Qualifying Software for Nuclear-Safety-Related Calculations

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) is the highest- flux reactor-based source of neutrons for condensed-matter research in the US. Thermal and cold neutrons produced by HFIR are used to study physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and biology, as well as produce unique radioactive isotopes for industry and research. As mandated by the DOE, ORNL must perform software quality assurance (SQA) procedures with special attention to nuclear-safety-related software applicable to the HFIR. The SQA process is followed to assure that the software used to perform an analysis is producing the intended results. The DOE requires that all software in their facilities satisfy a graded approach to SQA. For software used to perform nuclear-safety-related analysis, these requirements are more extensive.