Material flow simulation in a nuclear chemical process

At a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant the special nuclear materials (SNM) are received as constituents of spent fuel assemblies, are converted to liquid form, and undergo a series of chemical processes. Uncertainties in measurements of SNM at each stage of reprocessing limit the accuracy of simple material balance accounting as a safeguards method. To be effective, a formal safeguards program must take into account all sources of measurement error yet detect any diversion of SNM. The objective of this study is to demonstrate an analytical method for assessing the accountability of selected constituent SNM. A combined discrete-continuous, time-dependent model using the GASP IV simulation language is developed to simulate mass flow, material accountability and measurement error at each stage of the reprocessing plant. The study demonstrates that the simulation method may be utilized to estimate the magnitude of SNM loss in an operating reprocessing plant which could reasonably be detected. Thus, the simulation method provides a level of confidence for effective loss/no-loss decisions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1984

Author dc:creator

• Mahgerefteh, Moussa

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Kurstedt, Harold A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Deporter, E.L.
• Edlund, Milton C.
• Thomas, J.R.
• Whitelaw, Robert L.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74701

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/74701