Theses and Dissertations Collection

The thesis contains one published paper and two journal papers under review. Chapter 1 introduces the high reliability safeguards approach to remotely handled nuclear processing facilities, particularly for a commercial-scale pyroprocessing facility. This safeguardability model was developed from a design-driven perspective, for fuel fabrication first. It uses a discrete event simulation modeling framework. Quantification of risk within the context of safeguards-by-design with the metric of false alarm probability is a unique feature. Chapter 2 discusses upgrades on the current safeguards model, including the sensitivity analysis performed by varying multiple facility input parameters and the advanced nuclear accounting methodologies. Chapter 3 proposes the hazard and operability analysis of a pyroprocessing facility. The first study identified hazards, operability issues, and severe accident scenarios. It also mitigated their consequences with the corresponding protection methods. In addition, nuclear material accounting locations were determined to optimize facility designs for safeguardability. The detailed summaries of papers are shown in sub-abstracts in the following three chapters.