Performance Assessment of the CTBTO Noble Gas Network to Detect Nuclear Explosions

Schoeppner, Michael

doi:10.1007/s00024-017-1541-y

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The sample cylinders from tank TX-118 were transported from the Hanford Waste Tank Facility to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where a SAUNA-II system is continuously operated, for processing and analysis. The SAUNA-II processing and analysis is well documented in several references [2], [9], [11]. After the analysis in the SAUNA-II system, the radio-xenon sample was transferred to a 500 cc archive bottle which enabled longer duration, more detailed analysis.…”

Section: Waste Tank Sample Collection Procedures (Tank Tx-118)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Plutonium-240 Mass in Waste Tanks Using Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Radioactive Xenon Isotopes from Spontaneous Fission

Bowyer

Gesh

Haas

et al. 2017

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This report details efforts to develop a technique which is able to detect and quantify the mass of 240 Pu in waste storage tanks and other enclosed spaces. If the isotopic ratios of the plutonium contained in the enclosed space is also known, then this technique is capable of estimating the total mass of the plutonium without physical sample retrieval and radiochemical analysis of hazardous material. Results utilizing this technique are reported for a Hanford Site waste tank (TX-118) and a well-characterized plutonium sample in a laboratory environment.

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Section: Waste Tank Sample Collection Procedures (Tank Tx-118)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Plutonium-240 Mass in Waste Tanks Using Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Radioactive Xenon Isotopes from Spontaneous Fission

Bowyer

Gesh

Haas

et al. 2017

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“…On the one hand, the separation of heavy rare gases such as Xe and Kr is an important practical issue that is relevant to nuclear safety constraints (for instance, several unstable Xe, which are produced by nuclear activities, are also used to monitor radioactive release into the atmosphere, especially in the context of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty − ). Xe recovery from nuclear gaseous effluents has also a non-negligible economical value as it can be used for applications in energy efficient lighting, medicine, and chemical analysis. ,− Nowadays, cryogenic distillation is the only large scale industrial process used to capture and separate these rare gases; while this technique allows reaching high purity noble gases, it is very energy-consuming because it requires cooling to the Xe and Kr vaporization temperatures (−108 and −153 °C at 1 atm, respectively). , Selecting and designing optimal materials for Xe/Kr separation and capture using physisorption processes in a gas chromatography column is therefore an important task that requires the use of robust and accurate adsorbent assessment methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation Methods of Adsorbents for Air Purification and Gas Separation at Low Concentration: Case Studies on Xenon and Krypton

Monpezat

Topin

Deliere

et al. 2019

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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The development of gas separation processes dealing with very low concentration ranges is a rapidly growing domain with key applications such as trace detection, air purification from harmful pollutants, etc. Yet, the design of efficient technologies in this field is hampered by the lack of robust strategies to predict the gas selectivity of optimal adsorbents from simple pure gas adsorption data. Here, the selectivity predicted using different methods, namely Henry's method and the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST), are compared with the true selectivity obtained using breakthrough experiments. As a case study, these methods are discussed when applied to Xe/Kr separation in two different process conditions using different adsorbents (an active carbon and two silver-doped adsorbents). Typical data show that Henry's method, in which selectivity is assumed to correspond to the ratio of Henry's constant measured for each gas of the mixture, should be considered with caution as it is very sensitive to the pressure range considered but also the number of points used for affinity assessment. IAST is found to be more accurate provided its applicability to predict gas coadsorption from pure gas adsorption data is first established. However, even when applicable, the case of very low concentrations remains a problem as it leads to very large uncertainties in the selectivity predicted using IAST. We discuss how typical errors in assessing the selectivities using the different methods lead to nonoptimal adsorbent choices for a given separation process. Finally we demonstrate that Agloaded zeolite shows xenon capacities and Xe/Kr selectivities that surpass all other materials.

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“…Hence, the possibility of a long‐range transport contributing to detections on the IMS network started to be highlighted (e.g., Achim et al, ; Hoffman et al, ; Saey et al, , , ). Then, global scale modeling studies started documenting the so‐called Xe‐133 atmospheric background (Achim et al, ; Wotawa et al, ) and how it affects the detection capabilities of the IMS network (Schoeppner, ). The focus on Xe‐133 is motivated by the fact that, given the current detection limits of measurement systems, most IMS stations measure it routinely, while the other three xenon isotopes of interest for verification of the CTBT (Xe‐135, Xe‐131m, and Xe‐133m) are detected sporadically.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variability of Xe‐133 Global Atmospheric Background: Characterization and Implications for the International Monitoring System of the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty

et al. 2018

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Global simulations of the atmospheric dispersion of worldwide industrial Xe‐133 releases have revealed a large spatial and day‐to‐day variability of the resulting so‐called Xe‐133 atmospheric background. Most stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty Organization actually detect Xe‐133 regularly. Measured levels are explained by a varying combination of local and distant industrial sources and can interfere with discrimination of nuclear test signatures. Therefore, a better understanding of the Xe‐133 atmospheric background is needed. In this study, a validated 2 year simulation data set and a 4 year measurement data set of Xe‐133 activity concentrations have been analyzed in order to characterize possible seasonal variations of the Xe‐133 atmospheric background due to atmospheric circulation, with a focus on (i) global distributions, (ii) occurrences of detections by the IMS network, and (iii) time series of monthly averages at IMS stations. Results show a larger spatial extent of the atmospheric background during winter months, which translates into a larger number of detections on the IMS network during winter months for both hemispheres. Some IMS stations present a significant seasonal variability in terms of levels, or both in terms of levels and origins. However, not all IMS stations are subject to seasonal variations, given their location with respect to sources and large‐scale atmospheric circulation. In addition, a first set of predicted information about expected levels of atmospheric background at IMS stations not yet operational is provided, given the current knowledge of sources.

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Performance Assessment of the CTBTO Noble Gas Network to Detect Nuclear Explosions

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

Estimation of Plutonium-240 Mass in Waste Tanks Using Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Radioactive Xenon Isotopes from Spontaneous Fission

Estimation of Plutonium-240 Mass in Waste Tanks Using Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Radioactive Xenon Isotopes from Spontaneous Fission

Evaluation Methods of Adsorbents for Air Purification and Gas Separation at Low Concentration: Case Studies on Xenon and Krypton

Seasonal Variability of Xe‐133 Global Atmospheric Background: Characterization and Implications for the International Monitoring System of the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty

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