ML16313A106
| ML16313A106 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Purdue University |
| Issue date: | 10/27/2016 |
| From: | Townsend C Purdue University Research Reactor |
| To: | Cindy Montgomery Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| GL-16-001 | |
| Download: ML16313A106 (1) | |
Text
PURDUE UNIVERSITY Cindy Montgomery U.S. NRC One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 October 27, 2016 SCHOOL OF NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
SUBJECT:
PUR-1 Response to Generic Letter 2016-01: Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools
Dear Ms. Montgomery,
This letter is to respond to the generic letter dated April 7, 2016 regarding the monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools and to address concerns of potential degradation of the neutron absorber in wet storage systems for reactor fuel.
The PUR-1 pool contains both the reactor core and fuel storage racks. A V4" BORAL plate separates two rows of nine fuel assemblies in order to further reduce the multiplication factor but is not required to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
In the Purdue University Safety Analysis Report dated June 30, 2008(MLl11890201), Section 9.2 addresses the multiplication factor for the in-pool fuel storage rack. Considering a fully loaded rack and taking no credit for the W'BORAL plate, an eigenvalue of ketf = 0.7660 +/- 0.0046 was determined. This value, with no credit for a neutron absorbing material, is in compliance with the licensing and design basis as well as applicable regulatory requirements. The physical storage racks design maintains this compliance simply due to its geometry.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or if you require any further information.
Sincerely, Clive Townsend PUR-1, Reactor Supervisor School of Nuclear Engineering School of Nuclear Engineering Nuclear Engineering Building* 400 Central Drive* West Lafayette, IN 47907-2017 (765) 494-5739 *Fax: (765) 494-9570