ML100920064
| ML100920064 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000128 |
| Issue date: | 03/30/2010 |
| From: | Reece W Texas A&M Univ |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML100920064 (22) | |
Text
TEXAS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY 3575 TAMU COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77843-3575 NUCLEAR SCIENCE CENTER 979/845-7551 FAX 979/862-2667 March 30, 2010.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555
Subject:
2009 Annual Report (Facility License R-83) 2010-0013 To Whom It May Concern:
Enclosed please find the 2009 Annual Report for the Texas Engineering Experiment Station Nuclear Science Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to call Latha Vasudevan or myself at (979) 845-7551.
Sincerely, ZW. D. Reece, Director Enclosure LV/ml Xc:
2.1 1/Central File Annual Report File Dr. Emile Schweikert, RSB Chairman Jim Remlinger, Associate Director Latha Vasudevan, NSC RSO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MANKIND http://nsc.tamu.edu f~vI~zp
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S Texas A&M University Nuclear Science Center Annual Report-2009 Nuclear Science Center Texas Engineering Experiment Station Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3575
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Texas A&M University System Texas Engineering Experiment Station 2009 Annual Report Facility Operating License R-83 Nuclear Science Center 1095 Nuclear Science Road College Station, Texas 77843-3575 Prepared By: Latha Vasudevan, NSC RSO Reviewed By: W. D. Reece, NSC Director March 2010
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 CONTENTS
- 1.
Introduction..........................................................................................................................
4 1.1 Nuclear Science Center Staff............................................................................
5
- 2.
Reactor Utilization for 2009.........................................................................................
5 2.1 TAM U Academic Support Program...................................................................
7 2.2 DOE University Reactor Sharing Program........................................................
7 2.3 Commercial Activity and External Research.....................................................
7
- 3.
Facility and Procedure Changes.....................................................................................
7 3.1 Facility M odifications.......................................................................................
7 3.2 Experiment Authorization and Modification Authorization...............................
8
- 4.
Reactor M aintenance and Surveillance..........................................................................
8 4.1 Scheduled M aintenance.....................................................................................
8 4.2 Unscheduled M aintenance................................................................................
8 4.3 Unscheduled Shutdowns...................................................................................
10 4.4 Emergency Plan and Review............................................................................
10 4.5 Reactor Safety Board.......................................................................................
10 4.6 Inspections and Audits....................................................................................
10 4.7 Notice of Violation...............................................................................................
11
- 5.
Health Physics Surveillance...............................................................................................
11 5.1 Radioactive Shipments..........................................................................................
11 5.2 Personnel M onitoring........................................................................................
11 5.3 Facility M onitoring.........................................................................................
12 5.4 Particulate Effl uent M onitoring.......................................................................
13 5.5 Gaseous Effl uent M onitoring............................................................................
13 5.6 Liquid Effl uent M onitoring...............................................................................
14
- 6.
Environmental M onitoring............................................................................................
15 6.1 Environm ental Samples...................................................................................
16 6.2 Site Boundary Dose Rate................................................................................
16
- 7.
Radioactive W aste Shipments.....................................................................................
18 Appendix A: NSC Organization Chart.....................................................................................
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Appendix B: Reactor Safety Board M embership.....................................................................
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 List of Tables Table 2 :
Table 4-2:
Table 4-3:
Table 5-3:
Table 5-4:
Table 5-5:
Table 5-6:
Table 6-2:
Reactor Utilization Summary in 2009.................................................................
6 Unscheduled M aintenance.................................................................................
8 Unscheduled Shutdowns....................................................................................
10 Total Dose Equivalent (mrem) Recorded on Area M onitors.............................
12 Particulate Effluent Releases............................................................................
13 Gaseous Effluent Releases.................................................................................
14 Liquid Effluent Releases....................................................................................
15 Site Boundary Dose Rates.................................................................................
17 List of Figures Figure 2:
Annual Reactor Utilization in MW-hrs of Operation........................................
6 3
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 I.
Introduction The Texas A&M University (TAMU) Nuclear Science Center (NSC) is a multi-disciplinary research and education center supporting basic and applied research in nuclear related fields of 0
science and technology as well as providing educational opportunities for students in these fields as a service to the Texas A&M University System and the state of Texas. The NSC also provides services to commercial ventures requiring radiation or isotope production services.
