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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Can a safeguards accountancy system really detect an unauthorized removal

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5254135

Theoretical investigations and system studies indicate safeguards material balance data from reprocessing plants can be used to detect unauthorized removals. Plant systems have been modeled and simulated data used to demonstrate the techniques. But how sensitive are the techniques when used with actual plant data. What is the effect of safeguards applications on plant operability. Can safeguards be acceptable to plant operators, and are there any benefits to be derived. The Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant (BNFP) has been devoted to answering these and other questions over the past several years. A computerized system of near-real-time accounting and in-process inventory has been implemented and demonstrated during actual plant test runs. Measured inventories and hourly material balance closures have been made to assess safeguards in an operating plant application. The tests have culminated in actual removals of material from the operating plant to investigate the response and measure the sensitivity of the safeguards and data evaluation system.

Research Organization:
Allied-General Nuclear Services, Barnwell, SC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-78ET35900
OSTI ID:
5254135
Report Number(s):
AGNS-35900-CONF-164; CONF-820415-1; ON: DE82007159
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English