APPLICATION OF CONTROLLABLE UNIT METHODOLOGY TO A REALISTIC MODEL OF A HIGH-THROUGHPUT, MIXED-OXIDE FABRICATION PROCESS

A controllable unit method of material control identifies errors for corrective action, locates areas and time frames of suspected diversions, defines time and sensitivity limits of diversion flags, defines the time frame in which passthrough quantities of special nuclear materials remain controllable, and provides a basis for identification of incremental cost associated with purely safeguards considerations. The concept provides a rationale from which measurement variability and specific safeguards criteria can be evaluated according to the degree of control or improvement attainable. Currently the methodology is being applied to a computer simulated model of a 200 MT fabrication process. Results to date indicate that the controllable unit approach can detect the loss of 2 kg of PuOa with a probability of 9 7 . 5% with the measurement system proposed by Westinghouse.