Conceptual Design Of Integrated Safeguards Systems

The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) is currently involved in the conceptual design of safeguards for generic facilities in the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle (spent-fuel reprocessing, plutonium nitrate-to-oxide conversion, mixed-oxide fuel fabrication, plutonium scrap recovery, and waste handling). These studies are first steps aimed at eventually providing detailed designs of integrated safeguards systems to guide safeguards-related facility construction and/or modification. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the conceptual design process in terms of its definition, a systematic procedure for its implementation, some of the tools required, and an example of the results of a conceptual design. The value of conceptual design and its relationship to other facets of the complete facility design process are also discussed.