ADVANCED REMOTE MONITORING FOR REPROCESSING SYSTEMS

Sandia National Laboratories has developed an advanced transparency framework capable of assessing proliferation risk continuously by combining plant process and design data, declared activities, and real-time monitoring of operations. Automated systems generate real-time data that can be used to track and measure the conditions of the process at any given point in time. Therefore, high levels of automation at the facility are required before advanced transparency systems can be implemented. Applications of advanced transparency are currently being considered for fuel cycle at a fast-breeder reactor and a gas centrifuge enrichment facility, where automation provides an opportunity to utilize the abundance of process information. This document introduces a theoretical framework of the needs and requirements to achieve advanced transparency for reprocessing systems. Due to the complexity of reprocessing methods, current reprocessing systems may not have achieved the level of automation necessary to ensure that advanced transparency data requirements are taken within an acceptable degree of uncertainty. Future reprocessing facilities will require advanced technologies for materials accountability, sensor instrumentation, and increased automation to ensure diversion is not taking place. An advanced remote monitoring system designed in conjunction with the plant process flow and built into future plants should be capable of monitoring time, materials movement, activities and power usage, enabling the potential for real-time proliferation risk monitoring.