RCF 16-01, Operations Report for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility, NRC License CX-22, Docket Number 50-225

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Operations Report for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility, NRC License CX-22, Docket Number 50-225
ML16158A370
Person / Time
Site: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Issue date: 04/29/2016
From: Caracappa P
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
To:
Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RCF 16-01
Download: ML16158A370 (5)
v • d • e


Text

Rensselaer DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING RCF 16-01 April 29, 2016 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Re: Operations Report for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility, NRC License CX-22, Docket Number 50-225.

  • To Whom It May Concern:

This documenfconstitutes the calendar year 2015 (CY2015) Operation Report of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Reactor Critical Facility (RCF) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the RPI management.

  • The RC:f oper~ted.suc9~s~ful_ly during CY2Ql5. The RCF was used for one laboratory course, a seni?~, d~sA~~: p~9j'~(?~A~1.; ~-~l?P.P,:t9,~t~~ l~~~8~~f:~?tY~.~~~~s"~ *i~_:ft1e Nlj9te,fil. ~ngi~~eri~,g: -* . .

cuFic~1?:1l!h6J~g f~fllH?:'r}W!.~-~ .~.~f5:P1°:~:}~~1,.~z?:~~-WR~?3-~~~l~~!~~J~~i?~f~e.~'Y~st ~~Hi~ -*~~~tary Academy, undergraduate*phys1cs students-from Vermont Techhlcal College ano meinoetst>fthe local'~~fibtitNucleat-Sdciety. The work during the year essentially supported the laboratory course*,and1rainihg bf students ... * :  :*. * * ,* . **" .. ,, .

Work proceeded on critical experiments with the 0.640" pitch lattice plates. Critical measurements were performed with the 326-pin configuration with Zr-4 reflectors installed on two of the unrodded external faces of the fuel array. A 327-pin configuration was used for some critical measurements. Subcritical experiments were conducted with fewer pins. The SPERT (Fl) fuel used is 4.81 w/o enriched high density U0 2 pellet fuel clad in stainless steel, so it is similar to power plant reactor fuel. These experiments have been designed to be similar to power reactor staiiup measurements.

  • The 2015 NRC annual inspection was completed in September 2015 and has been reported in separate corresponde?ce.

Training and proficiency requirements for all licensed operators have been reviewed and are current. Total staffing on December 31, 2015 is four licensed Senior Reactor Operators with three additional individuals scheduled for a lic~nsing e:x;amination in Jan.uary 2016.

The Technical Specifications; App. A to the USNRC License CX-22 requires reporting the followin~*'.'dperati_onal ite~s: ~~-;- -~* * **.. *;- *:*;* *.:: \*** * :_"_'.*~ '":::. :*,.*<:. . * .:~' .rr:... .,_,~ 'i ~/ -' .c:,

1 'i' :~cli~y*~~'t6 *{ii~ rf'~~!lif" ci6~:i ~ri~ -(Th~ ii;ri:~i ~iia-6*J&} "* ~tihl~t~r ferid~f~et~* in6a1fie1r to *"'.' -

r.;:*' * ":.~'~te:'t~~<lat~c:bt;iist~tiori*~~fitbii':th~ ha:¥J6b.F"

. . ,.,,, . . . . . . , ... 11 ,.~."( ..... ,, ._ .... ,. ,

  • it. ~iC: *J\* s~r~ty~~'illy~i~

. . . .., .,,..,- ,,., ...... J.. : ,--. R . P .- .Y ... .- ..._..... ,, , .. w~il'" !/'~:~:: -~

~ .... ,perfoµue4, iii,accoidance with, 1OGfR?.0.'?9 tO, determine 'if chang~s. ~.eqll:ir~ .a 'li~ense.  :

  • - -* ~ ' *~* 'I * * *. ._, - * **

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 I Joqsson Engineering Center Phone (518) 276-6351 I Fax (518) 276-6025 I email: mane@rpi.edu

amendment. This analysis was reviewed by the Nuclear Safety Review Board at its meeting in November 201S and concluded no license amendment was required.

