Nuclide Mix Calculator - HELP

(last updated 28 Jun 2011)

Contents:

• Introduction · Input Data

Introduction

The Nuclide Mix Calculator determines quantities and activities in a sample containing a mix of radioactive nuclides. It performs conversion between activity, quantity, and their concentrations for a multitude of units.

If the data available on a mix is entered in the appropriate fields of the Data table, the other fields are determined upon pressing the "Calculate" button. The units for data entry and display can be selected (and changed at any time) from the drop-down lists provided for each column.
If the nuclide mix data is entered in a share or concentration column, then the data field of one nuclide can be left free, to indicate that the remainder is to be assumed for this nuclide.

Sample data sets for the nuclide compositions of several types of uranium can be selected from a drop-down list. If one additional field in the activity or quantity columns is filled in (for a single nuclide, or Total), all other fields are determined accordingly with the "Calculate" button. Without any absolute activity or quantity figure, only the values in the concentration and share columns are determined.

Note: Due to inconsistencies and rounding in the sample nuclide compositions (...and uncertainties about the number of seconds in a year!), totals do not always sum up to precisely 100%.

The data available in the nuclide database can be checked for any nuclide with the "Query nuclide database" button. The isotopes available for any element can be checked by entering the element's symbol, e.g. "U".

Note: The database contains only radioactive nuclides.

References to other calculators:

• For all kinds of conversions required for single nuclides, use the Unit Converter.
• To calculate the depleted uranium fraction in a sample containing a mix of natural and depleted uranium, or the enriched uranium fraction in a sample containing a mix of natural and enriched uranium, use the Depleted/Enriched Uranium Fraction Calculator

See instructions for offline use of this calculator.

Input Data

Example data sets

U(nat)

natural uranium

U(rep) (init. enr. 3.5%, 39 GWd/t, 5 y delay)

reprocessed uranium, initial enrichment 3.5 weight-% U-235, after burnup of 39 GWd/t in light water reactor separated from spent fuel 5 years after unload

U(nat-enr) (3.5 wt-% U-235)

enriched natural uranium, enriched to 3.5 weight-% U-235

U(rep-enr) (equiv. of init. enr. 3.5%, 39 GWd/t, 5 y delay)

re-enriched reprocessed uranium, re-enriched to equivalent of initial enrichment 3.5 weight-% U-235, after burnup of 39 GWd/t in light water reactor separated from spent fuel 5 years after unload

U(nat-dep) (0.2 wt-% U-235)

depleted uranium with 0.2 weight-% U-235, generated from enrichment of natural uranium to 3.5 weight-% U-235

U(rep-dep) (0.2 wt-% U-235, init. enr. 3.5%, 39 GWd/t, 5 y delay)

depleted uranium with 0.2 weight-% U-235, generated from re-enrichment of reprocessed uranium to equivalent of initial enrichment of 3.5 weight-% U-235, after burnup of 39 GWd/t in light water reactor separated from spent fuel 5 years after unload

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