNM) in places where holdup may occur, such as in
4
Assay Systems for Nuclear Materials Control
process equipment, and in exhaust ventilation systems. This
ANSI/ASME NQA-1-1983 American Nuclear Society Re-
guide includes information useful for management planning,
4
quirements for Nuclear Power Plants
selection of equipment, consideration of interferences, mea-
2.3 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory
surement program definition, and the utilization of resources.
Guides:
1.2 The measurement of nuclear material help up in process
Regulatory Guide 5.23, In Situ Assay of Plutonium Re-
equipment is both an art and a science. It is subject to the
5
sidual Holdup
constraints of politics, economics plus health and safety
Regulatory Guide 5.9, Rev 2, Guidelines for Germanium
requirements, as well as to the laws of physics. The measure-
Spectroscopy Systems for Measurement of Special
ment process often is long and tedious and is performed under
5
Nuclear Material
difficult circumstances of location and environment. The work
combines the features of a detective investigation and a
3. Terminology
treasure hunt. Nuclear material held up in pipes, ductwork,
3.1 Definitions:
gloveboxes, heavy equipment, and so forth, usually is distrib-
3.1.1 absorber foils, n—thin foils, usually of copper, tin,
utedinadiffuseandirregularmanner.Itisdifficulttodefinethe
cadmium, or lead, used to intentionally attenuate the gamma
measurement geometry, identify the form of the material, and
flux reaching a detector. Absorber foils, typically, are used to
measure it without interference from adjacent sources of
reduce the counting rate from low-energy gamma rays not
radiation. A scientific knowledge of radiation sources and
needed for the measurement.
detectors, calibration procedures, geometry and error analysis
2 3.1.2 attenuation, n—reduction of measurable gamma-ray
also is needed (1).
flux due to the interaction of gamma rays with the container,
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
holdup and other material between the source of the gamma-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
rays and the detector.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.3 attenuation correction, n—a correction to the mea-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
sured count rate that enables one to make an estimate of the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
actual gamma-ray emission rate from the holdup, thereby
2. Referenced Documents correcting for the attenuation effects of the measurement
situation.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.4 background, n—any count in a gamma-ray peak,
C 982 Guide for Selecting Components for Energy-
which did not originate as a gamma ray at the assay energy in
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C-26 on Nuclear Fuel
3
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of Test. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01.
4
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2000. Published March 2000. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of Floor, New York, NY 10036.
5
this standard. Available from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC,
20555.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C1455
the sample or item being measured, can be considered back- 3.1.16 shielded detector, n—a detector surrounded on a
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.