Total System Model Version 6.0 Transportation Validation Report

The objectives of this report are to document the development of data and assumptions used in
developing the transportation modules of the Total System Model (TSM) and to demonstrate that
transportation and transportation timing work correctly. This validation supports the
Transportation Design and Basis Report (BSC 2007a) and is issued with Version 6.0 of the TSM.
This report is largely based on the analysis approach and content in the transportation calculation
provided for TSM Version 4.0 (BSC 2006a). Much of the information in that report is repeated
here to provide all transportation details in a single document. Repeating the analyses made for
Version 4.0 should detect any inadvertent impacts from TSM revisions and updates. These
analyses were not repeated to issue TSM Version 5.0 because other checks were deemed
adequate. However, it is prudent to do a complete and comprehensive check every few versions
to prevent long-term propagation of any problems not detected by a cursory check.
This validation in conjunction with reference BSC 2007a describes the development, calculations,
references, and assumptions for connector distances, conveyance speeds, and connector time
steps used in the TSM Version 6.0 transportation module. Both rail routes and routes for legal
weight trucks (LWT) are discussed. Refer to Total System Model Version 6.0 Transportation
Design and Bases (BSC 2007a) and User Manual for the Total System Model Version 6.0 (BSC
2007b) for higher level information on the transportation module in the TSM. Also see the
figures in Appendix A for the transportation elements represented by TSM processes and
connections.
The attachments and appendices in this validation also provide lists of other TSM settings and
values that are too detailed to include in the higher level manuals.
This validation also addresses the time that a cask is being used by various processes in the TSM
also called “cask transit time.” Cask transit time is the total time that a cask spends in transit and
is a key driver to estimate the size of the casks fleet required for the simulation. For example, for
simulations or cases with unlimited casks, longer turn-around times at the waste sites, the
Geologic Repository Operations Area (GROA), or other places may cause a shortage of casks
and will require a subsequent cask purchase to ensure the wastes are accepted and shipped when
demanded by the Initial State (IS) file start time input. Long turn around times can cause very
large cask fleets (>1,000 in cases without bounding assumptions).
The transit time discussed in this validation impacts the Waste Acceptance, Storage, and
Transportation (WAST) costs estimated by the TSM as described in Total System Model Version
6.0 Cost Estimating Routines (BSC 2007c). For example, the time for transportation from the
waste site to the GROA is the basis for the time the security resources are used and this is the key
factor to estimate security costs. Other data for barge, heavy haul (HH) use, and state line
crossings on this validation are direct inputs to the cost algorithms in BSC 2007c.
This validation also compares the TSM Version 4.0 cask transit time results to the TSM Version
6.0 results and interim versions. Cask transit times are a good way to check for inadvertent
impacts from TSM or SimCAD™ updates and revisions.
This report also validates a post-run report generator called the TSM Transportation Shipment
Report Generator (TSRG), see Appendix H.
This validation assumes the reader has a basic knowledge of the TSM functionality and
conventions. See the User Manual for the Total System Model Version 6.0 (BSC 2007b) for
more information and an overview of the TSM. TSM uses the SimCAD™ process simulation
software developed by Create-a-Soft™ (CaS). More information on SimCAD™ conventions is
in reference CaS 2006.
This validation also assumes the reader has a working knowledge of the transportation elements
of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) transportation system and
the Total System Model Version 6.0 Transportation Design and Bases (BSC 2007a).
This validation was performed in accordance with AP-ENG-006, Total System Model (TSM) -
Changes to Configuration Items and Base Case.