Determination of PuO2% in power reactor mixed oxide fuel blends (0.4–44% PuO2) by neutron well co-incidence counting technique

Neutron Well Coincidence Counting has been explored as a non destructive assay technique for determining the percentage of PuO2 in blended mixture of UO2 and PuO2 powders. The method has been applied to MOX blends having PuO2 content varying from 0.4 to 44% for both thermal and fast reactors. The use of Neutron Well Coincidence Counting technique is validated as a process control step for determining PuO2 content in the fabrication of MOX fuel by comparing it with chemical analysis of sintered pellets. It has been used at Advanced Fuel fabrication Facility, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Tarapur during the manufacture of MOX fuel of various types for thermal and fast reactors.