ML072680859

2007 Annual Report for the AGN-201M Reactor Located at the University of New Mexico

ML072680859
Person / Time
Site:	University of New Mexico
Issue date:	09/18/2007
From:	Busch R, Prinja A Univ of New Mexico
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML072680859 (4)

Text

The University of New Mexico Chemical & Nuclear Engineering MSC0I 1120 I University of New Mexico September 18, 2007 Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Enclosed is the 2007 Annual Report for the AGN-201 M reactor located at the University of New Mexico - Docket 50-252.

Sincerely, Robert D. Busch, Ph.D, P.E. Anil K. Prinja P Chief Reactor Supervisor Reactor Administrator cc. Document Control Desk USNRC Arýa-o 209 Farris Engineering Bldg.

• 505-277-5431

• FAX 505-277-5433

REPORT ON FACILITY LICENSE NO. R-102 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO JULY 1, 2006 - JUNE 30, 2007 The University of New Mexico's AGN-201 M reactor was not used for some research during 2006-2007. There were no changes in facility design, performance characteristics, or operating procedures related to reactor safety during the reporting period. The NRC did an on-site review of the facility in April 2007 and found no safety concerns or noncompliance issues.

The AGN-201M Reactor Facility is an essential part of our educational program, including public education, and continues to serve us well. The use of the reactor from July of 2006 through June of 2007 was as follows:

Type of Use July 05 - June 06 July 05 - June 06 Hours Watt-hours Class Demonstrations 3.8 3.8 Faculty Research 0.0 0.0 Graduate Student Research 0.0 0.0 Maintenance and Equipment Check 34.5 0.0 Operator Training and Requalification 12.0 28.5 Teaching 53.5 126.8 Totals for the Year 103.8 159.1 During the annual maintenance in August 2006, we checked the detector cans and found all to be in good condition including the Poly container for Channel 1. We created a final can design that will allow replacement of all containers as needed. In December 2006, we installed the new can design for channel 2. A 50.59 review of the can replacement was done and no safety issues were identified. Little change in current was noted with a new polyethylene detector can for channel 2. The detector location in the water already provided adequate moderation so the additional moderation provided by the Poly can had minimal impact. All detector cans will be inspected again as part of the 2007 annual maintenance, and the can for Channel 3 will be replaced (A 50.59 review will be done at that time as this is a safety channel).

AGN-201 06-07 Report, Page 3 There were no changes to the facility as it is described in the application for license and amendments thereto, nor were there any changes to the procedures as described in Facility Technical Specifications. No new experiments were performed during the reporting period.

There were no 10 CFR 50.59 issues during the reporting period. During the reporting period, there was no liquid radioactive waste released from the facility nor was there any solid waste released. There were no environmental radiation surveys performed outside the facility. All personnel exposures received during the reporting period were below 50 mrem per person with the majority of personnel receiving below 5 mrem. No facility visitors received measurable exposures.

An application for license extension was filed on February 22, 2007.

The current personnel assignments are:

Dean, College of Engineering Joseph Cecchi Chair, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Julia Fulghum Reactor Administrator Anil K. Prinja Chief Reactor Supervisor Robert D. Busch USNRC-licensed Senior Reactor Operators Robert D. Busch Ken Carpenter Gary Cooper USNRC-licensed Reactor Operators (inactive) David Hindera License terminated Eduardo Padilla The current makeup of the Reactor Safety Advisory Committee is:

• James Bryson Ron Knief Robert Long Ted Schmidt Joseph Sholtis David Summers with no vacant position although Ted Schmidt has retired from Sandia and may soon be retiring from the committee.

AGN-201 06-07 Report, Page 4 The University of New Mexico's AGN-201 M reactor continues to be used extensively for teaching experiments as a part of our undergraduate and graduate programs. These experiments include approach-to-critical, reactor period and reactivity measurements, importance functions measurements, sample activation, control rod calibrations, and reactor power and neutron fluence measurements. The reactor is also used throughout the Fall, Spring and Summer sessions of the University. All experiments have received prior approval from our Reactor Safety Advisory Committee.

Anil K. Prinja Reactor Administrator