ML14204A075
| ML14204A075 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Wisconsin |
| Issue date: | 07/18/2014 |
| From: | Agasie R Univ of Wisconsin - Madison |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML14204A075 (18) | |
Text
<Nuclear Reactor Laboratory UWNR University of Wisconsin-Madison 1513 University Avenue, Room 1215 ME, Madison, WI 53706-1687, Tel: (608) 262-3392, FAX: (608) 262-8590 email: reactor@engr.wisc.edu, http://reactor.engr.wisc.edu License R-74 Docket 50-156 July 18, 2014 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555
Dear Sir:
Enclosed is a copy of the 2013-2014 Annual Report for the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor Laboratory as required by Technical Specification 6.7.1(1).
Sincerely, Robert A sie Reactor Director Enc. (Annual Report) cc: Compliance Inspector, Craig Bassett Facility Project Manager, Spyros Traiforos Reactor Safety Committee, RSC 1210
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN NUCLEAR REACTOR LABORATORY FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 ANNUAL OPERATING REPORT Prepared to meet reporting requirements of:
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission License R-74 Docket 50-156 Technical Specification 6.7.1(1)
Prepared by:
Robert J. Agasie Department of Engineering Physics THE UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN MAD I SON
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 1 of 16 EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
OF REACTOR UTILIZATION Instruction: Teaching usage of the reactor during the year included:
- 104 Nuclear Engineering students in laboratory and lecture courses.
- 693 individuals from 16 organizations as part of the UW Nuclear Reactor Outreach Program.
Research: Neutron irradiations during the year included:
- 153 samples irradiated for departments at UW-Madison.
- 18 samples were irradiated for other educational and research institution research programs.
Industrial Use:
Irradiation of 30 samples was performed for Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) services.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 2 of 16 TABLE OF CONTENTS A.
SUMMARY
OF OPERATIONS ..................................... 3
- 1. INSTRUCTIONAL USE .................................... 3
- 2. OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ....................... 4
- 3. SAMPLE IRRADIATIONS AND NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS SERVICES ............................................. 6
- 4. CHANGES IN PERSONNEL, FACILITY AND PROCEDURES ......... 7
- 5. RESULTS OF SURVEILLANCE TESTS AND INSPECTIONS ......... 8 B. OPERATING STATISTICS AND FUEL EXPOSURE .................... 8 C. EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS AND INADVERTENT SCRAMS ................ 9 D. MAINTENANCE ............................................... 9 E. CHANGES IN THE FACILITY OR PROCEDURES REPORTABLE UNDER 10 CFR 50.59 ............................................. 10 F.
SUMMARY
OF RADIATION EXPOSURE OF PERSONNEL ............... 11 G. RESULTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS ......................... 12 H. RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS .................................... 12 TABLE 1 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DOSE DATA ............ 13 TABLE 2 LIQUID RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISCHARGED TO SEWER ......... 14 TABLE 3 LIQUID EFFLUENT FROM POOL ........................... 15 TABLE 4 EFFLUENT FROM STACK ................................. 16
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 3 of 16 A.
SUMMARY
OF OPERATIONS
- 1. INSTRUCTIONAL USE Nuclear Engineering (NE) 231, "Survey of Nuclear Engineering" was offered in the spring semester with an enrollment of 27 students. The course is designed for freshmen students interested in nuclear engineering and consists of three lecture modules surveying fission, fusion and radiation science technologies. The fission module concludes with a reactor tour.
Two sections of NE 427 were offered in the fall and spring semesters with a total enrollment of 37 students. Several NE 427 experiments use materials that are activated in the reactor. One experiment entitled "Radiation Survey" requires that students make measurements of radiation levels in and around the reactor laboratory.
Two sections of NE 428 were offered in the fall and spring semester with a total enrollment of 40 students. Three experiments in NE 428 require exclusive use of the reactor.
These experiments ("Critical Experiment", "Control Element Calibration", and "Pulsing") required a total of 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br /> of exclusive reactor use. Other NE 428 laboratory sessions use use material that has been irradiated in the reactor ("Fast Neutron Flux Measurements by Threshold Foil Techniques" and "Resonance Absorption").
The Reactor Laboratory's continued commitment to its educational outreach program and community service attracts large numbers of community organizations who visit the reactor. A listing of individual schools and educational programs that have visited or received services is provided below in section A.2 of this report.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 4 of 16
- 2. OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Participating Institution Number of Participants Abundant Life Christian High School 30 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
Arrowhead High School 15 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
Association of Facilities Engineers 9 A professional development organization participating in a reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
Beloit College 0 Analyzed swipe tests to leak check radioactive sources and performed detector calibrations.
