Fall 2006, Vol. 3, Issue 3

Future Y‑12 Technologies: Technologies under construction

Radiation detectors are part of a developing system to improve continuous accountability monitoring. Click image for larger view.

The NNSA Future Technologies Conference focused not only on technologies in use but also those in development. One potential technique Y‑12 showcased was the continuous accountability measurements of special nuclear material. This capability would allow workers to go from an inventory system that is periodic to one that is on‑demand.

Joe Cochran of Applied Technologies said, “The development and deployment of these techniques will take some time, but the outcome will be worth the wait.”

By implementing automated, continuous accountability measurements, Y‑12 will benefit in two ways, both of which are cost-effective. First, the continuous methods would reduce the need to shut down equipment and leave it idle. Manual measurement practices often require equipment to be shut down while data are collected. Second, with the automation techniques, workers could continue to perform tasks without being disrupted and having to wait for the collection of measurements. These automated features will allow for easier completions of system inventories and will reduce the amount of time spent collecting manual measurements.

Each situation essentially requires a build-to-fit approach,” Cochran explained. “We must build an instrument specific to a target system, test it, then deploy it.”

Available measurement techniques are divided into two basic groups: active measurements and passive measurements. Passive measurements depend on the properties of the radiation naturally emitted from special nuclear material. Active techniques are based on the use of radiation from an external source that interacts with special nuclear material. Passive methods are preferred for continuous accountability measurements. Active techniques tend to be more complex than passive techniques.

Several Y‑12 organizations would benefit from these technologies. Inventory estimates would be readily available when needed—even if the inventory is unscheduled. The production organization would have to provide less labor in support of inventory estimates. The measurement organization will provide inventory data sooner than before and with less physical labor.

Cochran concluded, “The basic technologies are available and can be used by others inside and outside the NWC, but we hope to apply these technologies in a manner that benefits Y‑12 employees.”

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