The NSC reactor is a 1 MW TRIGA research reactor in a large (108,000-gal.) pool. The size of the NSC reactor pool provides great flexibility in the experiments that may be conducted near the reactor. The NSC reactor facility includes two neutron beam ports, a neutron/gamma irradiation cell, a film neutron radiography system, hot cells with manipulator arms, and other supporting facilities. Moreover, NSC has Cs-137 calibrator for use in instrument calibration.
Laboratory facilities include counting laboratories with gas flow proportional detectors and High Purity Germanium detectors, a two-station pneumatics sample transfer system, a fast neutron irradiation system, a delayed neutron detection system and a prompt gamma neutron activation analysis system.
The NSC reactor design allows for easy loading/unloading of various types of samples. The NSC actively produces a variety of radioisotopes for industry, hospitals, and academic users. The NSC provides nationally recognized neutron activation analysis (NAA) services to many research and academic institutions in the United States. The Nuclear Engineering Department on campus is a major user of the NSC reactor. The NSC is also one of the major attractions on campus. Last year, the NSC hosted about 1308visitors including: elementary, middle school, high school and college students as well as faculty members, national laboratory scientists and industrial clients.
Through these tours, the NSC taught people with widely varying backgrounds about nuclear science.
With strong support from the University, the NSC is continuously increasing the diversity of its facilities and services. The NSC is continuing to produce the prototype for distance learning 0
modules. Under the Texas Work Force Commission grants, the NSC provided the operator training program and two undergraduate students successfully received their reactor operator license from the NRC. The NSC is continuing the work for DOE Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) and undergoing the security enhancements. In 2009, the NSC played a vital part in providing technical support for the Y-12 training initiatives.
With the DOE instrumentation grant from 2007, the NSC purchased and installed a new HPGe detector system (side looker), a digital signal processing system, associated electronics, and software to be used for a variety of gamma analysis work. The NSC also purchased and installed a new personal hand and foot monitor (Sirius-4AB) from Canberra.
S NSC has submitted the license amendment request as well as the revised Tech Specs, SAR, and other supporting documents for the renewal process with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). They are under review and are pending with the NRC.
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 0
This annual report has been prepared to satisfy the reporting requirements of Technical Specification 6.6.1 of the facility operating license R-83 and of the Department of Energy
- University Reactor Fuel Assistance Program subcontract No. C87-101594 (DE-AC07-76ER02426).
1.1 Nuclear Science Center Staff The staff at the Nuclear Science Center consists of four major groups: Reactor Operations,
- Health Physics/Technical Coordination, Reactor Maintenance, and Administrative Services.
Personnel directly involved with the operation and maintenance of the reactor are NRC-licensed operators. The NSC is committed to its educational responsibilities and many members of the
- staff are part or full-time students at Texas A&M University. Appendix A shows the Nuclear Science Center Organization Chart.
- The Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) of the Texas A&M University System operates the NSC. The Director of the NSC is responsible to the Deputy Director of the TEES for
- the administration and the proper and safe operation of the facility. The NSC Radiation Safety is
- responsible for the Director of NSC for matters relating to safety and for maintaining a proper
- radiation safety program. In addition to the internal structure, the Reactor Safety Board (RSB) advises the Deputy Director of the TEES and the Director of the NSC on issues or policy 0pertaining to reactor safety. The Texas A&M University Environmental Health and Safety 0Department (EHSD) provide assistance when it is required for emergencies and for special operations as agreed. The Texas A&M University Police Department provides security support on a daily basis and is a key support group in the event of a security incident. The College Station Fire Department and the College Station Medical Center provides offsite emergency 0support when it is required as per agreement.
- 2.
Reactor Utilization for 2009 The Nuclear Science Center (NSC) reactor has been in operation since 1961. The reactor is a 1 MW MTR-converted TRIGA reactor. Until the refueling in September 2006, the reactor used
- highly enriched uranium fuel (70%), but now uses low enriched uranium fuel (20%). Core VIII-A is the current core configuration and has been in use since March 1986. The NSC reactor is pulse operational and was pulsed up to $1.65 for nuclear engineering laboratories, staff training,
- and public tours.
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- The NSC reactor operated for 1801.62 hours7.175926e-4 days <br />0.0172 hours <br />1.025132e-4 weeks <br />2.3591e-5 months <br /> in 2009 with a total integrated power of 72.87 MW-days. There were 375 "Requests for Irradiation" processed at the NSC during the reporting period. The NSC provided services to TAMU departments, other universities, research centers, Sand secondary schools in and outside the state of Texas. The cumulative total energy output since
- initial criticality of the LEU fuel is 239.50 MW-days. Table 2 shows the reactor utilization
- summary in 2009 and Figure 2 shows the annual reactor utilization in MW-hrs of operation.
