Material Accountancy System at a New Automated Mixed-Oxide Facility: PFPF

Conference · Sun Nov 29 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:5493733

Ohtani, T.; Seya, M.; Takahashi, S.; Asakura, K.; Kikuchi, M.

At conventional mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facilities, the personal radiation exposure of operators increases in proportion to the amount of plutonium to be handled. To resolve this issue, automated techniques in high-level radiation areas have been introduced at Japan's new MOX facility, the plutonium fuel production facility (PFPF). The PFPF incorporates a fully automated operating scheme into the main process and storage areas. Unlike conventional MOX fuel fabrication facilities, operators do not need direct access to nuclear material during normal plant operation. To achieve process control including criticality safety, PFPF has introduced an on-line computerized advanced accountancy system (AAS), which is capable of obtaining all inventory information throughout the entire facility in detail. The AAS can acquire material accounting data from equipment installed in each storage unit. All materials in the process areas are itemized as each transfer container is moved, and each container is measured at internal measurement points between a glovebox and any intermediate storage unit. The AAS can acquire material accounting data from information on the amount of nuclear material transferred. Thus, all material accounting data are obtained automatically by management on a real-time basis.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• OSTI ID: 5493733
• Report Number(s): CONF-871110
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Journal Volume: 55
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
055001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACTINIDES
ASIA
Advanced Accountancy System (AAS)
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CRITICALITY
Conventional Mixed-Oxide (MOX)
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS
GLOVEBOXES
INSPECTION
JAPAN
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT
MATERIAL BALANCE AREA
METALS
MIXED OXIDE FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PLUTONIUM
Plutonium Fuel Production Facility (PFPF)
RADIATION PROTECTION
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SAFETY
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS