Recent practical safeguards experience with the new version of the LWR (VAK) seal

Conference · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Nucl. Mater. Manage.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6277019

D'Agraives, B C; Dal Cero, G; Debeir, R; Mascetti, E; Toornvliet, J; Volcan, A

This paper describes a practical experience gained during the past years by the Ispra team involved in the task of developing and applying an ultrasonic technique to the safeguards of such LWR fuel assemblies as the ones used at the VAK experimental facility of Kahl (FRG). The work is conducted in the framework of an Ispra support to the IAEA/FRG support programme (Task D3) and should lead to the selection, on an experimental basis, of procedures to be used in the broader context of safeguarding other LWR plants. It consists in the preparation and the implementation of demonstration campaigns during which seals built and sealing procedures studied in our laboratory are then field tested. It means that identification and reidentification operations are performed in conditions similar to those of future inspections, after the seals have been clamped on the fuel assemblies in near to real situations. The basic requirements as stated at the beginning, the actual on-site difficulties, the revised solutions, the results and their limitations will be reported. A panacea fulfilling all the original wishes can hardly be found. Nevertheless, with the experience being gained and with an improving exchange of views between inspectors, fuel manufacturers, plant operators, seal and sealing tools builders, reasonable and reliable operation solutions can be offered to the Safeguards authorities.

• Research Organization: Commission of the European Communities, Joint Research Centre Ispra Establishment, Ispra (Va)
• OSTI ID: 6277019
• Report Number(s): CONF-840734-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Nucl. Mater. Manage.; (United States) Journal Volume: 13
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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