Blessed Sacrament Elementary School 52 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
Boy Scouts of America 444 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor. Program included hands on demonstrations of radiation detection and shielding. Program co-sponsored by the UW student branch of the American Nuclear Society in support of the Scouts Atomic Energy Merit Badge program.
Bradley Learning Community 22 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
Dodgeland High School 7 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 5 of 16 Participating Institution Number of Participants Engineering Summer Program (ESP) 5 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor. The ESP Program is targeted to high school students from groups traditionally under-represented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field.
Leaders in Engineering Excellence
& Diversity (LEED) 6 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor. The LEED Program is offered to high school senior women and student groups who are historically under-represented in the field of engineering.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association 27 A professional development organization participating in a reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
North Hub Student Services Staff 11 Facility familiarization for building occupants including a reactor tour and a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
State of Wisconsin Emergency Management &
State of Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services Radiation Protection Division 14 Reactor tour with a discussion on emergency planning for the UW nuclear reactor.
UW Engineering Physics Department Graduate Student Recruitment Program 27 Reactor tour with a discussion on the capabilities and uses of the UW nuclear reactor in support of graduate research recruitment program.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 6 of 16 Participating Institution Number of Participants UW-Whitewater Department of Physics 0 Analyzed swipe tests to leak check radioactive sources and performed detector calibrations.
Verona High School 24 Reactor tour with a discussion on applications of nuclear energy and uses of the UW nuclear reactor.
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE USER
SUMMARY
Organizations: 16
Participants:
693
- 3. SAMPLE IRRADIATIONS AND NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS SERVICES There were 201 individual samples irradiated during the year. Of these samples, 142 were irradiated for 15 minutes or less. Samples accumulated 60.1 irradiation space hours and 132.4 sample hours. Many samples were irradiated and then counted at the Reactor Laboratory as part of our neutron activation analysis program. In the listing below the notation (NAA) indicates that the samples were processed by our neutron activation analysis program.
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, UW-Madison 14 samples, 1.4 sample hours Irradiation of silicon dioxide to induce damage that will change the electrical properties of the material.
Department of Engineering Physics, UW-Madison Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory 122 samples, 79.3 sample hours Irradiation of foil sources for radiation detector experiments, including absolute counting for neutron flux measurements and activation of samples for neutron activation analysis experiment.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 7 of 16 Department of Engineering Physics, UW-Madison NE 428 15 samples, 10.7 sample hours Irradiation of foils for resonance absorption measurements and fast neutron flux measurements.
Department of Engineering Physics, UW-Madison UW Nuclear Reactor Laboratory 2 samples, 2.0 sample hours Production of calibration sources for required reactor measurements and development of methods for instrumental neutron activation analysis.
Pennsylvania State University (NAA) 18 samples, 96 sample hours NAA to quantify iridium in TiO2 matrix in support of research in nanoscale assembly techniques.
SACO Plastics (NAA) 30 samples, 3 sample hours NAA to quantify the bromine content in conductor jackets manufactured to be fire resistant.
- 4. CHANGES IN PERSONNEL, FACILITY AND PROCEDURES Any changes reportable under 10 CFR 50.59 are indicated in section E of this report.
Other changes to the facility included a LabView based program providing the analog signal of the Stack Air Monitor (SAM) and Continuous Air Monitor (CAM) output to the console recorder, the installation of a remote reset switch for the Alarm and Indicator System from the Emergency Support Center (ESC), and the replacement of the Honeywell Multi Trend Plus console recorder with a Yokogawa DX2048 recorder.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 8 of 16 Personnel changes during the year were as follows:
The following Operator Licenses were terminated:
Name License Effective Date Matthew J. DeHart OP-71026 December 26, 2013 Michelle M. Blanchard SOP-70407-1 March 5, 2014 Fred B. Jones OP-71101 June 5, 2014 The following individuals were appointed as Reactor Operators effective June 5, 2014:
Alexander J. Gross OP-71214 Andrew D. Maile OP-71215 Lucas D. Zachow OP-71216
- 5. RESULTS OF SURVEILLANCE TESTS AND INSPECTIONS The program of inspection and testing of reactor components continues, satisfactorily meeting procedural acceptance criteria. Inspection of underwater components during the annual maintenance showed no deterioration or abnormal wear.
The pool leak surveillance program continues to monitor the pool evaporation rate, the pool make-up volume, and pool water radioactivity. The pool leak surveillance program indicated that approximately 563 gallons of water effluent has been released to the environment as detailed in table 3 below.
