The DrumScan® SGS Plus reliably, accurately and cost-effectively
assays contaminated waste in drums, boxes, bags or filters
providing a record of the radionuclide inventory for final storage
or further processing. The system is highly configurable, easy to
use, is suitable for both homogeneous and heterogeneous wastes
contaminated with fission products, activation products, plutonium
or uranium. The system can also determine 235U enrichment.
Typical installations
Nuclear power stations, reprocessing plants, fuel fabrication
facilities, waste storage facilities, LLW disposal sites, and
non-nuclear facilities such as medical, pharmaceutical and research
institutions.
Measurement and analysis techniques
The DrumScan® SGS Plus comprises four separate modules: a
detector lift, turntable (with optional integrated conveyor),
transmission source lift and operator interface. The system can
accommodate 100 to 500 litre sized drums. Unique to the DrumScan®
SGS Plus operation is a continuous, vertical scan of the drum by
the detector and transmission source which move up and down the
drum as it rotates, to produce a helical scan.
This helical scanning results in superior accuracy over
conventional segmented gamma scanners (SGS) due to the uniform
gamma detection efficiency over the whole drum and the gamma
transmission source scanning the entire drum. During the
measurement the drum is also weighed.
Non-uniformity in the waste matrix is accounted for by dividing
the measurement into horizontal segments providing time segmented
spectra relating to each segment. Using internationally recognised
analysis code, with additional algorithms developed by Babcock, the
isotopic composition of the waste is determined by activity
values.