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0 Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 0
Table 2: Reactor Utilization Summary in 2009 Days of Reactor Operation 237 Integrated Power (MW-days) 72.87 Number of Hours at Steady-State 1801.62 Number of Pulses 24 Number of Reactor Irradiations (RFS) 375 Beam Port/Thermal Column Experiment Hours 667.05 Hours Irradiation Cell Use 62.62 Number of Visitors 1308 0
Unscheduled Shutdowns 4
0 a 2,500 2,413 0"-' 2,400 l
a ) 2,300 o 2,200 2,120 2,155 2,143 2,138 0 2,100 194
-,2 2,082 2,081 11
'8u~
2,,081194 W
2,000 1',924 1,963 1,946 1,951 1,915 1982 S1,900 -
7 1,778 1 835 1:800~
7 1,749 1,700 7**
01,600 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Year 0
0 Figure 2. Annual Reactor Utilization in MW-hrs of Operation
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0 Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 0
2.1 TAMU Academic Support Program 9
Texas A&M University provides funding for the reactor for such academic activities as nuclear engineering laboratories, neutron activation analysis demonstrations and laboratories, graduate 9student thesis and dissertation research, and undergraduate research projects. The program has 0been very successful and is crucial for many graduate students who use the NSC reactor for research and have not received research grants. The wide range of academic users from the
- university reflects in the NSC's reputation as a multi-disciplinary institution.
2.2 DOE University Reactor Sharing Program The DOE University Reactor Sharing Program that was providing support for those institutions that do not normally have access to a research reactor ended in the year 2007. There was no work done under reactor sharing program in 2009.
0 2.3 Commercial Activity and External Research
- The NSC provides services to a variety of users that provide their own funding. The majority of commercial activities focus on production of radioactive tracers for the Texas petroleum and chemical industries. Another commercial activity uses the converted Thermal Column area to produce micropore filters used in ultra-pure water systems in the semiconductor industry.
0Outside research grants fund a significant amount of the NSC's research. The NSC is involved 9with neutron activation analysis and radioassays for a wide variety of samples for outside customers. The NSC has many years of experience producing radioisotopes and has developed several customer-specific methods for radioactive sample production and handling. The
- production of radioisotopes generally involves handling radioactive material with high activities.
The NSC staff takes precautions to minimize the exposures during the transfer of radioactive
- materials to shipping shields.
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- 3.
Facility and Procedure Changes 0
3.1 Facility Modifications Facility Air Monitoring Channels, FAM channel 1 (Stack particulates), FAM channel 2 ( Fission products) FAM channel 4 (Building particulates) moving filter paper drives and lead shielding 0were modified to incorporate a better mechanical drive for the paper assembly.
0 Another instrumented fuel element assembly was constructed and loaded in the core, to provide NSC with a back up IFE.
- A new high purity germanium detector (side-looker) and counting system was installed in the
- Counting Lab. The detector shield was modified to accommodate the horizontal geometry of the 7
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 S
detector. A set of movable shelves to accommodate a variety of samples at various distances from the detector was also installed.
Permanent wiring for the computer and dehumidifier was installed in the Counting Lab to
- enhance reliability and safety.
- A new personal hand and foot monitor (SIRIUS A/B) from Canberra was installed in the reception room.
3.2 Experiment Authorization and Modification Authorization There were no new Experiment Authorizations (EA) or Modification Authorizations (MA) covered in 2009.
- 4.
Reactor Maintenance and Surveillance 0
- 4.1 Scheduled Maintenance
- NSC personnel performed regular maintenance on the Fuel Element Temperature Channel, Area Radiation Monitors and the Linear, Log, and Safety Power Channels as required by the Technical Specifications. They also performed all surveillance required by the reactor license. Control rod worth and scram time measurements performed in June 2009 gave the
- following results. The total rod worth was $14.896. The most reactive control rod was Shim Safety #4 with a worth of $3.977.
The shutdown margin was $3.691 and core excess was
$5.311.
Scram times on all rods were less than 1.2 seconds. In addition, operators performed calorimetric calibration following each maintenance period, and fuel inspections with no abnormalities noted (as required by the Technical Specification). The cold critical reactivity worth, performed for each reactor experiment, shows that the most reactive fixed experiment is the Fast Flux Irradiation Device (-$1.141).
