Completed 
          (Aug 2001-Aug 2004) 
          Continued under task24 

 

Title  Development of a Systems Engineering Model of the Chemical Separations Process	Researchers Y.-T. Chen, Hsuan-Tsung Hseih     R. Clarksean Collaborators James J. Laidler, Senior Scientist, Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory George F. Vandergrift, III, Senior Scientist, Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory
Background  The chemical processing of used nuclear fuel is an integral component of any strategy for the transmutation of nuclear waste.  Due to the large volume of material that must be handled in this first step of the transmutation process, the efficiency of the separations process is a key factor in the potential economic viability of transmutation strategies.  The ability to optimize the chemical separation systems is vital to ensure the feasibility of the transmutation program.    Systems analysis, or total systems modeling, is one of the strongest tools available to researchers for understanding and optimizing complex systems such as chemical separations processes.  Systems analyses permit researchers to present decision-makers concise evaluations of system options and their characteristic features.  The primary goal of this project was to develop a systems model that can be used to parameterize and optimize chemical separations processes.	Research Objectives and Methods This work includes reviewing and analyzing the Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction (AMUSE) code structure, examining other possible implementations, defining software activities, developing a verification plan, and modifying and improving the software.  This work also involves redefining the graphical user interface (GUI) to increase the utility of the AMUSE code suite as a stand-alone analytical package.  Developing a systems engineering model required discussions with Argonne National Laboratory personnel to identify pertinent components of the chemical separations process.  Each step required model development to establish its significance with regards to the overall process.  Comprehensive model development involved defining the inputs and outputs from individual models and establishing how each connected to the other within in the chemical separations process.
Students  Lijian (Rex) Sun-YTC, G Haritha Royyuru, G Jianhong Li, G Sridhar Munaga, G Sushma Gujjula, G	Department Mechanical Engineering
Final Report   Final Report 09/01/01-08/31/04	Annual Report  Task 8 Year 1 Academic Year 2001   Task 8 Year 2 Academic Year 2002
Proposal Final 08/11/01 Task 8 Year 2 Task 8 Year 3 Final 09/30/04	Quarterly Reports  08/16/01-11/15/01    11/16/01-02/15/02 02/16/02-05/15/02  05/16/02-08/15/02    08/16/02-11/15/02 11/16/02-02/15/03 02/16/03-05/15/03  05/16/03-08/15/03
Papers ICAPP:  Development of a Systems Engineering Model of theEngineering Chemical Separations Process -06/02 Development of a Optimization Systems Engineering Model for Spent Fuel Extraction Process-ANS 4/2-5/03 Development of Systems Engineering Model for UREX Process- 11/04	Researchers L. Sun, J. Li, Y. Chen, R. Clarksean, J. Laidler. G. Vandergrift H. Royyuru, L. Sun, Y.Chen, H. Hsieh, D. Pepper, R. Clarksean  H. Royyuru, L. Sun, Y.Chen, H. Hsieh, R. Clarksean

 Thesis
 M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Lijian Sun, "Development of a Systems Engineering Model for Chemical Separation Process" Dec 2003 (TRP Task 8)

  Posters
  AFCI Semi-Annual Review Meeting Poster: Development of a Systems Engineering  
  Model of the Chemical Separations Process-Jan 2003