DEVELOPMENT AND TRIAL OPERATION OF A SITE-WIDE COMPUTERIZED MATERIAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AT KURCHATOV INSTITUTE

Year
1997
Author(s)
John Smoot - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
P. Gary Eller - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Vladimir Sukhoruchkin - Kurchatov Institute
J.E. Stewart - Los Alarnos National Laboratory
Rena Whiteson - Los Alarnos National Laboratory
P. Singh - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Bradley Weil - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Wayne Ruhter - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
V.M. Shmelev - Kurchatov Institute
A.N. Roumiantsev - Kurchatov Institute
James R. Griggs - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Susan Voss - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Yuri A. Ostroumov - Kurchatov Institute
Alexey V. Yevstropov - Kurchatov Institute
Abstract
Since August 1994 Kurchatov Institute in cooperation with several US Department of Energy Laboratories has been developing a site-wide computerized material accounting system for nuclear materials. In 1994 a prototype system was put into trial operation at two Kurchatov facilities. Evaluation of this prototype led to the development of a new computerized material accounting system named KI-MACS, which has been operational since 1996. This system is a site-wide local secure computer network with centralized database capable of dealing with strictly confidential data and performing near-real time accountancy. It utilizes a Microsoft Windows NT operating system with SQL Server and Visual Basic, and has a 'star'-like network architecture. KI-MACS is capable of dealing with materials in itemized and bulk form, and can perform statistical evaluations of measurements and material balance. KIMACS is fully integrated with bar code equipment, electronic scales, gamma-ray spectrometers and an Active Well Coincidence Counter, thus providing almost on-line evaluation and utilization of results of measurements, item identification and accounting. At present KI-MACS is being used in Physical Inventory Taking at the Kurchatov Central Storage Facility, and by the end of 1997 will be installed at twelve Kurchatov nuclear facilities.