ML19289F594

Requalification Program for GE Nuclear Test Reactor.

ML19289F594
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Issue date:	05/31/1979
From:	GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
To:
Shared Package
ML19289F593	List: ML19289F592 ML19289F594
References
NEDO-12724, NUDOCS 7906150147
Download: ML19289F594 (16)

Text

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NEDO-12724 May 1979 REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE GENERAL ELECTRIC NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR 2229 059 NUCLEAR ENERGY ENGINEERING DIVISION e GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY VALLECITOS NUCLEAR CENTER, PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA 94566 GENER AL @ ELECTRIC 7906150(47)

REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR A. OBJECTIVE

1. This requalification program is established to maintain the proficiency of licensed operators and senior operators wrough periodic training exercises, instruction periods, tests, and reviews covering those items and equipment which relate to the safe operation of the General Electric Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) as recommended by the American National Standard, ANSI N18.1-1971, " Selection and Training of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel."

2. This requalification program for the NTR is intended to comply with the requirements of 10CFR55, Appendix A, "Requalification Programs for Licensed Operators of Production and Utilization Facilities."

3. By definition, a candidate is a licensed NTR operator or licensed NTR senior operator.

B. PROGRAM DE:,CRIPTION

1. SCHEDULE The NTR requalification program is a 2-year continuous program. All licensed personnel are required to complete the program every 2 years.

2. EXAMINATIONS -

a. Biennial Written Examination

1. The written examination will be given biennially in the first calendar quarter. The examination will be of such length and content to determine the level of knowledge of each candidate in the seven areas listed in 3.b of this Program Description. There will be one additional senior operator-level question on each section designated to be answered by tiensed senior operators.

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2. The examinations will be corrected by the Requalification Administrator or nis designated alternate. The results of the examination will be used to determine which of the lectures shall be attended by each candidate.

3. A grade of 70% is considered passing. Less thra 70% on any section of the examination by any candidate will require him to attend a lecture on the subject matter contained in that section.

4. If a candidate receives an over-all score of less than 70% on the biennial written examination, he will be excluded from licensed duties; and he will be required to complete an accelerated requalification program before performing licensed duties.

This accelerated program will be tailored to the need of the individual. Successful completion of a written examination, similar to the biennial examination with an over-all grade of 70% is considered sufficient to allow the candidate to perform licensed duties. The Manager, NTR shall notify the candidate when he can resume performance of licensed activities.

b. Oral Examination

1. The oral examination at the NTR is administered during the first calendar quarter of each year. This examination shall fulfill the requirements of 10CFR55, Appendix A, Paragraph 3.b and is used in lieu of reactor control manipulation or reactor simulator as provided for in 10CFR55, Appendix A, Paragraph 4.c and 4.d, for evaluating responses to emergency or abnormal conditions.

2. This examination will be administered from the check list shown .n Appendix A and 8

will be initialed by the examiner as each area is covered.

3. The Manager, NTR, or his designated alternate, will administer the oral examinations.

4. If a candidates level of knowledge on any section of the oral examination is considered to be deficient, he will be required to study material on that section. He 2

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must then demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examiner that he has gained sufficient knowledge in the areas that were deficient.

5. If a candidates level of knowledge on the over-all oral examination is considered to be deficient, he will be excluded by the Manager, NTR from licensed duties. He will then be required to complete an accelerated requalification program before performing licensed duties. This accelerated program will be tailored to the needs of the individual, i.e., self-study, lectures, etc. Upon demonstration that the candidate has sufficient knowledge in the areas that were deficient, the candidate may be allowed to perform licensed duties. The Manager, NTR shall notify the candidate when he can resume performance of licensed duties.

6. Licensed personnel who have not been actively performing the functions of a licensed operator or licensed senior operator for 4 months will be recertified before resuming licensed activities. The Manager, NTR, or his designated alternate, will use the Oral Check List (Appendix A) for certification. The Manager, NTR, or his designated alternate, will communicate to the NRC that the licensee's knowledge and understanding of the operation of the facility is satisfactory before he performs any unsupervised licensed activities.