4.2 Unscheduled Maintenance
- Table 4-2 lists the unscheduled maintenance performed in year 2009.
S Table 4-2: Unscheduled Maintenance 01/07/09 A strap used to secure the air handling system ducting to the 5ceiling cut a cable to one of the security cameras, causing it to
- fail.
The cabling was repaired and rerouted.
01/16/09 A broken bracket, holding the diffuser hose, was repaired.
S 01/16/09 The roof of the heat exchanger room was resurfaced. A broken drain pipe that goes across the heat exchanger room roof was repaired.
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 S
0 02/03/09 The overhead crane control pendant was replaced, after one of 10 the buttons stuck.
02/05/09 A sticking latch was repaired on the mechanical equipment 0room door.
02/12/09 One of the Fuel Vault ARM cables came loose, causing the local display to go out. It was reconnected and wire wrapped securely.
0 02/23/09 Shim Safety-3 kept falling during start ups. The engaged switch was mounted too far out, preventing the magnet face and the armature from making good contact. It was readjusted, solving
- the problem.
S 02/24/09 A section of cable, going to FAM Channel 3, was pinched causing sporadic noise on the channel. That section was 0removed and a new connector was installed.
S 05/13/09 A reactor core light bulb was replaced.
05/14/09 The smoke detector over the wire tray failed to alarm when 0tested and was replaced.
S 05/20/09 The Lab 1 ARM failed its source test. A transistor and a diode were replaced, and the motor that moves the source was 0cleaned.
0 06/11/09 A defective power supply on one of our security cameras was replaced after it caused black bars to float across the monitor.
06/18/09 The batteries in the rack mounted UPS s in the Control Room
- failed and were replaced.
5 06/23/09 The rear door to the Lab Building was trimmed and the weather Sstripping was redone so that the electric latch would work
- properly.
0 06/25/09 A coaxial cable connecting the SCA to the FAM computer was replaced after Channel 6 failed to respond.
06/25/09 FAM Channel 3 was showing abnormal readings. A cable had come loose and was reconnected, restoring normal operation.
06/25/09 The rubber roller on FAM Channel 2 paper drive was replaced 5after the filter paper failed to advance.
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 07/27/09 08/17/09 08/17/09 09/03/09 10/12/09 11/13/09 New jacks were installed on the reactor bridge after it failed to raise properly.
The power supply for the Tunnel camera was replaced after it caused black bars to appear on the monitor.
The Cooling Tower's manual fill valve assembly was repaired after a pipe broke.
Lab l's door lock was realigned and lubricated after getting nearly impossible to open.
A bracket holding conduit was reattached to the wall after it came loose, blocking the entrance to the Fuel Vault.
The MHA sink drain was cleaned after getting plugged up.
4.3 Unscheduled Shutdowns There were Table 4-3.
four unscheduled reactor shutdowns during 2009. The cause is detailed below in Table 4-3: Unscheduled Shutdowns 4/26/2009 6/1/2009 6/10/2009 10/28/2009 Reactor scrammed due to loss of electricity from offsite.
Reactor scrammed due to operator error. A test signal was sent to Safety Power Channel #2 during operation, which caused the scram.
Reactor scrammed due to heavy tools being dropped from an employee's hands on the reactor bridge. The vibration caused Shim Safety Control Rods 1 and 4 to scram.
Reactor scrammed due to high level alarm on Safety Power Channel #2. The reactor operator increased power from
--500kW to -900kW quickly which caused the alarm.
4.4 Emergency Plan and Review The Nuclear Science Center Management and the members of Reactor Safety Board (RSB) reviewed the NSC Security and Emergency Plans. The Emergency Plan is undergoing a revision to incorporate minor changes in the plan. The update on the Security Plan to include the 10
0 Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 S
Compensatory Measures and finger printing requirements were discussed. There has been no mandate to update the security plan by the NRC.
4.5 Reactor Safety Board 0
- The Reactor Safety Board is responsible for providing an independent review and audit of the
- safety aspects of the NSC reactor. The Reactor Safety Board met once in the year 2009 as per the Technical Specifications requirement and there were no pending items. Appendix B provides the reactor safety board membership.
4.6 Inspections and Audits The Reactor Safety Board sub-committee performed the required audits and inspections as per
- the Technical Specifications requirement. The results of the audit were shared with the RSB
- members.