2. Significant Maintenance, repairs, or other work performed on RCF systems: None
3. Changes in operating procedures which relate to the safety ofRCF operations: None.

4.* Surveillance checks, tests, and calibrations were conducted and logged as required.

S. Changes, tests, or experiments requiring authorization from the USNRC under 10CFRSO.S9 (a) or (b): None.

6. Staff Changes during CY 201 S: Dr. George Xu assumed supervision of Health Physics on a temporary basis. A search for a permanent Radiatioll' Safety Officer is in progress. ,
7. Changes to Nuclear Safety Review Board during 201: None. Attachment 1 shows the current members ofNSRB as of January 1, 2016. *
8. Calculated Thermal Power: Integrated power was approximately 0.074 kwhr for all CY201S, far less than the 2 kwhr/yr limitation in the Technical Specifications. The April -

June quarter recorded the highest usage at 0.036 kwhr. *

9. Maintenance operations were carried out and logged with satisfactory results.
10. No discharges occurred in CY 201S Environmental monitor dosimetry is performed at the exclusion area fence (EMl through EM4), and at the site boundary fence (EMS and EM6). The environmental monitoring results are reported without background subtraction, and the accumulated dose to an off-site control monitor is reported separately. The sum of the quarterly control readings from* ~..."

201S was 112 mrem. The sums of the gross readings and net dose results for 201S are:

Gross Net EMl 107 mrem Om.rem EM2 119 mrem 7mrem EM3 108 mrem Omrem EM4 102 mrem Om.rem EMS 97mrem Om.rem EM6 110 mrem 0 mrein

11. *A total of 4 personnel monitoring badges recorded an accumulated dose greater than the minimum reportable' dose of 10 mrem in at least one quarter of201S, for a total collective dose of S4 mrem.

Sincerely, jgJ-/!V -

Dr. Peter Caracappa, D~ i__

RPI Reactor Critical Facility

  • Rensselaer DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING Cc:

Dr. Shekhar Garde Dean of Dr. Suvranu De, Head, Dr. Y aron Danon Engineering Mechanical, Aerospace, and Chairman, NSRB and Head, Nuclear Engineering Nuclear Engineering Program Department Ms. Annette Chism, Director *Mr. Glenn Winters, RCF Environmental Health and Operations Supervisor Safety Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute llO 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 I Jonsson Engineering Center Phone (518) 276-6351 \Fax (518) 276-6025 I email: mane@rpi.edu

Attachment:

1 Members of NSRB as of January l, 2016:

1; Dr. Yaron Danon, Chairman NSRB

2. Dr. Peter Caracappa, RCF Facility Director
3. Dr. Mark Embrechts
4. Dr. Tarek Abdoun (Associate Dean for Research)
5. Ms. Annette Chism, Director Environmental Health and Safety 6.. Sergeant Marcie DelVechhio (Public Safety) 7; . Dr. Wei Ji
8. Dr. Bimal Malaviya
9. Dr. George Xu, Radiation Safety Officer
10. Dr. Mike Podowski
11. Mr. Glenn Winters, RCF Operations Supervisor
12. Ms. Leslie Norton (Public Safety)
13. Dr. Timothy Trumbull

Rensselaer DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING Attachment #2 Updated list of RPI personnel and the mailing addresses.

1. Peter F. Caracappa, Ph.D, CHP Facility Director*

NES Building, Room 1-19, Department of MANE Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th street, Troy NY 1218Q-3590

.2. Annette Chism, Director EH&S Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 21 Union Street,  :.

Gurley Building, 2nd floor Troy, NY 12180.

3. .Glenn Winters RCF Operations Supervisor,

'-'~.

