ML14212A687
| ML14212A687 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Reed College |
| Issue date: | 07/23/2014 |
| From: | Krahenbuhl M Reed College |
| To: | Henry D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Oregon Energy |
| References | |
| Download: ML14212A687 (20) | |
Text
REED COLLEGE July 23, 2014 REACTOR FACILITY 3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard Deanna Henry Oregon Office of Energy Portland, Oregon 625 Marion St. NE 97202-8199 Salem, OR 97301-3742 telephone 503/777-7222
Dear Deanna,
tax Enclosed is Reed College Reactor's Annual Report.
503/777--274 enail Please feel free to contact me for additional information.
reactor@reed.edu ueri Regards, htp://reactor.reed.edu Melin a P.rt r, eedColl Director, Reed College Reactor Aocac
REED RESEARCH REACTOR ANNUAL REPORT July 1,2013 -- June 30, 2014 3203 Southeast Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97202-8199 503-777-7222 Fax: 503-777-7274 http://reactor.reed.edu reactor@reed.edu
ITABLE OF CONTENTS Overview ...................................................... 1 People ......................................................... 2 Reactor Staff ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Reactor Operations Com m ittee ............................................................................................... 3 Facilities ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Reactor Facility .................................................................................................................................. 4 Rotating Specim en Rack Facility .......................................................................................... 4 Pneum atic Transfer System ..................................................................................................... 4 In-Core Facilities ................................................................................................................................ 4 In-Pool Facilities ................................................................................................................................ 5 Beam Facilities ................................................................................................................................... 5 R egulatory Events ...................................................................................................................... 6 A udits and Inspections ......................................................................................................... 7 Users ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Reactor Operations Sem inar .................................................................................................. 8 Outside Users ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Colleges and Universities ................................................................................................................... 9 H igh Schools /M iddle Schools/Elem entary Schools ............................................................... 9 Special G roups ..................................................................................................................................... 9 High School Student Project .................................................................................................. 10 Concordia University .................................................................................................................... 10 Scaler Kits ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Reed Classes ..................................................... ........ ............ ..... ...... .......... ... 11 Industrial and Com m ercial Applications ............................................................................... 11 Reactor Operations ........................................................................................................ 12 Operations ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Unplanned Reactor Shutdow ns ............................................................................................. 13 Reactor M aintenance ...................................................................................................... 15 Significant Maintenance ........................................................................................................... 15 Radiation Protection ....................................................................................................... 16 Personnel Dosim etry .................................................................................................................... 16 Fixed Area Dosim etry ................................................................................................................... 16 Gaseous Releases ............................................................................................................................ 17 Liquid W aste Releases .................................................................................................................. 17 Solid Waste Disposal ..................................................................................................................... 17 Environm ental Sam pling ....................................................................................................... 17 Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
JOVERVIEW This report covers the period from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, and is intended to fulfill the reporting requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission License No. R-112, Docket 50-288, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Oregon Department of Energy Rule No. 345-030-010.
We specifically wish to thank Portland General Electric and Concordia University for their financial aid.
Reed College operates a 250 kW TRIGA Mark I reactor. The Reed College Research Reactor has been a resource for research and educational projects in the Portland area since 1968. The main uses of the Reed Research Reactor are instruction and research, especially in the field of trace-element analysis.
During the year there were 1871 visitors from schools, colleges, universities, and special groups. Specifically, 537 visitors were part of Reed College activities (prospective students, family of students, Reed classes, etc.). Forty-two members of emergency response organizations came for training. Finally, there were 15 entries by inspectors and regulators from state and federal agencies. Including tours and research conducted at the facility, the Reed Research Reactor contributed to the educational programs of 22 colleges, universities and K-12.
During the year the reactor was taken critical 462 times on 165 days. The total energy produced was approximately 33.75 megawatt-hours.
The reactor staff consists of a Director, a Reactor Operations Manager, and Reed College undergraduate students who are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as reactor operators or senior reactor operators. During the reporting period, 12 out of 14 Reactor Operator candidates passed their NRC exams and 13 out of 14 the Senior Reactor Operator candidates passed their NRC exams.
There were no radiation exposures to individuals in excess of the limit during the year.
