METHOD OF CONTROLLING MASS FRACTION OF URANIUM-235 ISOTOPE IN GAS PHASE OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE AND MEASURING SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHOD Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: analytical methods in nuclear engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to analysis of fissile materials by radiation techniques and intended for on-line control of uranium hexafluoride concentration in gas streams of isotope-separation uranium processes. Control method comprises measuring, within selected time interval, intensity of gamma-emission of uranium-235, temperature, and uranium hexafluoride gas phase pressure in measuring chamber. Averaged data are processed to create uranium hexafluoride canal in measuring chamber. Thereafter, measurements are performed within a time interval composed of a series of time gaps and average values are then computed for above-indicated parameters for each time gap and measurement data for the total time interval are computed as averaged values of average values in time gaps. Intensity of gamma-emission of uranium-235, temperature, and pressure, when computing current value of mass fraction of uranium-235 isotope, are determined from averaged measurement data obtained in identical time intervals at variation in current time by a value equal to value of time gap of the time interval. Computed value of mass fraction of uranium-235 isotope is attached to current time within the time interval of measurement. Method is implemented with the aid of measuring system, which contains: measuring chamber provided with inlet and outlet connecting pipes, detection unit, and temperature and pressure sensors, connected to uranium hexafluoride gas collector over inlet connecting pipe; controller with electric pulse counters and gamma specter analyzer; signal adapters; internal information bus; and information collection, management, and processing unit. Controller is supplemented by at least three discriminators and one timer, discriminator being connected to gamma-emission detector output whereas output of each discriminator is connected to input of individual electric pulse counter, whose second input is coupled with timer output. Adapter timer output is connected to internal information bus over information exchange line. Information collection, management, and processing unit is bound to local controlling computer network over external interface network.

EFFECT: enabled quick response in case of emergency deviations of uranium hexafluoride stream concentration, reduced plant configuration rearrangement at variation in concentration of starting and commercial uranium hexafluoride, and eliminated production of substandard product.

24 cl, 5 dwg