B. OPERATING STATISTICS AND FUEL EXPOSURE Operating Period Critical MW-Hrs Runs Pulses I Hours Fiscal Year 2013-2014 146.40 45.62 164 49 Cumulative TRIGA 30/20 LEU 1,747.90 1,089.60 779 218 Core K21-R6 was operated throughout the year. The excess reactivity of this core was determined to be 4.183%p.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 9 of 16 C. EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS AND INADVERTENT SCRAMS There were three automatic SCRAMS or manual emergency shutdowns during the year. Each is described below in chronological sequence.
October 23, 2013; SCRAM from picoammeter number 1. While reducing reactor power, a reactor operator trainee inadvertently downranged the picoammeter two ranges. As a result, a reactor SCRAM from a neutron high flux trip at 125% occurred.
December 12, 2013; SCRAM from picoammeter number 2. While performing a normal reactor startup, a reactor operator trainee inadvertently downranged the picoammeter instead of upranging to the next higher range. As a result, a reactor SCRAM from a neutron high flux trip at 125% occurred.
June 25, 2014; SCRAM from Pool Level Monitor. While performing the annual calorimetric heat balance power calibration procedure the increase in pool water temperature led to a volumetric expansion of the pool water. As a result, a reactor SCRAM from a pool level high trip occurred.
D. MAINTENANCE The Preventive Maintenance Program continues to maintain equipment and systems in good condition. Routine regeneration of demineralizer resins occurred on August 28, 2013 and March 21, 2014.
Corrective maintenance performed as a follow up action necessary for reactor restart following an automatic SCRAM is covered in section C of this report. Additional corrective maintenance was performed on the following installed systems, structures and components (SSC) as described in the SAR:
During a full power run on August 29, 2013 the Automatic Level Control System was observed to be non responsive.
Troubleshooting revealed the DC power supply had failed.
The power supply was replaced and the system verified to respond as expected.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 10 of 16 On September 10, 2013 during weekly operational checks of the Area Radiation Monitoring (ARM) System the demineralizer ARM responded to the check source but did not alarm after achieving the set point. Troubleshooting revealed the alarm circuit comparator had failed. The comparator was replaced and the instrument verified to respond as expected. Subsequently on February 26, 2014 the instrument failed to a high output. Experience has shown this is an indication of impending failure of the internal GM tube. The GM tube was replaced, and following verification of normal response, the instrument was placed back into service.
While performing the pre-startup check list on November 20, 2013 the fission chamber drive failed to withdraw the fission chamber. Troubleshooting revealed the gear on the drive shaft of the right angle reducer of the fission chamber drive motor had come loose due to the conical end set screw having backed off. The set screw was tightened and Loctite was applied to the set screw.
On March 4, 2014 while performing the pre-startup check list the air operated flapper valve at the end of the beam port and thermal column ventilation duct failed to open as expected. An investigation revealed a buildup of dust and dirt on the actuator caused the failure. The actuator was cleaned and the flapper was verified to work as intended.
On March 21, 2014 the Continuous Air Monitor (CAM) System vacuum pump failed as a result of the graphite vanes breaking. The vanes were replaced and the vacuum pump verified to operate within design specifications.
E. CHANGES IN THE FACILITY OR PROCEDURES REPORTABLE UNDER 10 CFR 50.59 There were two changes to the facility reportable pursuant to 10 CFR 50.59 completed during the year. Each change is summarized below.
The Core Inlet Monitor utilizes a Type T Copper Constantan thermocouple which was connected directly to the console recorder. However, the console recorder's thermocouple inputs, while accurate and reflective of the actual
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 11 of 16 temperature, lacked precision. It was decided to install a dedicated Omega brand DP41-B process instrument to provide the temperature reading which is both accurate and precise using the existing core inlet thermocouple.
In order to support department faculty research in the development of advanced high uranium density fuels for light water reactors, B1215 of the Mechanical Engineering Building was remodeled. The remodeling included the installation of two Thermo Scientific Fisher Hamilton Pioneer Restricted Bypass fume hoods and a Twin City brand, model BSI-165AHP square centrifugal inline fan. The fume hood exhaust was tied into the main reactor exhaust stack.
Additionally, the new fume hoods are equipped with cup sinks. These sinks were plumbed into the reactor radioactive liquid waste system.
These changes will be reflected in revision 3 to the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis Report to be submitted under separate cover.
F.
