ML19276E879

Submits Followup Rept to Occurrence at AGN-201 Reactor Facility on 790125 Per Section 6.9.2 of App a to License R-127.Electrical Power Outage Occurred During Reactor Operation.Svc Restored in 3-h

ML19276E879
Person / Time
Site:	05000538
Issue date:	01/29/1979
From:	David Jones MEMPHIS STATE UNIV., MEMPHIS, TN
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
References
NUDOCS 7903210558
Download: ML19276E879 (5)

Text

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Q; S\ MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY s

F p MEMPHIS. TENNESSEE 38152 Df4 (N 9 January 29, 1979

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'v h er for Nuclear Studies llsee of the 1)nrector (901) 454-268:

Director Region II, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Cormiission Office of Inspection and Enforcement 101 Marietta Street, Suite 3100 Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Dear Sir:

Enclosed is the follow-up report to a reportable event that occurred at the Memphis State University AGN-201 Reactor facility on January 25, 1979. The report is submitted in accordance with section 6.9.2 of Appendix A to Facility Operating License R-127, Docket No. 50-538.

An electrical power outage occurred during reactor operation Restoration which resulted in an unscheduled reactor shutdown.

of electric power service was completed approximately three hours later, and normal reactor operation was resumed. Initial notifi-cation to your office was made by telephone and confimed by mail-gram on January 25, 1979.

Sincerely D. W Jones Director y RLD:dc

Enclosures:

(3) Follow-up Report to Reportable Occurrence cc: Dr. J. A. Rhodes, MSU Mr. J. Skolls, USNRC Mr. R. L. Dietz (5)

Mr. L. B. O' Kelly, MSU RCSC Dr. J. C. Williams, MSU RSC Mr. P. S. Hobbs, MSU Mr. J. W. Dutton, MSU

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Reactor Shutdown Checkoff Procedure (OP-5) was completed at 12:48 p.m., CST. Following a suitable wamup time, the Reactor Prestartup Checkoff Procedure (OP-2) was perfomed and no abnor-malities were noted. Reactor operation was resumed at 2:06 p.m.,

CST, January 25, 1979.

5. Safety Significance of the Occurrence.

None. A loss of electrical power de-energizes the Safety and Coarse Control Rod Holding Magnets causing a reactor scram and thus assures safe and inmediate shutdown in case of a power outa ge. Reactor systems perfomed as designed and as required by technical specification 3.3.

6. Cause of Failure.

The electric power outage was a result of outside contractor demolition and construction activities which interrupted the main service feeder to the entire MSU South Campus.

7. Corrective Action.

None. Corrective action to restore the South Campus electric service feeder was perfomed by MSU Physical Plant personnel and is under the cognizance and control of organizations outside the Center for Nuclear Studies and the AGN-201 Reactor Cacility.

8. Measures to Prevent Recurrence.

None. Measures to prevent recurrence of an electric power  ;

outage of the nature described in this report are not within the capabilities of the Center for Nuclear Studies or AGN-201 Reactor Facility staff.

. 9. Similar Reportable Occurrences.

None.

Prepared by: (

Reactor ervisor

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• reactor room area gama monitor remained energized via an automatic-actuated, internal battery. Control Room and Reactor Roan lighting was provided by the automatic-actuated, battery powered, emergency lighting system.

Confirmation of the reactor's shutdown status was imediately made by conducting a gamma radiation survey in accordance with Facility Emergency Procedure EP-3. Radiation levels at the reactor shield tank were observed to be f .02 mR/hr wnich is less than one-tenth the dose rate expected at 4.8 millfWatts and is approxi-mately the nonnal background dose rate. The H 3 B03sample was removed from the experiment port, the Cadmium-loaded shutdown rod was installed and locked into the experiment port, and the Ra-Be neutron source was manually inserted to its nomal snutdown posi-tion. The reactor Shutdown Checkoff Procedure (0P-5) was completed to the maximum extent possible. Another more detailed gama radiation survey was conducted approximately one hour after the incident. Maximum dose-rate observed during this survey was recorded as 5 .01 mR/hr.

The Reactor Supervisor was in the Control Room at the time of the power failure. The Memphis State University Radiation Safety Officer was imediately notified. The event was reported to the USNRC Region II, Office of Inspection and Enforcernent, via telephone conversation between the CNS Operations Supervisor and Mr. J. Skolls (11:30 a.m., CST), and confiimed by mailgram to ,

the Director, USNRC Region II (3:07 p.m., EST) in compliance with section 6.9.2.a of the Facility Technical Specifications.

Electric power service was restored to the MSU South Campus at 12:41 p.m., CST. The reactor console was imediately energized to pemit the Safety and Coarse Control Rod f4agnet Assemblies and the Fine Control Rod to be returned to their fully withdrawn limits. Console instrumentation was energized and the nomal

b. The reactor was supercritical with period 355 seconds at a power level of 4.8 milliWatts'. Safety Rods were fully in-serted (24 cm), Coarse Control Rod at 22.97 cm, Fine Control Rod at 16.40 cm, and reactor temperature was 19 C. A lucite sample (1 in. x .87 in. dia.) containing .12 grams H B0 was installed in the small diameter experiment port 3 3 at a position five inches from the core centerline.

4. Narrative.

At 9:51 a.m., CST, on January 25, 1979, contractor demoli- ~

tion and construction activities resulted in an electrical power outage to the entire South Campus of Memphis State University.

The AGN-201 Reactor, located on South Campus, was being operated by a student operator under the direct supervision of licensed Senior Operators for the purpose of measuring reactivity impor-tance functions. At the time of the unplanned event, the operator was increasing reactor power to achieve a convenient level at which to make a detemination of the reactivity effect from a lucite sample containing .12 grams H 3 00 3 . This exercise was being conducted as part of an approved operator training program.

The reactor stranTned, as designed and as required by the technical specifications, due to loss of reactor control power which interrupted electrical current to the Control Rod Holding Magnets. The sound of the Safety and Coarse Control Rods con- .

tacting their dashpots (fully withdrawn position) was heard by the operator and Senior Operato - in the Control Room, via a microphone located in the reactor skirt area, prior to the announcing / intercom system becoming inoperative. The Fine

. Control Rod, which has no scram function, ranained inserted to 16.40 cm. and the Safety and Coarse Rod Magnet Assemblies remained at the pre-scram positions. The Ra-Be neutron source renained at its withdrawn position. All console instrumenta-tion, alams, and safety circuits were deenergized. The

MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY AGN-201 NUCLEAR REACTOR FACILITY LICENSE R-127, DOCKET N0. 50-538 FOLLOW-UP REPORT TO REPORTABLE OCCURRENCE Date of Report; January 29, 1979 Date of Occurrence: January 25, 1979 Date NRC Notification: ,lanuary 25, 1979

1. Reactor.

AGN-201, seri ' 108. Located at the Center for Nuclear Studies, Memphis State University, Memphis, Tennessee. Facility Operating License R-127, Docket No. 50-538.

2. Reportable Occurrence.

Electric power service to the Memphis State University South Campus was interrupted as a result of outside contractor demolition and construction activities. The unscheduled power outage occurred during AGN-201 reactor operation and, as a direct result of the event, caused reactor shutdown in the form of a silent reactor scram. Item 6.9.2.a.(7) of the Facility Technical Specifications applies.

3. Conditions at Time of Occurrence.

a. An operator training program was in progress for the purpose of providing reactor startup experience for prospective licensees.

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