Actions for Evaluating the need for a criticality alarm system at ANL-E [electronic resource].

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Evaluating the need for a criticality alarm system at ANL-E [electronic resource].

Published
Washington, D.C. : United States. Dept. of Energy, 1997.
Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Physical Description
6 pages : digital, PDF file
Additional Creators
Argonne National Laboratory, United States. Department of Energy, and United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
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Summary
Under the current climate of increasing regulation and decreasing budgets, DOE nuclear facilities are forced to become more efficient in operations aimed at satisfying regulatory requirements. Efficiency necessitates increased cooperation between the regulator (DOE) and facility management, and often a mutually agreeable innovative solution. At Argonne National Laboratory - East (ANL-E), one issue that required such an innovative solution and cooperation between contractor and regulator was the determination of whether the risk associated with an inadvertent criticality event justified the purchase and maintenance of a Criticality Alarm System (CAS) meeting ANSI/ANS-8.3-1986 requirements. According to DOE Order 420.1, the need for a CAS is based on the probability of occurrence of a criticality accident. If the probability is <10{sup −6}/yr (i.e., incredible) as determined by {open_quotes}commonly accepted engineering judgement,{close_quotes} then a CAS is not necessary. Installation of a CAS after such a conclusion would be a conservative decision and an unnecessary expense. This paper discusses the use of {open_quotes}commonly accepted engineering judgement{close_quotes} to show that the probability of an inadvertent criticality at a nonreactor nuclear facility (e.g., the Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility) is <10{sup −6}/yr. and is therefore an incredible event.
Report Numbers
E 1.99:anl/et/cp--91524
E 1.99: conf-970926--
conf-970926--
anl/et/cp--91524
Subject(s)
Other Subject(s)
Note
Published through SciTech Connect.
08/01/1997.
"anl/et/cp--91524"
" conf-970926--"
"DE97053464"
American Nuclear Society (ANS) topical meeting on criticality safety challenges in the next decade, Chelan, WA (United States), 7-11 Sep 1997.
Cohen, A.; Washburn, P.
Funding Information
W-31109-ENG-38
View MARC record | catkey: 14110582