Year
1994
Abstract
For the purpose of the accountancy and control of Pu/U nitrate solution, initial tank calibrations were carried out prior to the hot operation of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Safety Engineering Research Facility (NUCEF), which is a new R&D facility to conduct experimental researches concerning reprocessing and transuranium waste management. 11 annular tanks, 5 slab tanks and a vertical cylinder tank were calibrated, whose capacity ranges from 30 to 580 liters. Raw calibration data were collected by measuring differential pressure with bubbler-probe systems, weight of demineralized water poured into the tank and temperature of the water. Volume and level data were obtained by applying density and buoyancy corrections to the raw data to derive calibration functions. The calibration functions were derived by regression analysis on the volume and level data and expressed as polynomial functions. Residual volume obtained by the function was small enough, e.g. less than 0.05 liters at a nominal level for the biggest Pu accountancy tank. This paper summarizes the measurement and analysis on the initial tank calibration at NUCEF, and also shows comparisons between the site data and data collected at off-site factories before installing the tanks in the facility.