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Published: 1958

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Many types of measurement systems were reviewed for appropriateness of the task of continuous uranium monitoring of a liquid-metal fuel reactor. Of these, the three general classes of neutron methods, x-ray methodss and paramagnetic suseeptibility methods were selected for detailed evaluations primarily for the case of liquid-fuel stream monitoring. In additions the present state of development of electrochemical and spectroscopic methods for application to fused-salt monitoring was assessed. There is no feasible method based on neutron detection that could be made insensitive to fission products in the liquid fuel stream. Methods employing the expected delayed neutron flux as a neutron source show promise of feasibility. Of the several possible methods based on neutron attentuation, one shows promise of feasibility. A method based on irradiation of fuel solution with thermal neutrons and detection of fast neutrons of fission origin appears to have at least marginal feasibility. Liquid fuel monitoring based on x-ray absorption measurement is at best marginally feasible. The spectrum of fission product photons emerging from U-Bi solution may be expected to show structures due to quantum interactions with the constituents of the solutions that might prove applicable to uranium analysis. We recommend that this spectrum be investigated experimentally. Of the methods examined for liquidfuel monitoring the paramagnetic susceptibility method is the most promising. (auth).