Integrating ventilation monitoring sensor data with ventilation computer simulation software at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant facility

摘要

This paper describes an on-going study at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) to integrate underground airflow, differential pressure, primary fan information, and psychometric monitors with a ventilation software model. WIPP is the first nuclear waste repository in the United States. It is designed to safely dispose of the nation's defence related transuranic radioactive waste. The ventilation software, called WTPPVENT, is based on the commercially available package VnefPC developed by Mine Ventilation Services, Inc. The WTPPVENT package has been upgraded to read in real-time sensor data into a ventilation model of the underground facility. The software operator may elect to use the data obtained from the sensors or modify the data as necessary to be used in the model. The program also allows the user to average the input readings over a selected timeframe. The program uses the input data to calculate natural ventilation pressures, airflow and differential pressures through strategic underground ventilation controls and regulators (which may be used to calculate the regulator resistance). The regulator resistance is compared to an established "regulator resistance curve". In this way, the operator can adjust a regulator in the model and determine an actual setting (in percent open) that the regulator needs to be at for a desired airflow. The software has been written to allow for new sensors and regulators to be easily added in the facility. In addition, sensor data is checked for reasonableness with the user identifying the range for each sensor. An example data input is presented.