Containerized and bulk waste counters

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Containerized Waste Counters WM-2100 Series - Q² Low Level Waste Assay Systems

The Q² low level waste assay systems have multiple Ge and/or NaI detectors for qualitative and quantitative analysis of 200 L waste drums.

• Easily detects less than 1 Bq/g for unconditional release of waste
• Discriminates between natural and man-made radionuclides
• Sorts nonradioactive, low level and TRU waste for significant cost savings

WM-2111 - Automated Q² with Isotopics (IQ3)

The WM-2111 is a Q² system that automatically loads/unloads waste containers up to 320 L in size. It can also have transmission sources for matrix correction. The IQ3 version adds three more LEGe detectors for analysis of the Pu and U isotopic ratios, using the special Canberra versions of the MGA and MGA-U codes.

• Nuclide specific release levels to discriminate between natural and man-made isotopes
• Sorts nonradioactive, low level and TRU waste for significant cost savings
• Improved accuracy with:
  - LEGe detectors for isotopic measurement
  - Multiple density correction algorithms
  - Multi-Spectral Scaling from coaxial detectors
  - Nonuniformity source detection/correction hardware/software

WM-2200 Series - Waste Assay Systems

Segmented waste assay systems use a high-resolution Ge detector to measure transuranic radionuclides and fission/activation products in containers of low-density waste.

• Accurately quantifies transuranic (alpha) and beta/gamma waste
• Modular design allows components to be selected for optimum performance and cost
• Multiple correction techniques for matrix attenuation
• Lump correction algorithms for self-absorption
• Pseudo-tomography to detect and correct for nonuniform source distributions
• Calculates plutonium and uranium isotopics using optional MGA code

WM-3100 Series - Passive Neutron Drum Counters

Passive neutron drum counters with ³He detectors arranged on all six sides provide accurate, precise and sensitive assay of the plutonium content in 118 L to 200 L drums.

• Accurate quantification of plutonium
• Transuranic/low level waste classification
• Add-a-source option for matrix corrections

WM-3600 - Combined Thermal Epithermal Neutron Assay System (CTEN)

 

CTEN is a Passive/Active Neutron Differential Die-away Counter with both thermal and epithermal interrogation of U and Pu waste in drums up to 320 L.

• Able to reliably sort waste drums at the 3700 and 37 Bq/g (100 and 10 nCi/g) level
• Able to detect and/or correct for self-shielding in lumps of fissile material in low-Z matrix
• Uses list-mode neutron counting in both active and passive modes
• Obtains positional information on fissile distribution
• Obtains matrix inhomogeneity information

WM-2500 Series - Modular Box and Container Counters

Box counters use multiple Ge detectors to assay boxes and other containers too large for traditional systems. The WM-2500 Series ranges from very simple manually-controlled systems up to multiple-detector, fully automated systems.

In situ systems can be used to provide preliminary evaluations if the building segment is clean or contaminated. Canberra's Box Counter can then be used for final, definitive measurements to prove that what was thought to be clean, really is, and to properly manifest the contaminated material.

• Modular components provide flexibility for different applications
• Manual or fully automated sample movement
• Radionuclide-specific results and release levels
• Bi-lateral measurements and density correction for best accuracy

Bulk Waste Counters

WM-2600 Series - Automatic Conveyor Monitoring Systems

Conveyor systems allow gamma spectroscopic analysis of soil, crushed concrete or shredded building materials from D&D/ER sites. They can be used on freshly excavated soil to determine if it is clean or if it is a candidate for washing, and as a verification device following a washing process.

The in situ soil system will provide the preliminary characterization to guide the excavation. Canberra's automated conveyor soil monitor can then be used to characterize and segregate the debris.

• Eliminates need to repackage waste, thus reducing cost
• Reduces false alarms with nuclide-specific results and release levels
• Can separate waste into three output streams
  - "clean", for low cost disposal
  - "somewhat contaminated", but perhaps suitable for volume reduction schemes, such as soil washing
  - "contaminated", for disposal as radioactive

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