Year
1983
Abstract
Near-Real-time materials accountancy as applied to reprocessing plants involves two major elements, measurement of the in-process physical inventory at frequent intervals, and statistical evaluation of the resulting sequential material balance data. For most reprocessing plants the bulk of the in-process inventory is in measurable intermediate \"buffer\" tanks. The plutonium inventory in the solvent extraction system, which does not appear to be directly measureable, could cause a reduction in sensitivity of the sequential data analysis. Studies are in progress, and it is hoped that an acceptable means for accounting for these variations can be found. Consultants at a meeting in January 1982 agreed that statistical tests for evaluating sequential material balance data will increase both detection timeliness and detection sensitivity. IAEA verification of operator-generated measurement data is an area requiring significantly increased effort, but here too studies are in progress which should help to reduce inspection effort in increase efIectiveness.