Development of PRIDE UNDA for safeguards application

Abstract

In order to enhance the safeguardability of a pyroprocessing facility, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has been endeavoring to develop more efficient and effective safeguards technologies for nuclear material accountancy (NMA), process monitoring, and containment and surveillance (C/S). NMA has two components: destructive analysis (DA) and non-destructive assay (NDA). Although DA is more accurate, it is typically time-consuming and cost-intensive. NDA, on the other hand, can provide reasonable accuracy on a real-time or near-real-time basis, which maximizes the utilization efficiency of a facility. In this study, the PRIDE (PyRoprocessing Integrated inactive DEmonstration) UNDA (unified non-destructive assay) was developed for testing NDA techniques at PRIDE, a demonstration facility within KAERI for integrated pyroprocessing using depleted uranium and surrogate materials. Each component of the PRIDE UNDA (i.e., neutron, gamma-ray, and mass measurement systems) was characterized and calibrated using calibration sources and standard weights as well as nuclear material used in the facility (depleted uranium). It is expected that in the near future, the PRIDE UNDA will be installed and tested with various types of process materials.