Characterization analysis database system (CADS): A system overview

The CADS database is a standardized, quality-assured, and configuration-controlled data management system developed to assist in the task of characterizing the DOE surplus HEU material. Characterization of the surplus HEU inventory includes identifying the specific material; gathering existing data about the inventory; defining the processing steps that may be necessary to prepare the material for transfer to a blending site; and, ultimately, developing a range of the preliminary cost estimates for those processing steps. Characterization focuses on producing commercial reactor fuel as the final step in material disposition. Based on the project analysis results, the final determination will be made as to the viability of the disposition path for each particular item of HEU. The purpose of this document is to provide an informational overview of the CADS database, its evolution, and its current capabilities. This document describes the purpose of CADS, the system requirements it fulfills, the database structure, and the operational guidelines of the system