Appendix . Background for DOE-STD-6002-96, Safety of Magnetic Fusion Facilities

DOE-STD-6002-96

facilities need not necessarily be managed as nuclear facilities 3 but could be

operated as non-nuclear facilities.

Finally, fusion facilities will have several hazards not normally associated with fission

reactor systems. Some of these include cryogenic systems, very high electric cur -

rents and voltages, and strong magnetic fields.

These differences between fusion facilities and other nuclear facilities must be

reflected in DOE's safety requirements for fusion facilities. They must reflect the

unique design aspects of fusion facilities so that requirements not directly applicable,

which would not enhance safety, are not imposed. Fusion-specific requirements that

are different from those derived from fission experience may also be needed and

incorporated in safety documentation.

Until now, the best sources of general safety program requirements for facilities were

DOE Order 5481.1B, Environment, Safety, And Health Program For Department Of

Energy Operations, which is risk-management driven, and DOE Order 5480.23,

Nuclear Safety Analysis Reports, which is fission-technology driven. However, prob-

lems are experienced when attempting to apply the fission-technology-based DOE

Orders to fusion facilities. Among these problem areas are:

how to apply a graded approach for fusion structures, systems, and compo-

nents required for safety, which tend to have distributed energy sources;

whether and to what degree fission codes and standards are applicable to

engineered systems in fusion facilities, especially structures, systems, and

components required for safety;

whether the hazards categorization process for nuclear facilities is sufficient for

fusion facilities given the different radionuclides generated by activation of

structural metal (e.g., stainless steel) vs fission of uranium;

whether there are unique security/accountability requirements concerning

facility safety and the use of tritium as a fuel; and

how other aspects such as magnetic field exposure, disposal of activated

materials, and other unique characteristics of fusion facilities should be treated

in the context of DOE Safety Orders.

In all these areas, supplemental guidance is needed that takes into consideration the

unique aspects of fusion facilities, for all life cycle phases including cleanup and site

3The definition of a nuclear facility for DOE safety purposes is in DOE Order 5480.23. Nuclear facilities are

fission reactors and nonreactor nuclear facilities. Nonreactor nuclear facility means those activities or operations that

involve radioactive and/or fissionable materials in such form and quantity that a nuclear hazard potentially exists to

the employees or the general public.