Criticality Safety of the Waste Treatment Area in the SEU Production Line at Zircatec

Abstract

The production of slightly enriched uranium (SEU) fuel bundles at Zircatec has necessitated the need for a criticality safety analysis of all equipment and process operations involving enriched uranium. One such area in the new SEU line is the Waste Treatment Area (WTA). With the assistance of Nuclear Safety Associates (NSA), the new Waste Treatment Area was evaluated to determine the design constraints and criticality safety controls necessary to demonstrate that adequate protection exists against an accidental nuclear criticality event involving the equipment in this area. This paper will discuss the approach taken to ensure criticality safety of the Waste Treatment Area by involving nuclear criticality safety engineers in the design and placement of equipment in the area to provide 'criticality safety by design'. A discussion of the different design strategies considered by NSA and Zircatec for the area will also be discussed.