Simulated process test bed for integrated safeguards operations monitoring

International safeguards at uranium enrichment plants traditionally have consisted of periodic onsite inspections to verify material accountancy based on static, batch verification of material flows derived from operator declarations. However, new dynamic safeguards measures are being investigated that facilitate automated material flow verification, process monitoring, and the associated remote indication of off-normal events. This continuous collection and evaluation of operations and safeguards-specific data can provide a real-time capability to verify UF ₆ flows at a facility. An advanced "process" simulation test bed is being assembled at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to evaluate the application and effectiveness of safeguards technologies on characteristics such as data generation and authentication, equipment reliability, system integration, automated analysis, remote monitoring applications, and protection of operator sensitive/proprietary information. The test bed will provide an economical capability to test and evaluate the integration of safeguards measures (e.g., load cells, flow monitoring, cylinder tracking, video surveillance) with remote monitoring under dynamic conditions. With the planned construction of larger enrichment plants, measures such as continuous, multilayered operations monitoring will be necessary to ensure effective and efficient safeguards. This report updates the status of the project, including the ongoing assembly of the Phase II simulation.