Modeling of fissile material diversion in solvent extraction cascades

Technical Report · Thu May 22 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5417022· OSTI ID:5417022

Schneider, A; Carlson, R W

Changes were calculated for measurable parameters of a solvent extraction section of a reprocessing plant resulting from postulated fissile material diversion actions. The computer program SEPHIS was modified to calculate the time-dependent concentrations of uranium and plutonium in each stage of a cascade. The calculation of the inventories of uranium and plutonium in each contactor was also included. The concentration and inventory histories were computed for a group of four sequential columns during start-up and for postulated diversion conditions within this group of columns. Monitoring of column exit streams or of integrated column inventories for fissile materials could provide qualitative indications of attempted diversions. However, the time delays and resulting changes are complex and do not correlate quantitatively with the magnitude of the initiating event.

• Research Organization: Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5417022
• Report Number(s): UCRL-15243
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
055001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACTINIDES
COMPUTER CODES
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTION
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
INVENTORIES
METALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR MATERIALS DIVERSION
PLUTONIUM
S CODES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM