ML19289G017
| ML19289G017 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/24/1979 |
| From: | Clint Jones PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| To: | Arnold R, Gerusky T, Vollmer R GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP., Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906220092 | |
| Download: ML19289G017 (3) | |
Text
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C O w'AO r4 A L A L T H O F PE Nev i v L v A '" + 3 May 24, 197E Zirconium Hycride s ~t c' I
'Ri chard Vollmer, Asst. Director, Systems and Projects, tiRC Robert Arnold, Metropolitan Edison Company, Reading, Pa.
Thomas Gerusky, Director, Eureau of Radiation Protection, DER l
l' Clif ford L. Jones, Secretary /,,p:S Department of Envimnmental Re, sources l
I am enclo' sing a letter from Dr. W. E. Wallace who is a Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Pittsburgh with a speciality in chemistry.
Dr Wallace and one of his associates, Dr. Earl Gulbransen, feel that there may be problems with zirconium hydride at the reactor as it is cooled.
Dr. Gulbransen has offered his time without cost as a consultant on this problem.
These people are reliable individuals wno are concerned and have knowledge and experience to offer.
I would appreciate it if you woul d be in touch with Dr. Earl Gulbransen, his telephone numbers are on the attached letter and see if he can be of help.
Thank you.
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Governor Dick Thornburgh Lt. Governor William Scranton, III n'illiam Middendo rf P
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May 18, 1979 Mr. Clif ford Jones, Secretary Depart ent cf En.-ir.,nrental Resources Cc.cnwealth of Pennsylvania Harrisburg, PA 17120 t
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RE:
Chemical E:.: plosive Hazard at Three Mile Island
Dear Cliff:
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This is to put in writing the substance of my comments to you via telephone a few moments ago.
l 7 am reasonably certain that the hydrogen prodt d at the Three Mile Island accident is still there and represents a grav cplosion hazard if inrroperly handled.
autherity for this is Dr, Es.. ;ulbransen, P.es ea r ch Profersor of Metallurgy and Mate. rials Eng,ineering and of Univers_it:.
Chenistry, in this Cl ea r::. the h"drogen was formed by reaction of the :ircalloy cladding and water in the overheated reactor.
To the best of my know] edge its dis-appearance, i.e. of the hydrogen bubble, is generally regarded as Dr. Culbransen asserts, and I agree with him, that it disappeared as a a mystery.
by reaction with circalloy to form circonium hydride as gas the reactor cooled (therrodynamic measurencnts of Dr. Culbransen f ully support this idea).
He furthermore holds the opinion that some cons of this exceedingly hazardous hydride are lying at the bottom of the reactor where it is at nresent ccvered
,, - over with water.
,. As lcng as this hydride is covered, it b'u t there is a c:stinct possinility of an e>:plosion when this finely divided presents no hazard; s
pyrophoric mass comes in contact with oxygen in the a f. r.
This presents a special hazard at the time cf the drainage of the reactor.
My strong recc mendation is that Dr. Gulbransen be used as a consultant in regard to the clean-up operation at this reactor site.
He had anticipated this " hydrogen problem" so=,e ye.ars ago, My credentials in the hydrogen area are strong also, and I would be willing to give what help I can.
Havever, I will be in Japan f rom May 19-June 3, inclusive.
Dr. Gulbransen's address and phone numb ~ers are as fo110ws:
t H t f.::Sl s O Uilt;l ?;*?"E ; W LA i :07 # 412. t;.:.5;;r e
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M:, c.ifferd Jcnes, Setre.ar-hiv IE. 197' Page _'
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Dr. Earl Culbransen 63 Hathaway Ct.
I Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Phone:
412-793-0141 Office:
Dept. of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering University of Pittsburgh i
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 j
Phone:
412-62'-3312 If'you need me, I can be reached in Japan as follows:
May 21-24,
~
Hakone Prince Eotel, Hakone; May 25-27, Holiday Inn, Kyoto, Japan; May 28, 29 in Tokyo with Jim cont 6 -- Telephone:
03-357-4758; May 30, 31, June 1, E2ual Surf Ho t el, Ka uad : June 2 vith my son, 'Wallace in Seattle -- Telephone contact:
206-633-5336.
1 vill be back at my office (412-624-5004) on June 4.
Ee sure that remeene alive to the chemistrv of the proble-is involved in the c2 can-up ef f ort.
I kr.ov you will take steps which are appropriate in fol]cving up on this letter.
J
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Sincerely yours, t
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E. Wallace Distinguished Service Professor
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