ML050950410

Wpi Leslie C. Wilbure Nuclear Reactor - Annual Operating Report for 2004

ML050950410
Person / Time
Site:	05000134
Issue date:	03/29/2005
From:	Laflamme S Worcester Polytechnic Institute
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML050950410 (4)

Text

100 Institute Road Worcster, MA 01609-2280, USA 5084831-5276,508431-5688, Fax 508-831-6062 www.wpi.xdu Lelie C Wilbur Nuclear Reactor Facility March 29, 2005 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Mail Stop 0-5 C12 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Re: Docket No. 50-134 License R-61 Annual Report for 2004 In accordance with the Technical Specifications for the WPI Leslie C. Wilbur Nuclear Reactor Facility (License R-61), I am submitting the Annual Operating Report for 2004.

The WPI reactor is a non-power, university-based, teaching reactor. It continues to be used primarily in the academic mission of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, for the instruction of students, and in occasional scholarly research.

Please contact me if further information is required.

Sincerely, Steph n ucLaFlamme, Director, Nuclear Reactor Facility Cc: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Mr. Thomas Dragoun 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission A1TN: Mr. Patrick Isaac Mail Stop 012-G1 3 One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 American Nuclear Insurers IDCD Q 95 Glastonbury Boulevard Glastonbury, CT 06033

2004 Annual Operating Report Worcester Polytechnic Institute Leslie C. Wilbur Nuclear Reactor Facility License R-61 Docket No. 50-134 Operations Summary (a) changes in facility design There were no changes in facility design during 2004.

(b) performance characteristics The operation of all reactor safety system components was normal during 2004, with the only exception being that in April 2004, during performance of the daily checkout surveillance procedure, it was determined that the reactor scram signal could not be reset. The cause was determined to be electronic failure of the electronic scram output circuit from one of the picoaammeter channels.

Performance of the fuel was normal.

(c) changes in operatingprocedures There were no changes made to operating procedures during 2004.

(d) abnormalresults of surveillance tests and inspections There were no unusual findings from the performance of surveillance tests and inspections, other than described above in (b).

(e) personnel changes in reactorfacility director, health physicist, or radiation, health, andsafety committee members There were no personnel changes in 2004.

WPI 2004 Annual Report Page 2 of 3 II. Power Generation (kilowatt-hours) 2004 Output: 214.7 Total LEU-Fuel: 2830.7 Total Reactor: 10244.7 III. Unscheduled Shutdowns There were two unscheduled shutdowns during 2004. Of these, the first occurred when one of the Nuclear Instrumentation Channels failed to indicate properly during a startup.

The startup was a trainee demonstration of a second startup following a trip from full power. Instrumentation Channel 2 was indicating about 100% of the 1 W scale while Channel I remained at 0% of the 0.1 W scale. While the trainee was in the progress of slowing the power increase to wait for Channel 1 to come on line, the Channel 1 picoarnmeter generated a trip signal at approximately 115% of the 0.1 W scale. The cause was assumed to be related to the positioning of the manual range switch, which apparently prevented the indicator from operating, but detector compensation issues due to the previous operation complicated the indicator response. The second unscheduled shutdown was caused when a trainee overshot 100% of the 1 kW scale. At approximately 105% of 1 kW, a pre-trip alarm was generated on one of the two Nuclear Instrumentation Channels, and the alarm caused a loss of magnet current to all three control blades apparently due to the voltage surge within the control panel, an actual scram signal was not generated. Neither of the scrams had any safety significance given the scope of the facility, and both were related to activities involving its teaching and training mission.

IV. Maintenance In April 2004, during performance of the daily checkout surveillance procedure, it was determined that the reactor scram signal could not be reset. The cause was determined to be electronic failure of the electronic scram output circuit from picoarnmeter channel 1.

The failed components were replaced with updated components, and the same components in the other channel were also replaced. Following repairs, it was determined that the transformer in the power supply for picoammeter channel 2 had also failed, most likely during the testing of the original failure. The power supplies for both picoammeter channels were replaced with new power supplies.

V. Changes, Tests, and Experiments Pursuant to 10CFR 50.59 There have been no changes to facility design, or new tests and experiments, requiring evaluations pursuant to 10CFR 50.59.

WPI 2004 Annual Report Page 3 of 3 VI. Radioactive Effluents Release Liquid effluent releases have been near background and well within 10CFR20 release limits. Gaseous Ar-41 has been released in trace amounts that are conservatively calculated to be well within 10CFR20 release limits, and we have verified level 1 compliance using the EPA COMPLY Code.

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