SAFEGUARDS SYSTEMS AT THE PLUTONIUM FUEL PRODUCTION FACILITY

Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC) has constructed a new MOX fabrication facility, Plutonium Fuel Production Facility (PFPF) FBR line in Tokai Works, with the aim to supply fuel assemblies to the experimental FBR \"JOYO\" and the prototype FBR \"MONJU\" with 5 tons of MOX fabrication capacity. The construction of PFPF was started in 1982 and all installation had been completed in 1987- After the completion of JOYO fuel production campaign, MONJU fuel production campaign started in November 1989. Reduction of personal radiation exposure to a large amount of plutonium is one of the most important subjects in the MOX fuel production facility. The PFPF was constructed as a fully automated MOX fabrication facility by the introduction of a computer controlled Special Nuclear Material (SNM) transfer system which combines automated process equipment. Safeguards systems for the PFPF were designed so as to be compatible with automated facility operation as much as possible. This paper describes the features of specialized safeguards systems for the PFPF, which were developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) and PNC under mainly PNC/DOE cooperation agreement, were installed at the PFPF and are jointly in routine use between the Internationa] Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Japan Nuclear Safety Bureau (JNSB).