There were no releases of liquid radioactive material from the facility and airborne releases were well within regulatory limits. There were no shipments of low-level radioactive waste from the facility.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted an inspection December 16-19 2013.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014 1
IPEOPLE Reactor Staff Reed College eliminated the position of Assistant Director and replaced it with Reactor Operations Manager. Brian Fairchild was hired as the Reactor Operations Manager in July 2013. During the period July 1,2013 to June 30, 2014, the staff consisted of:
Reactor Director: Melinda Krahenbuhl (6/11 - present)
Reactor Operations Manager: Brian Fairchild (7/13 - present)
Radiation Safety Officer: Kathleen Fisher (1/03 - present)
Operations Supervisor: Christina Barrett (5/13 - present)
Training Supervisor: Molly Maguire (5/12 - 5/14)
Ilana Novakoski (5/14 - present)
Training Supervisor: Veronica Stewart (5/13 - 5/14)
Alexandra Mariani (5/14 - present)
Requalification Supervisor: Erin Weisenhorn (7/13 - 6/14)
Wilson Homer (6/14 - present)
Projects Supervisor Kathryn Linthicum (5/13 - 5/14)
Hannah Choi (6/14- present)
Senior Reactor Operators(SRO)
Hannah Allen Josh Hepworth Melinda Rachael Otto Krahenbuhl Christina Barrett Wilson Homer Simran Mahtani Erin Sheffels Lily Ben-Avi Austin Humphrey Charlie McIntyre Nathan Showell Hannah Choi Kathryn Ilana Novakoski Veronica Stewert Linthicum Michael Conner Trevor Lohrey Evan Peairs Reilly Villanueva Daniel Dashevsky Jake Luton Alexandra Mariani Erin Weisenhom Brian Fairchild Isaac Khader Huy Nguyen Andrew Warren Reactor Operators(RO)
Sarah Black Hunter Gill Stephan Okar Nicole Scherm Andrew Blount Vincent Griffith Jossef Osborn Natalie Stone Madeline Brandt Alexander Harris Alexander Pan Riley Thornton Audrey Dannar Jowie Koh Edgar Perez Timothy Tyree Kevin Freymiller Malcolm Helana Pedrotti Michaela McCarthy Voorhees Elisabeth Grace Jared Milfred Grace Poetzinger I The list of operators includes everyone who held a license at any time during the reporting period. Reactor Operators who upgrade their licenses to Senior Reactor Operators during the reporting period are listed under Senior Reactor Operators. For the 2013-2014 year there are 51 licensed operators at Reed College, 23 women and 28 men.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
Reactor Ooerations Committee (ROC)
For the 2013 - 2014, the membership of the Reactor Operation committee is shown below.
Reactor OperationsCommittee Wayne Lei - (Directorof Research and Development, PortlandGeneral Electric)
Norm Dyer (OAR Services)
Johnny Powell (Physics Faculty, Reed College)
Robert McCollough (NeighborhoodAssociation)
Kathleen Fisher (Director,Reed EnvironmentalHealth and Safety)
Lucas Iliing - Chair (Physics Faculty, Reed College)
Steve Reese (RadiationCenter Director,Oregon State University)
Nigel Nicholson (Dean of the Faculty, Reed College)
Melinda Krahenbuhl (Director,RRR)
Brian Fairchild (Reactor OperationsManager,RRR)
Christina Barrett (Supervisor,RRR)
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014 3
FACILITIES Reactor Facility In addition to the reactor, Reed College has a radiochemistry lab. The equipment available at the reactor facility includes high purity germanium gamma spectrometers, a whole body counter, ion chambers, beta counters, Geiger Muller tubes, neutron detectors, alpha detectors, and thermo luminescent dosimeter readers. These instruments are used for experiments and training in nuclear science and radiation detection. Two exit monitors are in the control room. A liquid scintillation detector serves both the reactor and broad scope license users. The reactor facility has several systems for performing irradiations, described below.