2049 Jc;msson Engineering Center .*

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th street, Troy NY 12180

4. Dr. Yaron Danon HeadNSRB NES Building, Room ~-9, Department of MANE*

Renssel~er Polytechnic. Institute, 110 8th street, Troy NY 12180 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 I Jonsson Engineering Center Phone (518) 276:6351 I Fax (518) 276-6025 I email: mane@rpi.edu

Rensselaer DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING RCF 16-01 April 29, 2016 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Re: Operations Report for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility, NRC License CX-22, Docket Number 50-225.

  • To Whom It May Concern:

This documenfconstitutes the calendar year 2015 (CY2015) Operation Report of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Reactor Critical Facility (RCF) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the RPI management.

  • The RC:f oper~ted.suc9~s~ful_ly during CY2Ql5. The RCF was used for one laboratory course, a seni?~, d~sA~~: p~9j'~(?~A~1.; ~-~l?P.P,:t9,~t~~ l~~~8~~f:~?tY~.~~~~s"~ *i~_:ft1e Nlj9te,fil. ~ngi~~eri~,g: -* . .

cuFic~1?:1l!h6J~g f~fllH?:'r}W!.~-~ .~.~f5:P1°:~:}~~1,.~z?:~~-WR~?3-~~~l~~!~~J~~i?~f~e.~'Y~st ~~Hi~ -*~~~tary Academy, undergraduate*phys1cs students-from Vermont Techhlcal College ano meinoetst>fthe local'~~fibtitNucleat-Sdciety. The work during the year essentially supported the laboratory course*,and1rainihg bf students ... * :  :*. * * ,* . **" .. ,, .

Work proceeded on critical experiments with the 0.640" pitch lattice plates. Critical measurements were performed with the 326-pin configuration with Zr-4 reflectors installed on two of the unrodded external faces of the fuel array. A 327-pin configuration was used for some critical measurements. Subcritical experiments were conducted with fewer pins. The SPERT (Fl) fuel used is 4.81 w/o enriched high density U0 2 pellet fuel clad in stainless steel, so it is similar to power plant reactor fuel. These experiments have been designed to be similar to power reactor staiiup measurements.

  • The 2015 NRC annual inspection was completed in September 2015 and has been reported in separate corresponde?ce.

Training and proficiency requirements for all licensed operators have been reviewed and are current. Total staffing on December 31, 2015 is four licensed Senior Reactor Operators with three additional individuals scheduled for a lic~nsing e:x;amination in Jan.uary 2016.

The Technical Specifications; App. A to the USNRC License CX-22 requires reporting the followin~*'.'dperati_onal ite~s: ~~-;- -~* * **.. *;- *:*;* *.:: \*** * :_"_'.*~ '":::. :*,.*<:. . * .:~' .rr:... .,_,~ 'i ~/ -' .c:,

1 'i' :~cli~y*~~'t6 *{ii~ rf'~~!lif" ci6~:i ~ri~ -(Th~ ii;ri:~i ~iia-6*J&} "* ~tihl~t~r ferid~f~et~* in6a1fie1r to *"'.' -

r.;:*' * ":.~'~te:'t~~<lat~c:bt;iist~tiori*~~fitbii':th~ ha:¥J6b.F"

. . ,.,,, . . . . . . , ... 11 ,.~."( ..... ,, ._ .... ,. ,

  • it. ~iC: *J\* s~r~ty~~'illy~i~

. . . .., .,,..,- ,,., ...... J.. : ,--. R . P .- .Y ... .- ..._..... ,, , .. w~il'" !/'~:~:: -~

~ .... ,perfoµue4, iii,accoidance with, 1OGfR?.0.'?9 tO, determine 'if chang~s. ~.eqll:ir~ .a 'li~ense.  :

  • - -* ~ ' *~* 'I * * *. ._, - * **

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 I Joqsson Engineering Center Phone (518) 276-6351 I Fax (518) 276-6025 I email: mane@rpi.edu

amendment. This analysis was reviewed by the Nuclear Safety Review Board at its meeting in November 201S and concluded no license amendment was required.

2. Significant Maintenance, repairs, or other work performed on RCF systems: None
3. Changes in operating procedures which relate to the safety ofRCF operations: None.

