2010NGSI Summer Interns:

Non-Destructive Assay (NDA)

May-July 2010

Jeff Chapman

NDA Team Lead

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The Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) department is pleased to have:

• Three summer interns working on the installation of the Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer (HKED)system at the Radiochemical Engineering Center (REDC)

• One summer intern assisting with our understanding in uranyl fluoride deposit formation in uranium enrichment facilities

• Interns supporting Safeguards Engagement projects in South Africa, Ukraine, and Kazahkstan (for C. Behan)

– For more details on the summer internship programs, refer to Ed Wonder’s August 2009 paper posted at: http://events.energetics.com/univworkshop10/presentations/Ed_Wonder.pdf

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ORNL Organization (NGSI/NESLS)

Global Nuclear Security Technology Division

Alan Icenhour, Director

Safeguards andSecurity Technology

Chris Pickett

NonDestructive Assay

Jeff Chapman

NGSI Summer Interns(In NDA)

UTB Governor's ChairHoward Hall

NGSI/NESLS Program Support

Bernadette KirkMichael Whitaker

Amy Hunt

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By way of introduction…

Alice

•Chemical engineering review of uranyl fluoride formation

•Examination of (α,n) rates as a function of hydration.

Ben

•HKED model in MCNP (monte-carlo based radiation transport)

•First principles of x-ray production in U, Pu, Cm, Np, Am

Erik

•HKED implementation at REDC --- electro-mechanical engineering

•Stirling Coolers for the Cryocycle dewars used for planar detector(s)

Jeremy

•HKED software, human-computer interface

•HKED algorithms

Taking a closer look at the students and what they are working on…

Alice Begovich

• Enrolled at UTK for Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

• To obtain a complete chemical understanding of deposit formation in enrichment plants

• Graduated from the University of Dayton in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering

• I am a vegan • Played rugby all four years of my

undergraduate education

About Me

Unique Facts about Me

• I play the flute with a band of friends

• I have been to Spain and Italy and would love to go back

Future Plans

My Project

• Will provide increased knowledge to NDA developers that may lead to improvement in techniques to measure holdup

• Hometown of Knoxville, TN

• Working with Jeff Chapman at ORNL

• Want to work toward improving the state of the environment through the use of more nuclear power while also maintaining and improving the safety of nuclear materials

MENTOR:Jeff ChapmanPROGRAM:NESLSGlobal Nuclear Security Technology DivisionSafeguards & Security Technology Group

Ben Farr PROJECT: Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer

ASSIGNMENT: Create an MCNP model of the system to be used to identify and simulate future improvements.

Undergraduate Senior in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee

This system is used to verify uranium and plutonium concentrations in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants in order to guard against the threat of the diversion of SNM.

Organizations:

After graduation, I plan to immediately continue on with my education and earn a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering.

I was the UT Drum Major for the 2008 and 2009 football seasons

At UT, I work for Dr. Howard Hall, UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Nuclear Security

FUTURE PLANS:I am getting married this August.

UNIQUE ABOUT ME:

Chelsea, my FiancéeSophie, our mini Australian Shepherd

I hope to contribute to the area of Nuclear Safeguards and Security by pursuing a career in this field.

The HKED improves safeguards by providing measurements using faster and simpler methods than traditional chemical analyses.

MENTOR:Jeff Chapman

PROGRAM:NESLS

Safeguards and Security Technology Group

Global Nuclear Security and Technology Division

Erik Ellis

Living a balanced life between work and recreation

Learning about the present and future technologies for safeguarding nuclear

material

Education is the cornerstone of triumph or failure

Oak Ridge High School Tennessee Tech

Career in Engineering

Jeremy Townsend

Mentor: Jeff Chapman

Unique things about me

- I am a Knox County Reserve Deputy Sheriff

Back in High School I won state track in the 4X400 meter relay

I love Cold weather (anything under 0 degrees)

I've Traveled to St. Lucia, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Mexico, Honduras, and my favorite place Alaska

I love to earn money while playing Blackjack

When I was a kid I was a master at dominos

• Currently I am a senior at the University of Tennessee majoring in Nuclear Engineering

• At UT I work for Dr. Howard Hall, UT-ORNL Governors' Chair for Nuclear Security

• I Have been married for almost 3 years to my wife Amanda and we have no kids but 2 dogs

• I have lived in Knoxville for the past 15 years• My goal for the future is to have a safe and

secure job somewhere in the nuclear industry.

Project: Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer (HKED)

-The Hybrid K-Edge is used to measure concentrations of Uranium and Plutonium in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants faster than traditional methods. Which is important for safeguards and non-proliferation. -My goal on this project is to help write the operating procedure for the HKED system as well as to foresee any issue the system might have prior to and during operation and installation.

