Simulation Model for Uranium Recovery Processes

The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant will suspend production of highly enriched uranium (HEU). Suspension plans require that equipment containing significant amounts of HEU deposits be disassembled, decontaminated, and placed on standby. The procedural, personnel, and hardware limitations of the uranium recovery facility may delay this effort, in part because this same facility must maintain concurrent support for the decontamination of equipment used for low enrichment operations. To facilitate planning and operations for this clean-up effort, a model that simulates facility operation and obtains estimates of the time to clean up all HEU-contaminated components has been developed. The model simulates the effects of random events, such as machine breakdowns, and uncertain parameters, such as contamination levels, on the facility process flow. The model has been used to evaluate alternative process configurations and operating procedures in the uranium recovery facility.