ML102150543

Request for an Upgrade to the Allowed 235 U Inventory at the Kansas State University Triga Mk-II Nuclear Reactor Facility

ML102150543
Person / Time
Site:	Kansas State University
Issue date:	07/29/2010
From:	Geuther J Kansas State University
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML102150543 (2)

Text

29 July 2010 KA Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering US. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 3002 Rathbone Hall ATTN: Document Control Desk Manhattan, KS 66506-5205 11555 Rockville Pike 785-532-5610 Fax: 785-532-7057 Rockville, MD 20852 Re: License R-88, Docket 50-188 To Whom it May Concern:

This letter is a request for an upgrade to the allowed 23 5 U inventory at the Kansas State University TRIGA Mk-II nuclear reactor facility. This document supersedes a letter sent on 23 June 2010 which was not signed with an oath or affirmation.

Background Information According to the facility license renewal paragraph 2.C.2., the University is licensed 'to receive, possess, and use up to 4.20 kilograms of contained uranium-235 at enrichments less than 20% in connection with operation of the reactor and up to 90 grams of uranium-235.at any enrichment for fission chambers and reactor experiments." As of 31 March 2010,,the faili ppsspssed 3.9ofkilograms of uranium.n235,for use inr connection;with the operation ofthe.-reactor:- We plan lon receiving six new,fuel-elements with higher.fuel,.-,

loading :thani.ou..r-curr~enlt elements (1,2%-ura.nium byweight versus- &.5%.uranium-by -

weight).,.. These:fuel-elements will be .used to increase".the maximum power. of the .reactofrk from.the current maximum steady-statepower of about 500 kW to be closer to the license limit of 1250 kW, pending further analysis and approval to revisionsto. the Technical Specifications and Safety Analysis Report.

Request for License Amendment We expect each. new element to contain 52.0 grams of 235U, bringing our total inventory to 4.29 kilograms. This value may fluctuate depending on the, as-built specifications of-the fuel. In order to accommodate the new fuel elements with a small amount of margin for uncertainty in as-built loading, we request that our license be amended to allow an inventory of 4.40 kilograms of contained 235U at enrichments less than 20% in connection with reactor operations, .

Additional Work to be Performed The increase in the licensed 235U inventory is only one of several work items that must be performed prior to. installing higher-load, fuel in the core. Work is currently underway to verify that the increased fuel load does~not cause the power peaking in any,element to'.

exceed the value considered. inthe SAR, accident analysis, or to. invalidate the SAR.in any other way. Some. changes willbe requiredjto the SAR, andý-TechnicalSpecifications, as neither.reference specifies the use of 1-2%-loaded fuel in :theKSU reactor.ý This-work will be completed., and changes to the TS and SAR approved, prior.to the.installation of, i.

higher-load- fueliin the core.-

Aoio

Committee Action Safeguards Reactor Safeguards has been approved by the Reactor amendment The proposed license Committee.

and correct.

of perjury that the foregoing is true I verify under penalty Sincerely, ey A. Geuther, Manager Facility KSU Nuclear Reactor (785)532-6657 KS 66506 112 Ward Hall, Manhattan, Office cc: USNRC Region IV