Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants Inspection Frequency and Remote Monitoring Issues for Advanced Safeguards Implementation

Boyer, B., Erpenbeck, H., Miller, K., Inankiev, K., Reimold, B., Ward, S. and Howell, J. (2010) Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants Inspection Frequency and Remote Monitoring Issues for Advanced Safeguards Implementation. In: IAEA Symposium on International Safeguards, Vienna,

Abstract

Current safeguards approaches used by the IAEA at gas centrifuge enrichment plants (GCEPs) need enhancement in order to verify declared LEU production, detect undeclared LEU production and detect HEU production with adequate detection probability using non destructive assay (NDA) techniques. At present inspectors use attended systems, systems needing the presence of an inspector for operation, during inspections to verify the mass and U-235 enrichment of declared UF6 containers used in the process of enrichment at GCEPs. This paper contains an analysis of how possible improvements in unattended and attended NDA systems including process monitoring and possible on-site analysis of DA samples could reduce the uncertainty of the inspector measurements providing more effective and efficient IAEA GCEPs safeguards. We have also studied a few advanced safeguards systems that could be assembled for unattended operation and what performance would be needed to provide more effective safeguards. The analysis will also focus on how short notice random inspections, unannounced inspections, and the concept of information-driven inspections can affect probability of detection of the diversion of nuclear materials when coupled to new GCEPs safeguards regimes augmented with unattended systems. We also will look at the issue of inspection costs for such systems and attempt to quantify the savings associated with implementing an advanced safeguards system. While investigating costs, we will also explore the effects of system failures and operator tampering on meeting safeguards goals for quantity and timeliness and what measures would be needed to recover from such failures and anomalies.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Howell, Dr John
• Authors: Boyer, B., Erpenbeck, H., Miller, K., Inankiev, K., Reimold, B., Ward, S., and Howell, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy