PAI Specialties
NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY

General:

PAI Corporation (PAI) has a staff of nuclear engineers and specialists who have commercial and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear safety experience. They have performed core physics analyses and nuclear criticality safety analyses, engineered criticality instrumentation systems, prepared safety procedures, and developed technical specifications. In addition, PAI provides radiation protection services, including source term analysis, shielding design, health physics support, training, and radiation control technicians.

Specific Areas of Expertise:
Nuclear Criticality Analysis
Hazard Screening
SARs
USQDs
ALARA Programs
Nuclear Emergency Preparedness
Health Physics
Radiation Protection
Dosimetry

Examples:

 
Criticality Safety at the Y-12 Plant

PAI provided senior nuclear engineers to assist the Nuclear Safety Organization in assessing Y-12 criticality safety. PAI evaluated nuclear criticality safety procedures for fissile material operations, criticality experiments and analysis, and criticality accident alarm systems.  BACK TO MENU
 
Auditable Safety Analysis (ASA) for LMES SAR Update Program at Y-12

PAI performed ASAs for Bldgs. 9720-59 and 9720-32. ASAs were written in accordance with DOE requirements. The facilities are RCRA Part B permitted hazardous/ignitable wastes storage facilities. PAI identified hazards, performed hazard and operability (HAZOP) assessments, and gathered data on stored wastes.  BACK TO MENU
 
Nuclear Criticality Studies at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP)

PAI evaluated on-site transportation of UF6 cylinders, the bulking of incinerator ash containing fissile material, the transport of low-enriched U235 from fissile to managed storage, and the application of Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Department of Transportation exemptions.  BACK TO MENU
 
Nuclear Safety and Quality Assurance Oversight at the DOE/Richland Operations Office (RL)

PAI reviewed safety program procedures; conducted Level I, II, and III procedure reviews; reviewed criticality procedures and criticality engineering verification plans; participated in the Tank Farms assisted self-assessment; reviewed No-Intervention Risk Assessment documents; performed an assessment of Tank Farms training and qualification; and reviewed Hanford Facility Safety Basis documentation.  BACK TO MENU
 
Safety and Health Services at the DOE Rocky Flats Operations Office

PAI assisted in the establishment of a Federal Employee Occupational Safety and Health Act program to comply with DOE Orders, Occupational Safety and Health Act and national consensus standards, and state and local regulations. PAI also assisted in facility safety analysis, nuclear material processes evaluations and surveillances, nuclear criticality safety analyses, structural and seismic reviews and analyses, and evaluations of operating control measures.  BACK TO MENU
 
Criticality Safety Analysis Support to Separations Facilities at the DOE Savannah River Site

Under this task, PAI performed criticality safety analyses using KENO for numerous material configurations in F-Canyon Tank 9.6 when the tank agitator was started.  BACK TO MENU
 
SAR Reviews for DOE Oakland Operations Office (OAK)

PAI performed an in-depth review of the SARs for a number of facilities at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The areas reviewed included site characteristics; facility descriptions; hazard and accident analysis; safety structures, system, and components; prevention of inadvertent criticality; safety management; radiation protection; hazardous material protection; emergency preparedness; initial testing, in-service surveillance and maintenance; operational safety; human factors; procedures and training; management, organization, and institutional safety provisions; and quality assurance. Thirty-four technical review reports were delivered to DOE/OAK, and multiple recommendations were made based on these reviews. BACK TO MENU