Test of the α-Monitor OLAM
Creators
- 1. BWB Engineering G.m.b.H., Loerrach (Germany, F.R.)
Description
After some general remarks concerning the continuous monitoring of process solution of a reprocessing facility the instruments for measuring on-line the α-activity of such solutions are described. One of these is the OLAM (On Line Alpha Monitor) based on a ceriumactivated glass scintillator. After its description the tests of the monitor concerning the minimum detectable amount, the contaminaton of the detector during use in a test loop in the laboratory and its decontamination are described and the results discussed (Variation of plutonium between normal background in a glove box till 80 mg/l corresponding to a variation of the signal of 0,9 cps to 1620 cps). It could be shown that organic solution with dispersed aqueous phase could be not so easily decontaminated. The background after this experiments was about 35 cps. Using middle active waste solution with a plutonium content between 8,9 mg/l and 74 mg/l the countrate was at each addition of plutonium too high and dropped after an interval of some hours to the 2,5 to 3-fold of the expected. The decontamination was only possible to a countrate corresponding to 10 mg/l. Alpha-spectra of the monitor and autoradiographs are given. The contamination could not be explained. (orig.)
Availability note (English)
MF available from INIS under the Report Number.Abstract (German)
Nach einigen allgemeinen Bemerkungen die kontinuierliche Analyse von Prozesstroemen in Wiederaufarbeitungsanlagen betreffend werden die Instrumente zur kontinuierlichen Messung der α-Aktivitaet beschrieben. Eines davon ist OLAM (On Lina Alpha Monitor), der auf einem mit Cer aktivierten Glasszintillator basiert. Nach dessen Beschreibung werden die Tests diskutiert, die vor allem die untere Erfassungsgrenze, den Aufbau der Kontamination waehrend des Betriebes und die Dekontaminierbarkeit untersuchten. Die Plutoniumkonzentration wurde zwischen dem normalen Untergrund in einer Handschuhbox und 80 mg/l variiert entsprechend einer Zaehlrate zwischen 0,9 cps und 1620 cps. Dabei zeigte sich, dass die Dekontamination am schlechtesten in organischen Loesungen mit waessrigem Entrainment gelang. Die Zaehlrate nach diesen Dekontaminationen betrug 35 cps. Schliesslich verwendeten wir eine mittelaktive Wasteloesung, deren Plutoniumgehalt zwischen 8,9 mg/l und 74 mg/l variierte. Die Zaehlrate war zunaecht immer zu hoch und fiel waehrend einiger Stunden auf das 2,5- bis 3-fache des erwarteten Wertes. Die Dekontamination war nur bis zu einer Zaehlrate, die etwa 10 mg/l entsprach, moeglich. Die Ursache der Kontamination konnte nicht eindeutig erklaert werden. (orig.)
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Additional details
Publishing Information
- Imprint Pagination
- 18 p.
- Report number
- KFK--3471
INIS
- Country of Publication
- Germany
- Country of Input or Organization
- Germany
- INIS RN
- 14762098
- Subject category
- S46: INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS;
- Descriptors DEI
- ALPHA DETECTION; CONTAMINATION; DECONTAMINATION; EFFICIENCY; FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS; GLASS SCINTILLATORS; LIQUID WASTES; ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS; RADIATION MONITORS; REPROCESSING; SENSITIVITY; SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS; SOLUTIONS
- Descriptors DEC
- ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS; CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION; CLEANING; DISPERSIONS; HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURES; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MIXTURES; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; ON-LINE SYSTEMS; PHOSPHORS; RADIATION DETECTION; RADIATION DETECTORS; SCINTILLATION COUNTERS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; TESTING; TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS; WASTES