Design of an error-free nondestructive plutonium assay facility
An automated, at-line nondestructive assay (NDA) laboratory is installed in facilities recently constructed at the Savannah River Plant. The laboratory will enhance nuclear materials accounting in new plutonium scrap and waste recovery facilities. The advantages of at-line NDA operations will not be realized if results are clouded by errors in analytical procedures, sample identification, record keeping, or techniques for extracting samples from process streams. Minimization of such errors has been a primary design objective for the new facility. Concepts for achieving that objective include mechanizing the administrative tasks of scheduling activities in the laboratory, identifying samples, recording and storing assay data, and transmitting results information to process control and materials accounting functions. These concepts have been implemented in an analytical computer system that is programmed to avoid the obvious sources of error encountered in laboratory operations. The laboratory computer exchanges information with process control and materials accounting computers, transmitting results information and obtaining process data and accounting information as required to guide process operations and maintain current records of materials flow through the new facility.
- OSTI ID:
- 5693245
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-871110-; CODEN: TANSA; TRN: 89-027998
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Vol. 55; Conference: 3. international conference on facility operations safeguards interface, San Diego, CA (USA), 29 Nov - 4 Dec 1987; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Interlaboratory comparison program for nondestructive assay of prototype uranium reference materials
Experience of developing an integrated nondestructive assay system
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
PLUTONIUM
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DATA PROCESSING
DOCUMENTATION
ERRORS
PHYSICAL PROTECTION
SAFEGUARDS
ACTINIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROCESSING
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects
050800 - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing