FACSIM/MRS-1: Cask receiving and consolidation performance assessment

A simulation analysis was completed to assess the performance of the shipping cask receiving and spent-fuel handling, consolidation and canistering operations of the Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) facility. One purpose of this evaluation was to estimate the limits of MRS operational capabilities and factors leading to those limitations. The model used to obtain the performance assessment, FACSIM/MRS-1, is one of two components of the FACSIM model developed by PNL's simulation effort for the nuclear waste-handling facility. FACSIM/MRS-1 provides the user with information about lag-storage requirements, machine use, cask queues, welder queues, and cask process and cask turnaround times. The model can help determine the effect that the following activities have on operating efficiency: (1) receiving multiple cask shipments, when rail-cask or truck-cask shipments arrive at the facility in groups of two or more, and (2) operating the facility five days per week, three shifts per day or seven days per week, three shifts per day for any conditions. In addition, sensitivity to equipment failure frequency and the time needed for equipment repair can be studied. Information on the above operating characteristics may be obtained for any spent-fuel rate, any split of shipments between truck and rail transport, or any split of boiling water reactor/pressurized water reactor fuel.