Year
1996
Abstract
TheEuratom Safeguards Directorate (ESD) is implementing a comprehensive Safeguards control system at an industrial size fast breeder reactor in France. The implementation of the safeguards system deals with the arrival of fresh fuel assemblies, the normal operation of the reactor, the irradiated fuel discharge route and irradiated fuel storage. The system includes the use of electronic seals on shipments of fresh fuel from the fabricator which are verified at the reactor in the absence of inspectors using a VACOSSMOS automated seal-video link. A system of containment and surveillance (C&S) using monitors and surveillance cameras maintains continuity of knowledge up to irradiated fuel discharge. The irradiated fuel discharge route is safeguarded using unattended neutron/gamma stations along the fuel route combined with optical surveillance. The implemented instrumentation operates in unattended mode, and will significantly reduce manpower increasing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of safeguards.