NUCLEAR MATERIAL PROTECTION, CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE TOMSK POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY IRT-T RESEARCH REACTOR

The Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) is located in the central region of Siberia, approximately 2000 miles East of Moscow. TPU is a large, prestigious university specializing in physics and nuclear research among other varying interests. Included among facilities in use at TPU is a small research reactor that has a quantity of fresh fuel in storage. Importance: Material protection control and accountability (MPC&A) upgrades at the TPU reactor site are particularly necessary because of the location and attractiveness of the material in storage. This topic is important because the site very small in size and quantity of material stored and will prove to be a successful, small scope, short duration project. Description: This paper will describe the particular approach taken towards upgrades of systems used to protect the material in storage. It will outline assumptions in scope that allow for rapid enhancements of certain protection measures. The paper will also present a status of the work being performed there and share successful experiences as well as potential problem areas that were overcome.