Rotating Specimen Rack Facility The rotating specimen rack is located in a well on top of the graphite reflector surrounding the core. The rack consists of a circular array of 40 tubular receptacles, each of which can accommodate two irradiation tubes. Vials holding up to 17 ml (four drams) are used in this system. Samples are loaded in the, specimen rack prior to the start-up of the reactor. The rack automatically rotates during irradiation to ensure each sample receives the same neutron flux. Typically, researchers use the rotating rack when long irradiation times (generally greater than five minutes) are required. The approximate thermal neutron flux in a rotating rack position at full power is 1.7 xl0 2 n/cm 2s with a cadmium ratio of 6. The specimen rack can be used for gamma irradiations (approximately 8 Rad/min) when the reactor is shutdown.
Pneumatic Transfer System The pneumatic transfer system ("rabbit") consists of an irradiation chamber in the outer F-ring of the core and its associated blower and piping. This allows samples to be transferred in and out of the reactor core very rapidly while the reactor is at power.
Routine use of the pneumatic transfer system involves placing samples into vials, which in turn are placed in special capsules known as "rabbits." The capsule is loaded into the system in the laboratory next to the reactor and is then transferred pneumatically into the core-irradiation position. At the end of a predetermined time the sample is transferred back to the receiving terminal, where it is removed for measurement. The transfer time from the core to the terminal is about seven seconds, making this method of irradiating samples particularly useful for experiments involving radioisotopes with short half-lives.
The flux in the core terminal is approximately 5x1012 n/cm 2s when the reactor is at full power.
In-Core Facilities The central thimble is a water-filled irradiation chamber about 3cm in diameter. It provides the highest available neutron flux, about Ix10 13 n/cm 2s. Special sample holders are used in the central thimble to provide maximum flexibility in experiment design.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
A fuel replacement source holder assembly can also be used as an irradiation facility. The chamber fits into a fuel-element position within the core itself. It holds only one specially positioned irradiation container 7.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter.
Foil-insertion holes, 0.8 cm in diameter, are drilled at various positions through the grid plates. These holes allow inserting special holders containing flux wires into the core, to obtain neutron flux maps of the core.
In-Pool Facilities Near core, in-pool irradiation facilities can be arranged for larger samples. Neutron fluxes will be lower than in the rotary specimen rack and will depend on the sample location.
An iridium gamma irradiator is also in the reactor pool for gamma only irradiations.
Beam Facilities The central thimble can be evacuated with gas, producing a vertical neutron beam. This beam can be used to generate directional neutron flux, or for limited irradiations above the tank. Prompt gamma analysis and neutron radiography can be done. The flux above the beam exit is approximately Ix106 n/cm 2s when the reactor is at full power.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
IREGULATORY EVENTS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted an inspection during December 16-19, 2013. A Notice of Violation was issued Jan. 14,2014. A reply was sent to the NRC on January 30, 2014. Corrective actions have been implemented.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS Two audits were completed during this period. Wayne Lei (ROC committee member) completed an internal audit on May 13, 2014. Sandra Warren (General Manager, Aerotest) conducted an external audit on April 30, 2014. Recommendations are currently being evaluated.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014 7
IUSERS Reactor Onerations Seminar The Reed Research Reactor conducts an annual seminar series. This non-credit course serves as an introduction to nuclear reactor theory, health physics, and reactor operation.
Some of the students continue with in-depth reactor operator training and subsequently apply for a Reactor Operator (RO) license. If successful, the individual may be hired to operate the reactor. In addition, existing ROs may take the NRC Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) exam to upgrade their licenses.
During the reporting period, 14 out of 16 RO candidates and 15 out of 17 SRO candidates passed their NRC exams.
Figure 1 is a graph of the pass rate for RO and SRO since 2000.
NSRO pass rate -'RO pass rate 120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
o3 -. r4 M~ -4 L D r, 00 (DC1 (N M oC) 0 03 0 0 0D 0 CD- - -
o 0) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (N eq P4 (N1 (i (n N4 (N (N (j P4 (4 (4 (N (N Figure 1 Reed Research ReactorLicense Exam Results Outside Users During the year there were 1871 visitors from schools, colleges, universities, and special groups. Additionally, there were 537 visitors as part of Reed College activities (prospective students, family of students, Reed classes, etc.). Forty-two members of Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
emergency response organizations came for training. Finally, there were 15 entries by inspectors andregulators from state and federal agencies.
