ML022410375

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor, Request for Additional Information, Amendment Request for Amended Facility Operating License No. R-37

ML022410375
Person / Time
Site:	MIT Nuclear Research Reactor
Issue date:	09/05/2002
From:	Alexander Adams NRC/NRR/DRIP/RORP
To:	Bernard J Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
ADAMs A, NRC/N RR/DRIP/Rorp, 415-1127
References
TAC MB3761
Download: ML022410375 (4)

Text

September 5, 2002 Dr. John A. Bernard, Director Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology 138 Albany Street Cambridge, MA 02139-4296

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (TAC NO. MB3761)

Dear Dr. Bernard:

We are continuing our review of your amendment request for Amended Facility Operating License No. R-37 for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor which you submitted on November 21, 2001. During our review of your request, questions have arisen for which we require additional information and clarification. Please provide responses to the enclosed request for additional information within 45 days of the date of this letter. In accordance with 10 CFR 50.30(b), your response must be executed in a signed original under oath or affirmation. Following receipt of the additional information, we will continue our evaluation of your amendment request.

If you have any questions regarding this review, please contact me at (301) 415-1127.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Section Operating Reactor Improvements Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-20

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/enclosure: Please see next page

Massachusetts Institute of Docket No. 50-20 Technology cc:

City Manager City Hall Cambridge, MA 02139 Department of Environmental Quality Engineering 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611

September 5, 2002 Dr. John A. Bernard, Director Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology 138 Albany Street Cambridge, MA 02139-4296

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (TAC NO. MB3761)

Dear Dr. Bernard:

We are continuing our review of your amendment request for Amended Facility Operating License No. R-37 for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor which you submitted on November 21, 2001. During our review of your request, questions have arisen for which we require additional information and clarification. Please provide responses to the enclosed request for additional information within 30 days of the date of this letter. In accordance with 10 CFR 50.30(b), your response must be executed in a signed original under oath or affirmation. Following receipt of the additional information, we will continue our evaluation of your amendment request.

If you have any questions regarding this review, please contact me at (301) 415-1127.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Alexander Adams, Jr., Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Section Operating Reactor Improvements Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-20

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/enclosure: Please see next page DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC RORP/R&TR r/f TDragoun MMendonca AAdams WBeckner OGC EHylton FGillespie SHolmes CBassett DMatthews WEresian PIsaac PDoyle PMadden GHill (2) LBerg ADAMS ACCESSION NO: ML022410375 TEMPLATE #: NRR-088 OFFICE RORP:LA RORP:LA RORP:SC NAME EHylton:rdr AAdams PMadden DATE 08/ 30 /2002 09/ 04 /2002 09/ 05 /2002 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH REACTOR DOCKET NO. 50-20

1. In addition to the elimination of the annual calibration, your proposal would eliminate calibration of the fission converter tank coolant level channel when a new measuring device is installed or when the current device repaired. Please justify the elimination of the calibration requirement for initial installation and after repair or modify your proposed TS to include these calibrations.

2. Please describe how the actuation position of the float switch is initially set if the position of the switch is not adjustable as stated in your application. Have the calibrations performed to date show any change in the set point of the switch? Please describe the functional test of the coolant level float switch and how that test would detect a failure of the float switch.

3. Please describe if there are any other methods to detect a failure of the fission converter tank that would result in loss of coolant.

4. Is it possible to confirm proper operation of the switch at times when the tank top is removed for other reasons?

5. The TS use two units for conductivity. TS 6.6.2.6 uses µmho/cm while your proposed changes to TS 6.6.3.4 uses µS/cm. Please make the units consistent in the TSs.

6. The data in the literature for your calculation of the pH - conductivity appears to be for light water systems. You state that heavy water values are not expected to be markedly different. What is the bases of this statement? You have been taking pH and conductivity measurements of fission converter primary coolant. How much data do you have and does the data support your calculated pH - conductive curves?

7. Given your calculations, what does it mean if conductivity falls to a very low level such as 0.04 µS/cm?

Enclosure