ML19207C400
| ML19207C400 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/15/1979 |
| From: | Drinan R HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19207C393 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909110582 | |
| Download: ML19207C400 (5) | |
Text
' ROBEkT'fr. DRINAN censurrrures 4TH DesTascT. M AssacMussTTs JUDICIARY euscoesurrTuts, wasMemeTose orrict, CfYtL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RiGHTB Ongrens Of (IJB EInit2D EDiated 2451 Ravausum Hauss Orrics muuJeans CousrT3. CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE Wasnwoovase, D C.
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PMoses (202) 225-5931 J)ouge of Representatibed Desvasc7 crFicts'
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e.e e... M m.c.euss,Ts oirai Pe.a.e (e m s7 ~ e Mr. Carlton Kammerer Director, Office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H. Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Kammerer:
I am enclosing a copy of a letter I received from one of my constituents concerning a nuclear safeguard device which his com-pany manufactures.
Since this device monitors nuclear equipment in what I understand is an unconventional and possibly worthwhile manner, I am forwarding his letter for your review.
I would appreciate your thoughts concerning this matter.
With my sincere appreciation for your attention to this matter, I am ordially your J
L Robert F. Drinan Member of Congress RFD:cwh Enclosure n4J 1 ~ 'l
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POST OFFICE BOX 385, SUDBURY, MASSACHUSETTS 01776 May 3, 1979 Congressman Robert F. Drinan l
2452 Rayburn Building Washington DC 20515
Dear Congressman Drinan:
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SUBJECT:
Some technical aspects of nuclear protection and I
energy conservation.
Since we made the attached NEh'S release regarding the Three Mile Island problem, we have learned that the control system in the nuclear reactor pile utilizes t: 'mocouples which, if defective or open-circuited, would not activate a fail safe alam but would merely indicate to the ccraputer system upon interrogation that they were not working. Surveillance per-sonnel might assume under such conditions that the reactor was merely cooling down when actually ther mal runaway could be taking place. Such conditions, unless locally iir estigated in a timely manner, could easily get out of hand. The probica apparently lies in the type of failure indication provided and it is incomprehensible that a passive type in-dication would be utili: ed in such an important location, t
Our themal imaging instrument, with its flare up alam detection capa-bility, would provide a continuous thermal watch and active alarm facil-ity such that personnel anywhere in the facility would be alerted imed-
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iately to a themal runaway condition. Personnel would not have to be assigned to watch a 'IV monitor continuously to be alerted to an undue temperature rise but would have their attention called to it by the in-herent alarm feature of our equipment. No personnel would have to be added added to the facility to obtain this protection, only equipment which in itself is maintenance free.
Our contacts with local power companies with regard to utilizing similar measures for blackout protection met with cool disinterest. The policy voiced by power company personnel to whom we spoke blamed preventable equipment failures on appropriation difficulty at the service / repair level, L-1 of 3 n
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IMAGE TECHNOLOGY METHODS
'f Soine technical aspects of nuclear protection j
and energy conservation, stating that it is more desirabic to wait for a component to fail (such as an overheated power transformer) than to take action that would prevent the component from failing in the first place. The power canpanics, appar atly not budgeted for preventative maintenance of this type, simply pass their costs on to the custaner and state that they expect such component failuies as a natural course of doing business and at the same time express disinterest in considering unfamiliar devices. 'It impression we received was that we were trying to do away with jobs by attempting to save equipment units which might burn out. The fact that dollars could also be saved by our suggested preventative maintenance measures fell on deaf cars at the woi ing level.
The power company attitude, while deplorabic, would, at worst, result in a blackout in a conventional plant but the same thinking, applied to a nuclear power plant, could result in a major catastrophe, especially when no better-protected than the one at Three Nile Island. The primary problem seems to stem from basic attitudes toward equipment safety and failure prevention which apparently are not easily changed even in view of the threat involved.
New instruments such as ours probably will not be given a trial unless a change in working level thinking is forced from a higher company 1cyc1 or from an outside authority.
Since we are now being forced to rethink our position on energy conservation, it might be well to include preventative main'tenance on the list as part of the program.
At 1DI, we stand ready to provide specifics to any interested cars regarding safety corrections which may be taken for both conventional and nuclear power facilitics with the use of our equipment.
We would be pleased to provide any interested parties concerned about plant safety or having energy conservation interests with actual demonstrations of how our single device functions to indicate areas of heat loss in buildings and how it can protect nacicar and conventional power facilities alike fran themal accident and/or human intnision.
Even though all nuclear facilitics are not identical in their operation, they all produce heat and lave similar problans so far as themal control, heat loss identification and intnision safety control are concerned. The Canadian
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Some teclulical aspects of nuclear protectica and energy conservation.
heavy water reactor systea, for example, while quite different fran our systems, has the additional problem of detection of water 1caks from plant components.
I should think that a universal surveillance and alarm gen-erating device, such as ours, ahich can do so many jobs at a single facill., should be given some careful consideration at the national planning 1cvel.
As a concerned small company, apparently we are not able to make our technical capability sufficiently well known.at the proper levels to evoke attention and concerted action and we appeal to your good offices for wnatever help, advice, infomation or action you may wish to provide.
Sincerely yours, Ibl E,TEQIN0lf)CY Ml?D10DS CORPORATION f
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John 11. Newitt Director of bbrketing JIIN/mn Enclosures 3 of 3 q
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I wm IMAGE TECHNOLOGY METHODS CORPORATION RELEASE: April 3, 1979 THERMAL TV PICTURES The recent nuclear accident in Pennsylvania may have been prevented had an instrument manufactured by ITM Incorporated of Waltham, Massachusetts been utilized.
The company makes a TV camera which patterns heat rather than light.
Unlike traditional thermal surveillance devices, the ITM imaging system operates unattended and has the capability to automatically and remotely turn on alarms and recording devices whenever a significant thermal event occurs within its field of view.
Entire indoor or outdoor areas may be secured by use of a portable, non-contact instrument and a running video tape record of critical occurences may be provided to a secure location.
The company, located at 103 Moody Street, Waltham, Mass.,
is willing to demonscrate its equipment to qualified interests.,.,
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