“There are 24 hours in a day… Then you have night”

(Jeff Chapman)

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Key Objectives

• Take a part of these various projects, and make it your own:– Radiation Transport Modeling– Chemical Engineering Processes (uranium, recycle)– Electro-mechanical engineering of HKED Subsystems– Algorithms and IC software.

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Uranium Enrichment: Chemical Reactions Involved in Holdup

)()(22)(2)(6 42 gsgg HFFUOOHUF When moist air infiltrates the system:

2226 22 NiFFUONiOUF

HFNiFFUOOHNiUF 222226

When oxides or hydroxides are on inner surfaces of metals:

With pure metal:

256 22 NiFUFNiUF (U2F9, UF4 are also possible products)

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Deposition Characteristics

• Deposits increase with time

• After initial exposure, rate of deposit generally decreases

• Quantities and rates of deposit depend on cleaning procedures, plant operation, and location of deposition site in the facility

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Uranyl Fluoride Hydrate

• UO2F2∙nH2O where

• UO2F2 = hygroscopic (readily absorbs moisture from air)

• Continues to form hydrates until stable compound UO2F2∙2H2O is reached

• Then can continue to absorb excess moisture until

nU

H2

16U

H

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Participation in the Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer Factory Acceptance Test

• Familiarity with performing a vendor’s inspection and test, including quality assurance.

• Hands-on use of a working system (3-continuous days)

• How to identify performance issues.

• How to operate an x-ray machine along with the precautions necessary for safe operation

• Specific application or skill learned– Performed calibration verification tests for the XRF, KED, and hybrid KED/XRF.

– Mechanical maintenance and upkeep

– Acquired detailed information to be used for modeling purposes

– Had first-hand access to experts

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MCNPX for Modeling KED/XRF Systems• Setup of system geometries

– More components and detail to be added

• Define material composition of components with focus on the sample solution– Need verification of material

assumptions and chemistry calculations

3D Rendition of HKED

• Define X-ray source energy distribution and beam characteristics– Input distribution from spectrum

calculated by program such as SpekCalc (Institute of Cancer Research, UK) or model the x-ray generating tube in MCNP Example Spectrum Generated

by SpekCalc

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Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer System Design for Non-Destructive Assay of Nuclear Materials

Erik EllisTennessee Technological UniversityHybrid K-Edge

Densitometry

Utilizes x-ray’s for non-destructive assay of nuclear materials (Uranium and

Plutonium)

Electro-Mechanical Design

■ The X-ray tube (pictured beneath the lead shielding) requires a high voltage generator to produce the X-rays

■ The generator then requires a cooler to keep the generator operating efficiently and without overheating

The radiation detectors require operation at a very low temperature for accurate measurements so they are each paired with a liquid nitrogen dewar

Around 77K(-195 C) insideCANBERRA Cryo-Cycle

Cryostat

■“Cryogenic” – Of or relating to low temperatures

■ The Cryo-Cycle Cryostat is a Revolutionary innovation in the field of cryogenically cooled radiation detectors

■ Described as “hybrid” because it utilizes both conventional LN2(liquid nitrogen) and electric cooling

This Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer uses self-replenishing dewars

■ This cooling system is unique because the boil-off nitrogen no longer has to be replaced but is condensed back into useable liquid N2 using the built in cryocooler

■ It provides the convenience of electric cooling with the reliability of liquid nitrogen (immune to power failure)

Traditionally, Liquid nitrogen is placed in a dewar and simply refilled after a month or so when it boils away at room temperature…

First Hybrid K-Edge Densitometer with this technology

Nitrogen Cryo-Cycle

■ The built-in power controller keeps the cooler operating

within safe limits. The efficiency of the cryocooler and

the power controller are very high so the total power

consumption is typically 150 –200 watts.

■ Unit makes very little audible noise (<70 dB at 1 m).

■ AMBIENT TEMPERATURE RANGE – 10–35 °C

(50–95 °F).

■ The expected life of the cooler is greater than five years in continuous operation.

■ LN2 CAPACITY – 22 liters (39 lb)

■ LN2 LOSS RATE – <3 liters/day typically

(with cryocooler off)

■ COOLING – Forced Air (internal fan).

■ LEVEL INDICATORS – LEDS on central panel indicate high and low LN2 levels.

■ No external hardware, hoses, or cables are required. The Cryo- Cycle Cryostat simply plugs into an AC (90-240 V, 50-60 Hz) power outlet.

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Detailed Presentations and Posters will be provided

• NDA students will host a brown-bag lunch seminar to present the results of their projects.

• NDA students will prepare a poster session to be given in August, laboratory wide.

• We continue to work with the ORNL program office, Howard Hall, University of Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and SRNL to provide ongoing graduate students to support these NDA and SST endeavors.