Radioactive waste measurement systems

CANBERRA is committed to providing its customers a full range of measurement solutions to meet their site waste characterization needs. CANBERRA has a wealth of experience and expertise in non-destructive assays for waste measurement. CANBERRA produces and supplies gamma assay, neutron assay, as well as combined gamma/neutron systems designed to measure activity of waste in special containers, as well as of non-packaged waste or waste transported in vehicles.

Process knowledge or laboratory analysis of the isotopic inventory of a particular waste stream can be utilized to provide scaling factors for pure alpha and beta emitting nuclides which cannot be measured directly.

CANBERRA systems can be provided to:

• quantify the radioactive inventory of a facility’s waste;
• classify waste according to the following categories: transuranic or alpha waste; low level waste; remote handled waste; free release waste;
• reduce radioactive waste disposal costs and to reduce storage volumes by means of certification, segregation and separation of industrial waste, LLW, ILW and HLW;
• perform inventory and material balances control for administration of radioactive and nuclear materials.

Waste measurement systems can be provided in a variety of configurations from standalone manually-loaded systems to fully-automated systems which provide greater throughput and minimize personnel exposure. Mobile system configurations are also available, including ISO containers or semi-trailers.

Optimal configuration of measurement system, addressing customer’s site requirements, will also help reduce operating costs and lower personnel exposure levels to meet ALARA program goals.