Year
1988
Abstract
Near real time materials accountancy (NRTMA) shows great promise as a practical technique for the safeguarding of nuclear fuel reprocessing plants. In addition to its potential advantages for safeguards, experience at the Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Dounreay has shown that it is of considerable benefit to the plant operator. The development of the method is being vigorously pursued as part of the UK Safeguards R & D Programme in support of IAEA safeguards. An important aspect of the technique is its modular form from which it should be possible to select an NRTMA system to suit various designs of reprocessing plant. Studies undertaken include direct weighing of an accountancy tank, an improved way of homogenising the tank liquor, in-line K-edge densitometry and voltammetry, mathematical modelling for estimating unmeasurable in-process inventories, and statistical tests for analysis of MUF. This work is now moving away from the laboratory phase towards field testing at the Dounreay plant. The application of expert systems to accountancy data and the means by which NRTMA information will be independently verified are also being addressed. This paper reports progress in the development and application of NRTMA within the UK Safeguards R & D Programme.