SUMMARY
OF RADIATION EXPOSURE OF PERSONNEL (01/01/13 - 12/31/13)
The personnel radiation monitoring program at the University of Wisconsin for the past calendar year used Landauer Luxel brand monitors for whole body and extremity exposure. No personnel received any significant radiation exposure for the above period. The highest annual doses recorded were 17 mrem to the whole body and 30 mrem to the extremities.
The highest dose received by a member of the public visiting the reactor lab was 3.15 mrem, as measured by Siemens brand Electronic Personal-Dosimeters.
Monthly radiation surveys continue to demonstrate acceptable radiation dose rates within the reactor laboratory and no contamination.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 12 of 16 G. RESULTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS (01/01/13 - 12/31/13)
The environmental monitoring program at the University uses Landauer Luxel brand area monitors located in areas surrounding the reactor laboratory. Table 1 indicates the dose a person would have received if continuously present in the indicated area for the entire 2013 calendar year.
H. RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
- 1. LIQUID EFFLUENTS Liquid waste discharges to the sanitary sewer from the facility during the year are detailed in Table 2.
Liquid effluents released to the environment during the year are detailed in Table 3.
- 2. EXHAUST EFFLUENTS Table 4 presents information on stack discharges during the year.
- 3. SOLID WASTE There was no solid waste transferred from the facility during the year.
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 13 of 16 TABLE 1 ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DOSE DATA (01/01/13 - 12/31/13)
Annual Dose Location (mrem)
Dose Inside Reactor Laboratory Stack <1 Highest Dose in Non-restricted Area 3 Highest Dose in Occupied*' Non-restricted Area <1 Average Dose in all Non-restricted Areas 0.5 (26 Monitor Points)
- Occupied areas include classrooms, offices, and lobbies/meeting areas where an individual might reasonably spend in excess of 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> per day
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 14 of 16 TABLE 2 LIQUID RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISCHARGED TO SEWER Release Date: 08/20/2013 Gallons Released: 850 Total pCi: 2.43 Sum of Fraction of MPC 0.025 w/o dilution:
Sum of Fraction of MPC 0.0009 w/ daily dilution:
MPC Isotope (PCi/ml) Released Co-60 3. OOE-05 2.43 pCi 7.56E-07 PCi/ml 0.025 Fraction of MPC Total volume of water released to the sanitary sewer (gallons) 850 Total activity released to the sanitary sewer (pCi) = 2.43 Average daily sewage flow for dilution (gallons) = 2.37E+4 Maximum fraction of MONTHLY release limit with DAILY dilution = 0.0009 Maximum fraction of MONTHLY release limit with MONTHLY dilution = 5.62E-5
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 15 of 16 TABLE 3 LIQUID EFFLUENT FROM POOL Liquid Release to the Environment - All Activity H-3 Water Average Activity Fraction Released Concentration Month Released of MPC (Gallons) (PCi/ml)
(mCi)
July 2013 350 6.35E-5 0.084 0.064 August 213 6.14E-5 0.049 0.061 September 0 6.27E-5 0.000 October 0 5. 73E-5 0.000 November 0 5.35E-5 0.000 December 0 5. 22E-5 0.000 January 2014 0 5. 35E-5 0.000 February 0 5.54E-5 0.000 March 0 5. 81E-5 0.000 April 0 5.46E-5 0.000 May 0 4.92E-5 0.000 June 0 4.05E-5 0.000 Total Average Total Average 563 6.27E-5 0.133 0.062
UWNR ANNUAL REPORT- Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Page 16 of 16 TABLE 4 EFFLUENT FROM STACK
- 1. Particulate Activity There was no discharge of particulate activity above background levels.
- 2. Gaseous Activity - All Argon-41 Activity Maximum Average Month Discharged Concentration Concentration (Curies) (PCi/ml) (PCi/ml)
July 2013 0.025 1.030E-6 1.750E-9 August 0.024 0.546E-6 1.660E-9 September 0.050 0.783E-6 3.630E-9 October 0.097 0.938E-6 6.830E-9 November 0.106 1.410E-6 7.510E-9 December 0.022 0.400E-6 1.530E-9 January 2014 0.004 0.234E-6 0.274E-9 February 0.020 8.290E-6 1.696E-9 March 0.048 0.728E-6 3.580E-9 April 0.070 8.267E-6 5.328E-9 May 0.002 0.535E-6 0. 130E-9 June 0.030 0.966E-6 2.098E-9 Total Maximum Average 0.498 8.290E-6 3.001E-9 Using the Gaussian Plume model, as described in section 13.1.7.2 of the "LEU Conversion Safety Analysis Report for the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor", a concentration of 6E-5 pCi/ml at the stack discharge would result in a maximum air concentration of 1E-8 pCi/ml at any point downwind.