Safety analysis of high pressure 3He-filled micro-channels for thermal neutron detection. Metadata

Title

• Main Title Safety analysis of high pressure 3He-filled micro-channels for thermal neutron detection.

Creator

• Author: Ferko, Scott M.
  Creator Type: Personal
• Author: Galambos, Paul C.
  Creator Type: Personal
• Author: Derzon, Mark Steven
  Creator Type: Personal
• Author: Renzi, Ronald F.
  Creator Type: Personal

Contributor

• Sponsor: United States. Department of Energy.
  Contributor Type: Organization

Publisher

• Name: Sandia National Laboratories
  Place of Publication: United States

Date

• Creation: 2008-11-01

Language

• English

Description

• Content Description: This document is a safety analysis of a novel neutron detection technology developed by Sandia National Laboratories. This technology is comprised of devices with tiny channels containing high pressure {sup 3}He. These devices are further integrated into large scale neutron sensors. Modeling and preliminary device testing indicates that the time required to detect the presence of special nuclear materials may be reduced under optimal conditions by several orders of magnitude using this approach. Also, these devices make efficient use of our {sup 3}He supply by making individual devices more efficient and/or extending the our limited {sup 3}He supply. The safety of these high pressure devices has been a primary concern. We address these safety concerns for a flat panel configuration intended for thermal neutron detection. Ballistic impact tests using 3 g projectiles were performed on devices made from FR4, Silicon, and Parmax materials. In addition to impact testing, operational limits were determined by pressurizing the devices either to failure or until they unacceptably leaked. We found that (1) sympathetic or parasitic failure does not occur in pressurized FR4 devices (2) the Si devices exhibited benign brittle failure (sympathetic failure under pressure was not tested) and (3) the Parmax devices failed unacceptably. FR4 devices were filled to pressures up to 4000 + 100 psig, and the impacts were captured using a high speed camera. The brittle Si devices shattered, but were completely contained when wrapped in thin tape, while the ductile FR4 devices deformed only. Even at 4000 psi the energy density of the compressed gas appears to be insignificant compared to the impact caused by the incoming projectile. In conclusion, the current FR4 device design pressurized up to 4000 psi does not show evidence of sympathetic failure, and these devices are intrinsically safe.
• Physical Description: 43 p.

Subject

• Keyword: Pressure Dependence
• Keyword: Impact Tests
• STI Subject Categories: 46 Instrumentation Related To Nuclear Science And Technology
• Keyword: Thermoplastics
• Keyword: Pressurization
• Keyword: Projectiles
• Keyword: Simulation
• Keyword: Helium 3
• Keyword: Sandia National Laboratories
• Keyword: Thermal Neutrons
• Keyword: Energy Density
• Keyword: Sensors
• Keyword: Composite Materials
• Keyword: Failures
• Keyword: Safety Analysis
• Keyword: Neutron Detection
• Keyword: Performance Testing
• Keyword: Silicon

Collection

• Name: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports
  Code: OSTI

Institution

• Name: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
  Code: UNTGD

Resource Type

• Report

Format

• Text

Identifier

• Report No.: SAND2008-7427
• Grant Number: AC04-94AL85000
• DOI: 10.2172/1031911
• Office of Scientific & Technical Information Report Number: 1031911
• Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc832307