The following institutions have participated in facility tours, experiments, and research projects in the reporting period.
Colleges and Universities Concordia University Oregon Health Science University Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon State University Pacific University Portland State University Portland Community College (Rock Creek, Sylvania)
High Schools /Middle Schools/Elementary Schools Lent Elementary Lewis Elementary Portland Public School Waldorf Elementary Cascade Heights Public Charter School Catlin Gabel Canby High School Corbett High School Cleveland High School Columbia River High School Rex Putnam High School Meek High School Oak Hills School Waldorf High School Roosevelt High School Special Groups Uniquely Portland TAG Boy Scouts (67, 611)
On Semiconductor RSO class Saturday Academy ASE STEM Camp Latin Forum Portland PDX Hazardous Waste Team Science Outreach Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014 9
Figure 2 is a graph showing the history of visiting groups.
30 Colleges and Universities
--- d-- High Schools/ Middle Schools/
25 Elementary Schools 4 Special Groups 20 or 15 ,
a It i~IA
~ ~ ".I ,
I-
,0 .,,..
10 5
0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Figure 2 Visiting Groups Many reactor tours include hands-on use of facility equipment to conduct experiments in radiation science, health physics, and nuclear physics. A typical lab involves determining the background of a Geiger Muller scaler system and then determining the half-life of a sample of radioactive material. College classes are generally more closely tailored to the individual interests and needs of the Consortium faculty member involved. Experiments include more direct use of the reactor itself by the students, more detailed analysis of materials, and emphasize the incorporation of other classroom activities as much as possible.
Several special programs for gifted children use the reactor for projects. These are designed to enrich their educational program and prepare them for college. Some of the groups who use the reactor target minority and disadvantaged youth who are historically under-represented in science professions. Additionally several Boy Scouts of America troops have visited the facility to complete the Nuclear Science merit badge.
High School Student Project The Reed Research Reactor continues to be used in independent science projects initiated by students from several Oregon and Washington State high schools.
Concordia University The reactor provides training and experiments involving radiation, radioactive material, and trace element analysis for Concordia University classes.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
Scaler Kits Through the generosity of Portland General Electric, the reactor lends out kits containing a Geiger counter, a scaler, and some small exempt sources to local high schools.
Reed Classes
- Chemistry 101 students explored the properties of alpha, beta and gamma irradiation.
- Chemistry 311 Extent of Chemical Reaction using potassium as the tracer
- Physics 332-Two groups from Advanced Laboratory II completed independent projects o Measurement of Cs-137 activity and characteristics using two different approaches o Measurement of flux, Cd ratio and flux profile of the rotary specimen rack
- Biology 356 Genetics and Gene Regulation - Two students evaluated the relationship between double strand breaks in DNA and neutron/gamma dose.
- Biology 351 Developmental Biology followed by Biology 481 Independent project - "Ionizing Radiation Damage and Repair in Zebrafish Throughout Early Embtyogenesis" Christina Barrett and Ivy Hellickson Industrial and Commercial Applications The Reed Research Reactor is available for industrial or commercial concerns when it does not conflict with our educational goals. As in the past, the primary operations involved neutron activation analysis of materials or environmental samples. The facility also provides radiation protection training to interested parties and schools in the area.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
IREACTOR OPERATIONS Operations During the year the reactor was taken critical 462 times on 165 days. The total energy produced was approximately 33 megawatt-hours. Operating history by month appears in table 1. A history of the data is shown in figure 3.
Table 1 Operating History 2013-2014 TIMES CRITICAL DAYS OPERATED MW-HOURS July 2013 17 7 1.46 August 2013 17 12 1.59 September 2013 78 13 4.46 October 2013 17 12 2.68 November 2013 75 24 5.61 December 2013 33 14 2.03 January 2014 12 14 1.51 February 2014 30 14 1.78 March 2014 46 18 3.30 April 2014 62 22 4.19 May 2014 56 17 4.00 June 2014 19 8 1.15 Total 462 165 33.75 Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
600 500 - Irradiations
--- MW-hrs 400 300 200 100 0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Figuire 3. Operations Unplanned Reactor Shutdowns There were 4 inadvertent reactor shutdowns (scrams) as shown in table 2. The number of unplanned reactor shutdowns is shown in figure 4.
