Standard Practice for Sampling of Gaseous Enriched Uranium Hexafluoride

Importancia y uso:

5.1 The standard method for taking representative UF₆ sample from a cylinder is collecting from UF₆ liquid phase. Homogeneity of material is obtained by the basic indicator, that is, content of uranium isotope. Representativeness of a sample by other indicators such as content of highly volatile admixtures (boron fluoride, silicon fluoride, organic impurities), admixtures generating non-volatile fluorides may not be satisfactory owing to differences between physical properties of admixture and UF₆. Nevertheless, such sampling is widely applied during the product quality control due to the fact that liquid phase process is applied when filling transport containers both for feedstock UF₆ and enriched one. Refer to Practice C1052 for UF₆ liquid phase sampling practice.

5.2 Uranium hexafluoride is normally produced and handled in large (typically 1 to 14-ton) quantities and must, therefore, be characterized by reference to representative samples (see ISO 7195:2005). The samples are used to determine compliance with the applicable commercial Specification C996. The quantities involved, physical properties, chemical reactivity, and hazardous nature of UF₆ are such that for representative sampling, specially designed equipment must be used and operated in accordance with the most carefully controlled and stringent procedures. This practice can be used by UF₆ enrichers to review the effectiveness of existing procedures or as a guide to the design of equipment and procedures for future use.

5.3 It is emphasized that this practice is not meant to address conventional or nuclear criticality safety issues.

Subcomité:

C26.02

Referida por:

C0996-20, C1689-21, C0996-20, C1689-21

Volúmen:

12.01

Número ICS:

27.120.30 (Fissile materials and nuclear fuel technology)

Palabras clave:

bulk sampling; nuclear material; uranium hexafluoride;