7. Check Lists in Appendix A will be changed as necessary to reflect changes in plant operation and d'esign.

3. LECTURE PROGRAM

a. The NTR'Requalification Program requires lecture training classes on any section of the biennial written examination where any candidate receives a section score less than 70%.

b. The lectures will cover the following subject material:

1. Theory and Principles of Operation

2. General and Specific Plant Operating Characteristics

3. Plant Instrumentation and Control Systems .

4. Plant Protection and Engineered Safety Systems

5. Normal, Abnormal and Emergency Operating Procedures 2229 062

6. Radiation Control and Safety

7. Technical Specifications and Applicable Portions of Title 10, Chapter 1, Code of Federal Regulations in addition, extra classes also may be held if deemed necessary by the Requalification Administrator or the Manager, NTR.

c. Lecture tests will be given at the completion of the lecture. The tests will consist of at least 5 to 10 questions which will be prepared and given by the lecturer. A grade of 70% is considered passing.

d. If a candidate receives a grade of less than 70%, he will be furnished study guide materials. Within 30 days, (a) he must go to another lecture and retake the lecture test and receive greater than 80% on that lecture examination, or (b) take a different written examination for that lecture subject of not less than 10 questions. The 10-question examination also requires a grade of 80% or greater to be passing.

e. For clarification, the 30-day period starts at the time notification of failure is given to the candidate.

4. ON-THE-3OB TRAINING

a. All candidates are continually involved in the startup operation and shutdown of the reactor and auxiliary systems.

b. Each licensed operator shall manipulate the controls of the reactor to remain familiar with the operating characteristics of the plant, and each licensed senior operator shall operate or direct the activities of licensed operators during plant control manipulations.

c. Ten reactivity manipulations of significant magnitude must be performed by each candidate during the tenure of his license. Directing manipulahons of significant reactivity change will satisfy senior operator requirements.

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d. Significant reactivity manipulations for NTR are defined as:

1. Reactor startup

2. Power changes greater than 10% of full power

3. Shutdowns

4. Reactor defueling and refueling

5. Control rod movements required during control rod calibrations

6. Control rod movements required due to experiment movements

e. The ten reactivity manipulations may consist of any combination of Paragraph d.1 through d.6 above, but must include at least cae reactor startup. Effort should be made to strive for diverse versus singular-type manipulations.

f. Newly issued and updated Standard Operating Procedures, scram reports, facility license changes, and design changes shall be routed to each candidate to keep them informed. Routing slips will be used to document each candidates review. These slips will be maintained for 2 years from the date of the recorded event.

g. Each candidate will review and acknowledge his review of abnormal and emergency procedures on an annual basis. Abnormal and emergency procedures which require such a review are:

1. Unplanned Reactor Shutdown

2. Off-Normal Alarm Response

3. General Emergencies

4. Reactor Excursions

5. Abnormal Operations Routing slips will be use-l to document each candidates review. These slips will be maintained for 2 years from the date of the recorded event.

5. RECORDS

a. Records of the NTR requalification program will consist of an individual training folder for each candidate. All written requalification examinations, answers given by the individual, and the oral examination will be contained in these training files.

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Licensed personnel that generate or administer these examinations and tests shall be exempt from taking the specific respective examinations and tests. Documentation that the individual was exempted from taking a specific examination or test, because it was generated or administered by him shall be maintained. Records of significant reactivity manipulations as outlined in Paragraph 4.d, will be contained in the training files or in a binder in the Control Room area as appropriate. A form such as that shown in Appendix B may be used.

b. The master NTR requalification file will contain: ,

1. Biennial examination questions and answers

2. Lecture examination questions and answers

c. All records will be maintained for 2 years from the date of the recorded event.

C. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

1. A Requalification Aministrator will be designated by the Manager, NTR. The Requalification Administrator must have a NTR senior operator's license. The Requalification Administrator will have the following responsibilities:

a. Develop, administrate, and maintain an effective Requalification Program for licensed reactor operators and licensed senior reactor operators at the NTR.

b. Schedule training sessions.

c. Assign instructors.

d. Review and approve lectures and examinatior.s.

e. Document all training and maintain individual training files for licensed personnel.

f. Grade examinations.

g. Report on the effectiveness and status of the program to the Manager, NTR.

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h. Develop and submit changes as necessary to maintain an effective program.

2. Changes which alter the scope, time alloted, or frequency in conducting the parts of this Program must receive previous authorization by the NRC in accordance with 10CFR50.54, 2229 066 7

APPENDIX A CHECK LIST Date Licensee Examiner Examiner to initial each blank as area is completed.

Examineer should ask enough questions in each area to determine the licensee's level of knowledge and state that level of knowledge in the " Comments" area.

I. SAFETY AND EMERGENCY SYSTEMS A. Fire Alarm System B. Criticality Alarm System C. Medical Assistance D. Building Evacuation E. Cell Access Door Controls F. Reactor Safety System Comments:

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II. ABNORMAL AND EMERGENCY OPERATING PROCEDURES A. Unexplained Reactivity Changes B. Stuck Control Rod Actions C. Response to Various Alarms D. Response to Various Emergency Conditions (as posed by the Examiner)

E. Site Emergency Plans Comments:

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III. PRINCIPLES OF REACTOR OPERAT70N A. Use and understanCng of various check lists and approval forms.

B. Administrative operating limitations:

1. Maximum reactivity available at console

2. Maximum reactor power C. Log entry requirements:

1. Reactor console log

2. Experimental log

3. Use and understanding or' various data sheets and data requirements.

4. Reactor startup data requirements Comments:

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IV. DESIGN FEATURES OF NTR A. Design of Various Systems:

1. Primary system including core construction, control rod construction, etc.

2. Secondary system

3. Manual poison sheet arrangement

4. Demineralizer systems

5. Graphite moderator B. Contami.nated Waste Handling

1. Deraineralizer replacement and disposal

2. Liquid and solid waste disposal C. Gas Systems:

1. Containment construction and ventilation systems

2. Experimental gas systems

3. Instrument air systems Comments:

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i V. INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS A. Nuclear Instrumentation Systems:

1. Types of chambers and systems

2. Various interlocks between systems (bypasses)

3. Power switches

4. Emergency power supply

5. Instrumentation requirements for fuelloading; reactor startup, cold and hot; etc.

6. Nuclear instrumentation response (normal, abnormal) and requirements B. Process Instrumentation:

1. Types of detectors and transmitters

2. Alarm and trip points C. Control Rod Characteristics

1. Control rod construction, including drives

2. Control rod worth and responses to stuck rod problems Comments:

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VL GENERAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS A. Physics Limits:

1. Reactivity addition limits

2. Temperature and void coefficient and effects

3. Xenon effects B. Shutdown Requirements:

1. Minimum

2. Removal of control rod or experiment change C. North Room Storage Requirements D. Vault Storage Requirements E. 4 Shadowing Effects Comments:

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VII. RADIATION SAFETY AND CONTROL A. Licensee Responsibilities

1. Exposure control and posting B. NRC Limits C. General Electric Limits D. Radiation Detection Instruments:

1. Identification of types

2. Use

3. Care and use of self-reading dosimeters E. Use of Emergency Air Packs F. Use of Canister and Fresh Air Masks G. Contamination Control H. Remote Area Monitoring System I. Radiological Protective Clothing Comments:

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APPENDIX B NUCLEAR TEST REACTOR REACTIVITY MANIPULATIONS Name Pay No.

License No.

No. Type of Manipulation Date Comment _s 1

2 3

4 5

6 7

8 9

10 Reviewed by 2229 074 15