Table 2 Unplanned Reactor Shutdowns DATE SCRAM TYPE CAUSE OF SCRAM July 18,2013 Linear High Power Overshot high power SCRAM set point Sept. 15, 2013 Linear High Power Overshot high power SCRAM set point Dec. 03,2013 Linear High Power Reactor SCRAM due to power bump while operating Feb. 10, 2014 Linear High Power Overshot high power SCRAM set point Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014 13
18 16
- A 14 12 10 8
6 4
2 0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Figure 4 Unplanned Shutdowns Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
IREACTOR MAINTENANCE Significant Maintenance Reactor staff performs routine equipment checks on a daily, weekly, bimonthly, semiannual (January and July) and annual (January) basis as required by facility procedures. Reed College maintenance personnel assist with routine preventative maintenance to auxiliary equipment. The following is a list of significant maintenance preformed during this reporting period.
0 Cleaned the heat exchanger 0
Replaced flow meter and some piping on the primary loop.
0 Installed check valve (10 CFR 50.59 Screening 12-8)
S Installed the thermocouple array 0
Replaced the pH meter Two experiments were approved by the ROC.
" Routine experiment 9 - Neutron Induced Auto radiography
- Routine experiment 10 - Radial Flux measurements Reed Research ReactorAnnual Report 2013-2014 15
1.
1 RADIATION PROTECTION Personnel Dosimetrv Dosimeters are changed on a calendar quarter schedule. Individuals were issued beta-gamma sensitive ring badges and whole-body badges. The Director and Reactor Operations Manager were issued beta-gamma-neutron sensitive dosimetry.
During the year, no dose was recorded above the minimum for both the deep dose equivalent or shallow dose equivalent Fixed Area Dosimetry Radiation levels are continually monitored to provide an indication of the average radiation levels in the reactor bay and dose outside the facility. All dosimeters monitor beta and gamma radiation. Three locations also measure neutron dose.
The deep dose equivalent radiation measured by fixed dosimeters during the period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 are shown in table 5. M indicated less than 1 mrem during the quarter.
Table 5 Area Radiation Dosimeters (doses are in mrem per calendar quarter)
LOCATION HEIGHT RADIATION JUL 1- OCT 1 - JAN 1 - APR 1 - TOTAL (M) DETECTED SEP 30 DEC 31 MAR 31 JUN 30 Reactor East Wall 1.5 1 Y, 10 6 2 2 20 Reactor North Wall 1.6 Y3, 4 2 0 6 12 Reactor West Wall 1.0 y,,n 23 29 34 17 103 Reactor South Wall 1.6 yy, n 5 11 4 5 25 Reactor North Wall 2.3 p7 4 8 3 2 17 Control Room 1.5 p3 3 4 2 3. 12 Outside North 2.8 ,y 0 5 0 M 5 Outside Roof 0.4 y,,n M M M M M Outside East 1.5 pY M M M M M Outside South 0.4 p Y M M M M M Counting Room 1.5 py M M M M M Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014
Gaseous Releases The only routine release of gaseous radioactivity is from 4"Ar (1.83-hour half-life) and 16N (7.13-second half-life). These come from activation of pool water and air in the pool water and in the irradiation facilities. For the reporting period, the average gaseous activity at the site boundary was 3.69 x 10`0 /Ci/ml, which would deliver a dose to a member of the public of approximately 1.85 mrem, well below regulatory guidelines and constraints. Figure 5 shows the gaseous releases for each year.
1.E-08 1.E-09 1.1-10 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Figure 5 Gaseous Releases Activity (/Ci/ml) at Site Boundary Liouid Waste Releases No liquid radioactive waste was released from the Reed Research Reactor during this report period.
Solid Waste Disposal There were no shipments of low-level radioactive waste from the facility during this reporting period.
Environmental Sampling Soil samples taken from the area surrounding the facility showed no activity above background. Water from the facility's secondary cooling system and the nearby canyon were sampled for activation products and tritium, but showed no activity above normal background.
Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2013-2014 17