4.* Surveillance checks, tests, and calibrations were conducted and logged as required.

S. Changes, tests, or experiments requiring authorization from the USNRC under 10CFRSO.S9 (a) or (b): None.

6. Staff Changes during CY 201 S: Dr. George Xu assumed supervision of Health Physics on a temporary basis. A search for a permanent Radiatioll' Safety Officer is in progress. ,
7. Changes to Nuclear Safety Review Board during 201: None. Attachment 1 shows the current members ofNSRB as of January 1, 2016. *
8. Calculated Thermal Power: Integrated power was approximately 0.074 kwhr for all CY201S, far less than the 2 kwhr/yr limitation in the Technical Specifications. The April -

June quarter recorded the highest usage at 0.036 kwhr. *

9. Maintenance operations were carried out and logged with satisfactory results.
10. No discharges occurred in CY 201S Environmental monitor dosimetry is performed at the exclusion area fence (EMl through EM4), and at the site boundary fence (EMS and EM6). The environmental monitoring results are reported without background subtraction, and the accumulated dose to an off-site control monitor is reported separately. The sum of the quarterly control readings from* ~..."

201S was 112 mrem. The sums of the gross readings and net dose results for 201S are:

Gross Net EMl 107 mrem Om.rem EM2 119 mrem 7mrem EM3 108 mrem Omrem EM4 102 mrem Om.rem EMS 97mrem Om.rem EM6 110 mrem 0 mrein

11. *A total of 4 personnel monitoring badges recorded an accumulated dose greater than the minimum reportable' dose of 10 mrem in at least one quarter of201S, for a total collective dose of S4 mrem.

Sincerely, jgJ-/!V -

Dr. Peter Caracappa, D~ i__

RPI Reactor Critical Facility

  • Rensselaer DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING Cc:

Dr. Shekhar Garde Dean of Dr. Suvranu De, Head, Dr. Y aron Danon Engineering Mechanical, Aerospace, and Chairman, NSRB and Head, Nuclear Engineering Nuclear Engineering Program Department Ms. Annette Chism, Director *Mr. Glenn Winters, RCF Environmental Health and Operations Supervisor Safety Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute llO 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 I Jonsson Engineering Center Phone (518) 276-6351 \Fax (518) 276-6025 I email: mane@rpi.edu

Attachment:

1 Members of NSRB as of January l, 2016:

1; Dr. Yaron Danon, Chairman NSRB

2. Dr. Peter Caracappa, RCF Facility Director
3. Dr. Mark Embrechts
4. Dr. Tarek Abdoun (Associate Dean for Research)
5. Ms. Annette Chism, Director Environmental Health and Safety 6.. Sergeant Marcie DelVechhio (Public Safety) 7; . Dr. Wei Ji
8. Dr. Bimal Malaviya
9. Dr. George Xu, Radiation Safety Officer
10. Dr. Mike Podowski
11. Mr. Glenn Winters, RCF Operations Supervisor
12. Ms. Leslie Norton (Public Safety)
13. Dr. Timothy Trumbull

Rensselaer DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING Attachment #2 Updated list of RPI personnel and the mailing addresses.

1. Peter F. Caracappa, Ph.D, CHP Facility Director*

NES Building, Room 1-19, Department of MANE Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th street, Troy NY 1218Q-3590

.2. Annette Chism, Director EH&S Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 21 Union Street,  :.

Gurley Building, 2nd floor Troy, NY 12180.

3. .Glenn Winters RCF Operations Supervisor,

'-'~.

2049 Jc;msson Engineering Center .*

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th street, Troy NY 12180

4. Dr. Yaron Danon HeadNSRB NES Building, Room ~-9, Department of MANE*

Renssel~er Polytechnic. Institute, 110 8th street, Troy NY 12180 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 I Jonsson Engineering Center Phone (518) 276:6351 I Fax (518) 276-6025 I email: mane@rpi.edu

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