Resonance Absorption Densitometry for Materials Assay Security Safeguards (RADMASS)

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Program:
ONWARDS
Award:
$4,499,463
Location:
Niskayuna, New York
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
07/18/2022 - 07/17/2025
Website:

Technology Description:

General Electric (GE) Global Research, with Lumitron Technologies and Idaho State University, will develop an innovative active interrogation technique, Resonance Absorption Densitometry for Materials Assay Security Safeguards (RADMASS), which can penetrate advanced reactor fuel (dense solid actinides) and measure fissile mass density (<1% uncertainty) on the order of minutes or less while being insensitive to high background radiation. This will enable measurements of both UNF input and transuranic/plutonium output, which are the largest factors in standard error in inventory differences within a pyroprocessing facility. The GRC team will use photonics and nuclear modeling and simulation to show proof of concept for the ability of RADMASS to operate in a high radiation nuclear fuel reprocessing hot cell (radiation containment chamber) facility.

Potential Impact:

By identifying and addressing challenges at the back end of the fuel cycle before the deployment of future AR technologies, ONWARDS will:

Security:

Support the growth of advanced nuclear energy with safe and sustainable domestic fuel stocks.

Environment:

Play a vital role in significantly reducing GHG emissions, proactively mitigate the disposal impact of AR UNF with integrated non-proliferation safeguards, and provide transformative solutions to improve the management and disposal of radioactive waste and UNF.

Economy:

Complement ARPA-E’s existing nuclear energy research portfolio, such as the MEITNER and GEMINA programs in AR R&D, further ensuring the commercial viability of innovative new ARs.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Robert Ledoux
Project Contact:
Andrew Hoffman
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
andrew.hoffman@ge.com

Partners

Lumitron Technologies LLC
Idaho State University

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Release Date:
05/19/2021