Skip to main content Skip to navigation
SDEX Shared Design Experience

Eddy Current and UIT Positioning

Project Overview

Background: Intrinsic ID using electromagnetic and ultrasonic measurements may be applied to establish and verify intrinsic unique identifiers for containers and canisters. Within a safeguards application, unique identification is necessary to ensure that storage containers that may be used to store nuclear materials (such as spent fuel) have not been diverted for other uses. Selected regions on the containers are examined using the measurement technologies and the measurement data is compared against trusted reference measurements to confirm the identity of the container of interest and to maintain continuity of knowledge (CoK).

Current approaches to making these measurements rely on manual scans of the regions of interest. Such manual scanning provides considerable flexibility in scanning along the axis of the container or around the circumference, and placement of the probes anywhere on the container as long as access is not restricted. However, manual measurements are inherently highly variable (due to inconsistent scan paths, uneven pressure on the probe, etc.), typically require multiple scans to provide reliable measurements, and can reduce the ability to uniquely identify the container. A mechanical scanning fixture will provide the flexibility of manual scanning, but reduce or eliminate the variability of manual measurements. The result is expected to be faster measurements and more reliable identification of the containers.

SOW: WSU will design and fabricate a mechanical scanning fixture that enables repeatable measurements for maintaining CoK in safeguards. The probe would be attached to the fixture, which in turn would need to be attached to the container. Requirements for the scanning fixture are:

  • The probe attachment should be flexible enough to accommodate electromagnetic or acoustic probes. Specifics of the types of probes envisioned in use with the fixture will be provided.
  • The fixture should enable the user to manually move (scan) the probe over the region of interest. Encoders are not necessary with the fixture – encoders will be available on the probes themselves to track position of the probe for use in registering and analyzing the measurement data.
  • The fixture should provide flexibility with respect to scanning along the axis of the container or around the circumference, and placement of the probes anywhere on the container as long as access is not restricted.
  • The fixture should have some flexibility for use with containers of differing sizes (lengths, diameters). Dimensions of typical containers (cylindrical in shape) will be provided when the project starts.
  • The fixture should provide consistent and repeatable scan paths, and be capable of applying consistent pressure on the probe so that the probe is properly coupled to the container surface.
  • The fixture should minimize tilt or canting of the probe with the respect to the container surface.
  • The scanning fixture should not use any motors (to reduce the weight and eliminate power requirements).
  • The fixture should be lightweight and capable of being moved from one container to another easily.

PNNL will provide information on typical probe characteristics (dimensions and weight), typical container sizes, and typical scan lengths. Other requirements with respect to repeatability of scan paths, coupling force, and scan areas will also be provided by PNNL at the beginning of the project. Any restrictions (for instance, with respect to methods of attaching the fixture to the container) will also be specified.

pnwnl-logo

Team News

Contact Information