Micro-trans-SPEC-Portable-UF6-Cylinder-Verification-System-MICRO-TSP-UF6 - ORTEC - #1

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ORTEC® Portable UF6 Cylinder Verification System (MICRO-UF6-PKG-1) • UF6 cylinder verification system implemented on the ORTEC Micro-trans-SPEC or trans-SPEC-DX-100 HPGe Portable Spectrometer. • All-in-one light weight instrument with software designed to follow the current procedures for UF6 cylinder inspection by safeguards inspectors. • High precision, rapid results through combining tried-and-tested methodology with the latest advances in HPGe spectrometry. • Solves spectral interference problems encountered with NaI based systems. • Micro-trans-SPEC hardware can be used for other related applications. The ORTEC Detective-derived trans-SPEC series of instruments are ideal field deployable LN2-free HPGe spectrometers. In particular, the Microtrans- SPEC,1 weighing in at less than 7 kg (excluding additional hardware such as collimators), is small and compact yet rugged enough for field operations. The instrument features a long life Stirling cycle cryo-cooler and digital electronics. It can be powered from a variety of sources, including worldwide mains, automobile and other DC sources, which means it is ideal for safeguards inspections where an inspector may arrive at a facility with the instrument in the operational state and ready for use. The powerful built-in data processing capabilities make it ideal for onboard custom data analysis, and its bright clear screen makes it a pleasure to use, even in bright outdoor conditions. The UF6 Cylinder Verification System For the UF6 cylinder verification application, the Micro-trans-SPEC is supplied with a custom-designed tungsten collimator, which may be removed if not required. The UF6 software application is based on the classical enrichment meter method and executes on the Micro-trans-SPEC or trans-SPEC-DX-100 without the need for the inspector to carry an extra computer. The user interface is similar to the Micro-trans-SPEC basic GUI software and uses identical methods for such tasks as hardware setup and storage of spectra and display. In addition, many of the data entry fields are stored in a configuration file that may be created and edited on a Windows XP computer and subsequently copied to the built-in data processor using Microsoft’s ActiveSync application. The basic operation of the software is an automated sequential process of the following tasks: • Acquire spectral data • Store the data • Analyze the data • Report results to file and screen Program operation is designed so that a minimal amount of information is required to acquire, store, analyze and report a finding. Uranium enrichment is determined by a variation of the “classic” infinite thickness method.2 Originally the method was developed for use with NaI(Tl) detectors and suffered from potential spectral interferences. Because an HPGe detector is used, the area of the 186 keV gamma-ray peak can be derived by a method less susceptible to interference from nearby peaks. Brief specifications of the built in data processor: • Display: VGA 640 x 480 TFT sunlight readable touchsensitive, operate with finger or stylus. • Data Processor: Marvel PXA320 XScale 806 MHz. • Memory: 128 MB DDR SDRAM • Data Storage (Spectra, results, etc.): Onboard nonvolatile NAND Flash 512 MB to 2 GB and removable SD card. • Computer Interfacing: USB connection to laptop. • Spectral Transfer: Microsoft® ActiveSync. • Wi-Fi (802.11) communication software optionally available. 1http://www.ortec-online.com/pdf/micro-trans_ds.pdf. 2See for example “The Measurement of Uranium Enrichment” by Hastings Smith Jr., “Passive Nondestructive Assay of Nuclear Materials; Reilly D., Ensslin N., Smith H., and Kreiner LA-UR-90-732, ISBN 0-16-032724-5 (1991), Chapter 7. Figure 1. UF6 Startup Screen.