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CLOSED-LOOP SAFEGUARDS CONTROL OF PLUTONIUM TRANSFER AND SAMPLING OPERATIONS

NCJ Number
59815
Journal
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 161-170
Author(s)
C S SONNIER
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A SAFEGUARDS CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PLUTONIUM NITRATE TRANSFER AND SAMPLING OPERATIONS ASSURES THAT ALL OPERATIONAL STEPS ARE PERFORMED IN A PREDEFINED SEQUENCE BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.
Abstract
THE ENGINEERING SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM (ESS) FOR NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE FACILITIES IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FOR THE DETECTION OF ABNORMAL EVENTS AT PROBABILITY LEVELS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. UNDER THE CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM, A VARIETY OF PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS ARE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMPUTER CONTROLS AND CHECKS TO RAPIDLY DETECT UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES, ACTIVATE CONTROLS AND DELAYS, OR WHERE NECESSARY, REQUEST RESPONSE FORCE ACTIONS. IN-DEPTH PROTECTION IS PROVIDED AGAINST THEFT AND DIVERSION, PARTICULARLY BY INDIVIDUALS WITH PLANT ACCESS. ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THE TRANSFER AND SAMPLING OF PLUTONIUM NITRATE, THE BASIC CONCEPTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THEFT AND SABOTAGE PROTECTION OF OTHER OPERATIONS INVOLVING SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL AND FACILITY SYSTEMS. TYPICAL SAMPLING OPERATIONS EMPHASIZE THE IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL AND THEIR MONITORING BY THE CENTRAL CONTROL SYSTEM. THE RESULTS OF EVALUATION USING A MOCKUP SYSTEM WILL BE THE BASIS OF OPERATIONAL TESTS. TABULAR DATA INCLUDE THE EVENT SEQUENCE DIAGRAM FOR PLUTONIUM NITRATE TRANSFER AND SAMPLING OPERATIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)