A facility inspection was performed by NRC.
0 4.7 Notice of Violation
- There was no "Notice of Violation" in 2009.
- 5.
Health Physics Surveillance 0The purpose of Health Physics surveillance is to ensure safe use of radioactive materials in the Nuclear Science Center's research and service activities and to fulfill the regulatory requirements
- of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and State agencies. The NSC maintains a Health Physics group as an integral part of the organization. They are responsible for radiological as
- well as chemical, and physical safety concerns. The radiation safety team at the TAMU
- Environmental Health and Safety Department provides additional support to the NSC Health Physics group upon request.
0 5.1 Radioactive Shipments 0
- The Health Physics monitoring and technical support that was provided in 2009 assured minimal exposure during sample handling, shipment of radioactive material, and normal reactor
- operation.
The radiation exposures were maintained ALARA. During 2009, about 277 0radioactive samples were handled of which 256 samples were released to various research facilities including Texas A&M University campus and the rest were retained at the Nuclear Science Center facility. A total of 396.2 curies were handled in 2009.
5.2 Personnel Monitoring 0
- Personnel Monitoring was provided on a monthly basis to approximately 36 personnel. All measured doses to personnel were below the limits set forth in 10 CFR 20. Six individuals
- received whole body dose greater than 5% of the annual limit in 10 CFR 20. Their deep dose 0
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 equivalent (DDE) recorded were 284, 336, 578, 469, 268, and 377 mrem for the year. Airborne monitoring during sample handling continued to show no significant airborne activity.
Therefore, total effective dose equivalent will equal deep dose equivalent for 2009. A total of 3.03 manrem was recorded for the year 2009. When total manrem/curie was determined for 2009, the dose per curie equaled 0.0077 (manrem/Ci).
During 2009, about 1308 visitors toured the Nuclear Science Center. Minimal exposures were measured with pocket ion chambers worn by these visitors and the pocket ion chamber readings of their respective tour guides.
NSC employees who were likely to exceed 10% of their total annual dose wore whole body badges (Luxel dosimeter) and extremity badges (TLD dosimeters) that were provided by Landauer, a NVLAP accredited supplier. Landauer also provides the reports of the doses received. Employees who potentially handle more radioactive materials on a regular basis were provided two extremity badges and were changed out on a bimonthly basis.
5.3 Facility Monitoring Surveys of the Nuclear Science Center facilities were performed to assess radiological hazards to NSC workers. Radiation levels and sources of radioactive contamination were routinely monitored. Approximately 350 smear samples were collected and evaluated each month. All accessible areas at the NSC wear surveyed for radiation and contamination levels monthly. Areas where contamination is expected, access/egress controls are in place and are evaluated on shorter intervals. Area monitors were placed at strategic locations in the reactor facility, this provides dose equivalent (mrem) on a monthly basis. Table 5-3 summarizes the annual accumulated dose equivalent (mrem) recorded on the area monitors for 2009.
Table 5-3: Total Dose Equivalent (mrem) Recorded on Area Monitors Accumulated Dose Monitor ID Location Equivalen Dose Equivalent (mrem)
BLDG MNTR 1 Upper Research Level 1098 Mezzanine BLDG MNTR 2 Lower Research Level 450 Mezzanine BLDG MNTR 3 Lower Research Level 4
AREA Control Room 85 AREA Upper Research Level 709 AREA Room next to MHA 2311*
- Radioactive materials were stored in the temporary locations in MHA.
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 0
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5.4 Particulate Effluent Monitoring Radioactive particulates were monitored at the base of the central exhaust stack and summarized on a monthly basis. The annual average release concentration was 1.4x10-5 pCi/cc. The total radioactivity released for 2009 was 0.16 p, Ci. Table 5-4 summarizes monthly particulate effluent releases during 2009. The most common isotope noted during particulate effluent releases was Sb-124.
