A Demonstration of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle Transparency Concepts

A key objective to the global deployment of nuclear technology is maintaining transparency among nation and international communities. By providing an environment in which to exchange scientific and technological information regarding nuclear technology, the safe and legitimate use of nuclear material and technology can be assured. For a variety of reasons, nuclear facilities are becoming increasingly automated and will require minimum manual operation. An automated system generates real-time data that can be used to track and measure the status of the process and material at any given time. A framework that monitors process information continuously can lead to greater transparency of nuclear fuel cycle activities and can demonstrate the ability to resist proliferation associated with these activities. In 2005, Sandia National Laboratories and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency entered into a cooperative program to demonstrate a methodology capable of assessing proliferation risk in support of overall plant transparency. The Advanced Fuel Cycle Transparency Framework is being implemented at the Fuel Handling Training Model designed for the Monju Fast Reactor at the International Nuclear Information and Training Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Using the unique training facilities of Monju, we propose to instrument a training model of the entire Monju fuel handling process. The training model will be used to generate and transmit information to a secure database at Monju. A computer synchronized to the visible movements in the model mimicking process data will supply data. The database will be accessible to analysts at Sandia via encryption and virtual private networks. The data stream will be fed into the Monju Transparency Software for real -time analysis when the model is being exercised. This report will describe the implementation plan, methods of analysis and progress toward the first demonstration of the system.