Transient Isotope Separation Modeling of Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants

摘要

With the increase in demand for nuclear power development, International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) safeguards have been strained as the IAEA budget has not risen to meet these demands. Tocontinue meeting the goals of verifying normal behavior in a gas centrifuge enrichment plant (GCEP),there is a need to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of IAEA safeguards. Several studies havelooked into developing new technologies to assist IAEA inspections or possibly move to unattendedverification including monitoring flow rates and enrichment levels. In addition to developing monitoringequipment, it is important to understand the time scales associated with centrifuge cascade operationand changes in operation. In this study, a transient isotope separation model and fluid dynamics modelof a generic GCEP is developed. These models are used to simulate a cascade operating in normal andoff-normal conditions. These simulations are used to develop time scales associated with proliferationin relation to enrichment and flow measurements. This information can be useful in developing newsafeguards technologies as well as helping to optimize on-site inspections.