Table 5-4: Particulate Effluent Releases Activity Average Additional Total from FAM Exhaust release releases activity Quarter Month channel 1 concentration released (4LCi)
Volume*3 (l.Ci/cc)
(4tCi)
(Ci)
(cc)
January
<BG 9.32xl012
<BG
<BG February 2.83x10-2 9.96x1012 2.84x10-"5 2.83x10-8 March 5.65x10-2 9.96z1012 5.67x10-15 5.65x10-8 Average:
2.83x10-2 9.74x1012 2.84x10-'5 2.83x10-8 Quarter Sum 8.48x10-2 2.92x1013 8.51x10-15 O.OOE+00 8.48x10-8 April 1.92x 10-2 9.64x 1012 1.99x10"15 1.92xt0"8 May 1.42x10-2 9.96x10 12 1.42x10-m 1.42x10-8 II June 3.71x10-3 9.64x10 2 3.85x10-16 3.71x10-9 Average:
1.24x10"2 9.74x10"2 1.27x10"'5 1.24x10"8 Quarter Sum 3.71x10-2 2.92x1013 3.80x10"15 O.OOE+00 3.71x10-8 July 6.68x10-3 9.96x1012 6.71x10-16 6.68x10-9 August
<BG 9.96xl 012
<BG
<BG III September
<BG 9.96x10 12
<BG
<BG Average:
2.23x10-3 9.96x1012 2.24x10-16 2.23x10"9 Quarter Sum 6.68x10"3 2.99x1013 6.71x10"16 O.OOE+00 6.68x10"9 October 3.47x10-2 9.96x10 12 3.48x10- 5 3.47x10-8 November
<BG 9.64x1012
<BG
<BG IV December
<BG 9.96x 1012
<BG
<BG Average:
1.16x10-2 9.85x1012 1.16x10-m5 1.16x10-8 Quarter Sum 3.47x10"2 2.96x1012 3.48x10"'5 O.OOE+00 3.47x10"8 Annual Average:
9.82x1012 1.37x10"15 O.OOE+00 1.36x10-8 Summary Total 1.18x1014 1.65x10"14 O.OOE+00 1.63x10"7 notes:
- 1. Average Release Concentration equal to: Activity from FAM ( facility air monitoring) Channel 1 divided by volume of air going through the stack
- 2. Exhaust Volume equal to: ( # days/month)*( 24hrs/day)*(60min/hr)*(7875 ft3/min)/ (3.53x10-5 cc)
- 3. Additional Release equal to: (Individual releases calculated from facility air monitoring data)
- 4. Total Release equal to: (activity for channel 1+(Additional Release))* 10-6
- 5. <BG indicates that the monthly count rates were less than the background count rates.
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Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 5.5 Gaseous Effluent Monitoring Argon-41 is the major gaseous effluent produced and released at the Nuclear Science Center.
This effluent is monitored at the central exhaust stack. Total Argon-41 released during 2009 was approximately 10 mCi with an annual average release concentration of 8.-58x10ll [iCi/cc. Table 5-5 summarizes monthly gaseous effluent (Ar-41) releases during 2009.
Table 5-5: Gaseous Effluent (Ar-41) Releases Activity Exhaust Average release Additional Total activity Quarter Month from Volume concentration releases released channel 3 (cc)
(ACi/cc)
(6Ci)
(Ci)
(gCi)
January 1.88x10 3 9.32x10lz 2.02x110-° 1.88x10-3 February 2.06x10 3 9.96x1012 2.07x10-1 ° 2.06x10 3 I
March 1.37x10 3 9.96x10 12 1.38x10-0° 1.37x10"3 Average:
1.77x10 3 9.74x10 12 1.83x10"'° 1.77x10"3 Quarter Sum 5.32x10 3 2.92x1013 5.48x101'° 0.00x10 0 5.32x10 3 April 1.46x10 3 9.64x1012 1.51x101'° 1.46x10-3 May 1.31x10 3 9.96x1012 1.32x101'° 1.31x10-3 II June 1.19 x10 2 9.64x10 12 1.23x10'-
1.19x10 4 Average:
9.63x10 2 9.74x10"2 9.84x10"l 9.63x10"4 Quarter Sum 2.89x103 2.92x10i3 2.95x10"40 2.89x10"3 July 4.44x10 2 9.96x1012 4.46x10-1 3.78x10 0 4.48x10-4 August 2.99x10 2 9.96x1012 3.00x10- 1 2.99x10-4 III September 2.07x10 2 9.96xl 012 2.08x10-l 2.07xl 0-4 Average:
3.17x102 9.96x1012 3.18x10" 3.18x10"4 Quarter Sum 9.50x10 2 2.99x10I3 9.54 xl0" 3.78x10 0 9.54x10-4 October 4.15x10 2 9.96x1012 4.17x10"-
4.15xl0-4 November 3.03x10 2 9.64x10 2 3.14x10"l 3.03x10 4 IV December 1.8x10 2 9.96x.10 12 1.81xl0'i 1.8xl 04 Average:
2.99x102 9.85x1012 3.04x10-"
2.99x10-4 Quarter Sum 8.98x10 2 2.96x10I3 9.12x10 1" 0.00x10 0 8.98x10"4 Annual Average:
9.82x10'2 8.58 x10-"
8.38x10"4 Summary Total 1.18x1014 1.03x10"9 3.78x100 1.01x10"2 notes:
- 1. Average Release Concentration equal to: Activity from Channel 3 divided by volume of air going through the stack
