TRU waste systems models

Transuranic waste is currently generated and/or stored at several sites throughout the Department of Energy complex in the US. The goal of the DOE National Transuranic Waste Program is to effect a safe, integrated, and economical disposal system for these wastes. Several alternatives are being considered. The selection process will involve tradeoffs of cost, risk, dose, and system efficiency. Simulation models are being used to aid in the analysis of the various options. In addition to modeling the material flow, the simulation tracks many specialized operational parameters related to the material processed or the elapsed time. These parameters track the radiological and chemical exposure dose to workers; the radiological, chemical, and hazardous risk associated with processing and storing drums; and the capital and operating costs of the facilities. The system being modeled has a timeline of approximately 30 years to fund, design, construct, operate, and decommission the needed facilities. The intent is to model this timeline and to include facility costs not directly related to processing. The tracking of these parameters is piggy backed onto the main simulation engine. Flexible simulation models, controlled by the user at run time, were developed. Two such models are presented.