- 2. Exhaust Volume equal to: ( # days/month)*( 24 hrs/day)*(60 min/hr)*( 7875 ft3 /min)/ (3.53x10 5 cc)
- 3. Additional Release equal to: (Individual releases calculated from facility air monitoring data)
- 4. Total Release equal to: (activity for channel 3+(Additional Release))* 10-6 14
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 W
5.6 Liquid Effluent Monitoring Radioactive Liquid effluents are maintained in collection tanks before release from the confines of the Nuclear Science Center. Sample activity concentrations and isotope identifications were determined before each release. The concentration values for each isotope were compared with the effluent concentrations in water (10 CFR 20) and were determined to be in compliance. On September 2009, a new sewer system was tied into the Texas A&M waste treatment plant for release of liquid waste and NSC started releasing liquid waste through the sewer system effective September 2009. Sample activity concentrations were then compared with Sewer line 0concentrations (10 CFR 20) and were determined to be in compliance. There were 23 releases in 2009, totaling 3.35x1 0 5 gallons including dilution. The total radioactivity released was 4.06 mCi with an annual average concentration of 3.21x10 6 jtCi/cc. The annual dose to the public calculated from liquid effluents is about 0.58 mrem. Summary of the release data are presented
- in the following Table 5-6. Radioactivity concentrations for each isotope found were below the
- Effluent Concentration limits specified in 10 CFR 20, Appendix B. The radionuclides identified in the waste stream were Na-24, Sc-46, Cr-51, Mn-54, Co-58, Co-60, Zn-65, Sb-122, Sb-124, Cs-137, and 1-131.
Table 5-6: Liquid Effluent Releases Number Volume Total Average Quarter Month of Released Concentration Releases (cc)
Radioactivity (Ci)
(RCi/cc)
January 1
2.85E+07 9.66E-05 3.39E-06 February 1
5.76E+07 1.77E-04 3.08E-06 0
March 0
Quarter I QuTotal 2
8.60E+07 2.74E-04 6.47E-06 O
Total April 4
2.87E+08 8.45E-04 2.94E-06 May 2
1.26E+08 1.30E-04 1.04E-06 II June 0
Quarter II QuTotal 6
4.13E+08 9.76E-04 3.98E-06 July 3
1.64E+08 7.16E-04 4.36E-06 August 3
1.24E+08 2.60E-04 2.1 OE-06 III September 4
2.03E+08 9.28E-04 4.58E-06 Quarter 111 10 4.90E+08 1.90E-03 1.10E-05 Total October 2
1.14E+08 2.81 E-04 2.46E-06 November 1
4.65E+07 1.35E-04 2.90E-06 IV December 2
1.15E+08 4.89E-04 4.24E-06 Quarter IV
- uTotal 5
2.76E+08 9.05E-04 9:59E-06 O
Total 0Annual Summary Total 23 1.27E+09 4.06E-09 3.21E-06
- = No Releases 1
15
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009
- 6.
Environmental Monitoring In conjunction with representatives from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) Radiation Control, a quarterly environmental survey is conducted to insure compliance with federal regulations. This program consists of TLD monitors located at various locations on the NSC site and two background monitors; one located at 3.84 miles NW of facility and the other at 0.25 miles SE of facility. A quarterly sampling and analysis of NSC creek sediment were included in the program. Effective September 2008, NSC no longer discharges liquid waste through the creek but through the newly added sewer system.
6.1 Environmental Samples TDSHS no longer require the collection of a quarterly sediment sample. A letter from TDSHS to this effect is on file.
6.2 Site Boundary Dose Rate The environmental survey program measures the integrated radiation exposures at the exclusion area boundaries. These measurements are made for periods of approximately 91 days using TLDs. Monthly measurements of direct gamma exposure rate in PtR/h are also made at each of the TLD locations. The dosimeters were provided and processed by Texas Department of State Health Services, Environmental Monitoring, Division of Regulatory Services, Austin, Texas.
The total TLD dose is multiplied by the occupancy factor (1/16) to determine the deep dose. To determine the dose to the public outside the site area from air effluents, the EPA approved code COMPLY was used. The annual dose calculated using COMPLY was 1.1xl0-5 mrem/yr. This is added to the deep dose to determine the total dose to the general public and the maximum dose noted was 1 mrem. Table 6-2 summarizes the site boundary dose rates.
16
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Table 6-2: Site Boundary Dose Rates Annual Report 2009 0
0 0
0 S
S S
0 0
S 0
S 0
0 S
TLD Deep Internal Total Site Quarterly Exposure rates Dose Dose Dose Dose Location (mrem/91 days)
(mrem)
(mrem)
(mrem)
(mrem) 300 ft. W of reactor 2
building, near fence 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 14.0 0.88 0.00011 0.88 corner 250 ft WSW of 3
reactor building, on 0.0 1.0 1.3 2.0 4.3 0.27 0.00011 0.27 SW chain link fence 200 ft NW of 4
reactorbuilding,on 3.0 3.0 5.3 5.0 16.3 1.01 0.00011 1.01 chain link fence, near butane tank 225 ft NE of reactor 5
building, on fence 1.0 2.0 1.3 2.0 6.3 0.39 0.00011 0.39 N of driveway 190 ft SE of reactor 10 building, near fence 0.0 0.0 1.3 1.0 2.3 0.14 0.00011 0.14 corner 300 ft NE of reactor 11 building, near fence 2.0 0.0 1.3 2.0 5.3 0.33 0.00011 0.33 corner 18 3
ftNE of reactor 3.0 2.0 2.6 3.0 10.6 0.66 0.00011 0.66 building 19 320ftNEofreactor 1.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 2.3 0.14 0.00011 0.14 building
- 14 3 miles NW of 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.04 0.00011 0.04 facility
- 23 0.25 miles SE of 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00011 0.00 facility I
I I
II IIII
- 14 and 23 are background TLD's 17
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009
- 7.
Radioactive Waste Shipments 9
During the year 2009, four boxes containing low level radioactive waste were shipped out through a contract company Bionomics, Inc. Two boxes contained aluminum cans and two boxes 10 contained dry cuno filters. The activities were quantified and the contents were packaged and shipped as per DOT and NRC regulations. The waste was finally processed by Energy solutions.
Dry solid wastes with short half-lives (<120 d) are properly stored for decay. NSC periodically segregate and sort this waste and classify as non-radio 1
S 9
0 0
0.
0 9
O 0
S 9
9 S
0 0
S 0
S S
0 0
9 S
S S
0 S
1 0
S
]
0 0
S 0
0 0
S 0
0i 0
S S
S S
0 S
0 0
S 0
S S
Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009 APPENDIX A NSC ORGANIZATION CHART-2009 ill ese Johns Chris Rutledge Je
'sse John Robert Miller Computer System NCuOperator Machinist I NSC Health Physics Manager Oprao Apprentice Kevin Dugan 1 NSC Nuclear Reactor Stephen Janes Maria Lazo Operator Apprentice Student Worker Student Worker D1 19
0 Texas A&M University System Nuclear Science Center Annual Report 2009
- APPENDIX B
Reactor Safety Board Membership (2009) 0 Chairman/Licensee:
- Dr.
Emile Schweikert, Professor
- Chemistry Department Members:
Dr. John Ford, Associate Professor
- Nuclear Engineering Department 5Dr.
Marvin Adams, Associate Professor Nuclear Engineering Department
- Dr.
Bill Charlton, Associate Professor
- Nuclear Engineering Department Dr. William Dennis James, Research Chemist
- Chemistry Department S
- Dr.
John Hardy, Professor Physics Department
- Dr.
Teruki Kamon, Professor Physics Department Dr. Sean McDeavitt, Assistant Professor
- Nuclear Engineering Department S
Dr. Karen Vierow, Associate Professor Nuclear Engineering Department
- Ex-Officio Members:
5Dr.
Warren Reece, Director Nuclear Science Center
- Dr.
- Nuclear Science Center 0Mr.
Jim Remlinger, Associate Director
- Nuclear Science Center 9
- Dr.
Raymond Juzaitis, Professor and Head Nuclear Engineering Department
- Mr.
Daniel Menchaca, RSO Environmental Health and Safety Department 2
20 0
S