ML19338D510

Forwards IE Circular 80-20, Changes in Safe-Slab Tank Dimensions. No Written Response Required

ML19338D510
Person / Time
Site:	07000984
Issue date:	08/21/1980
From:	Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V)
To:	Richey C Battelle Memorial Institute, PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATION
References
NUDOCS 8009230375
Download: ML19338D510 (4)

Text

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No-UNITED STATES y

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION iG E

REGION V

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1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD

• j' SUITE 202, WALNUT CREEK PLAZA

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ee,,5 WALNUT CREE K, CALIFORNIA 94596 August 21, 1980 Docket No.70-984 Battelle Memorial Institute Pacific Northwest Laboratories Battelle Blvd.

Richland,-WA. 99352 Attention: Mr.

C.- R.. Richey, Manager, Radiation Standards and Engineering Gentlemen:

The enclosed IE Circular No. 80-20 is forwarded for your information.

If there are any question. related to-the suggested actions, please contact this office.

Sincerely, f

AfCs R. H. Engelken Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Circular No. 80-20 2.

Recently issued IE Circulars s.

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iAccession No.i-

8006190036-IEC'80-20L

. UNITED STATES...

.NUCl. EAR ~ REGULATORY C0tNISSION!

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(OFFICE'0FTINSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON,D.C.~.20555 DI f

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IE Circular.- No."80-20t ! CHANGES-INLSAFE-SLAB TANK DIMENSIONS s

Description :of > Circumstances:

.s During a routine inspection at:a fuel. facility, an NRC inspector received a

' report of significa'nt dimensional changes lin safe geometry tanks. The tanks were 'used to-store low-enriched uranium-solutions from a scrap dissolver. The problem was;first' identified when a'~ sight-glass mounted on the large face of one of.three safe-s1ab tanks cracked from the' strain.of. tank dimensional J

changes. ' Further investigation and measurements revealed that the large faces -

of ~ two-of the-tanks had bulged and increased the thickness dimensions of the

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tanks.

The maximum bulge occurred atLthe. center of one of the tanks, increasing the tank 1 thickness 2:1/2 in. beyond the_ design thickness of 51/2 in. The bulge tapered lfrom;the tank centers to the designed,5 1/2 in. at the tank edges.

The tanks wereLmade of 1/8-in. type 304L stainless _ steel with the tank edges and large faces 1 supported and stiffened by 3/16-in, angle iron.

The cause of othe bulging was' believed to be overpressurization due to partial plugginglof the? tank vent line's.1 Contributing' factors may have been excessive transfer rates,' metal fatigue aggravated by corrosion, and the high specific-gravity. of; the stored _ solution.

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Replacement tanks.wer'e provided with tie-bars and heavier 1/4-in. angle' iron -

stiffeners to preserve the thickness dimensions. Conservative calculations, takingiinto ' account the weight of solution',' tank dimensions, and tie-bar and w

stiffener; strength, in~dicated that ' required dimensions would be maintained.. A-N l precondition forithe' calculations required that the tank vent system be.

2 designed.to prevent accidental _ pressurization.

To? prevent' accidental: pressurization, a 1-1/2-in. overflow line was connected:

xto 'the'1-1/2-in. vent--line to the process.offgas L(P0G) system at a point-

"immediately above each tank. This.provided.a positive overflow as well as 'a n ;~

^second-vent ~in caseia plug ~~ occurred =in the main-P0G:line. Additionally, each Ltank was provided with' a 2" x:4" inspection port at the top with a cover free

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ito i"fl oa t"1s houl d : pres suri zation; occur..

' JThe tank ? dimensions were 'approximately 62"?x 62" x 51/2".< 1The : tank locations'

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. were parallel to and-about 1 ft: removed from the. scrap recovery area walls.-

SThe' visual? detection-of ?thet2-1/" in.? deflection of the large tankiface from a

-; point in!frontiofitheltanklisiusually ' difficult.so-that measurements should.be

. 1made with calipers;orisimilar: equipment to: assure detection:of-significant 1 distortion.: -

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IEC 80-20 August 21, 1980 Page 2 of 2

~ Notice 'to Licensecs:

~All -licensees 'using safe-slab -tanks should be aware of the possible changes in tank dimensions resulting from hydraulic ~or pneumatic forces. 'Certain steps

- should be -taken.to prevent or detect changes. in safe-slab tank dimensions.

These actions include the following:

~ (1) Structural analyses should be reviewed for all vessels designed to,he geometrically safe to assure that the possibility of pressurization.has been adequately considered.- The use~ of tie-bars and rigid steel supports should be considered in designs _ for new tanks.

(2) : The possibility of. vent lines becoming plugged should be studied and-

. special overflow mechanisms shoulo be provided if pressurization by vent-line plugging is possible.

(3) Provision _ shou'ld be...cdc for routine dimensional checks of geometrically.

. safe vessels. The',e checks should be made whether or not the vessels are

' subject to pressurization.

No written response to this circular is required.. If additional information

. I regarding this subject is required, contact the Director of this ~ office.

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IEC 80-20

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August 21, 1980

- RECEllTLY ISSUED IE CIRCULARS -

Circular

. Date of tio.

~ Subject Issue Issued to

.80-19 floncompliance withi 8/26/80 All medical licensees License Requirements for Medical Licensees 80-18 10 CFR 50 9 Safety

.8/22/80 "1 power reactor Evaluations for Changes to

.acilities with an Radioactive Waste Treatment

- 0L or CP Systems.

80-17 Fuel Pin Damage Due to Water 7/23/80 All holders of PWR Jet from Baffle Plate Corner OLs and PWR cps 80-16 Operational Deficiencies In 6/27/80 All power reactor Rosemount Model 510D0 Trip facilities with an Units And-Model 1152 Pressure OL or a CP.

Transmitters 80-15 Loss' of Reactor Coolant Pump 6/20/80 All power reactor Cooling and flatural Circula-facilities with an tion'Cooldown OL or CP 80-14 Radicactive Contamination of 6/24/80 All holders of power Plant Demineralized Water and research reactor I

System.and Resultant Internal licenses (operating Contamination of Personnel and construction permits), and fuel cycle licensees 80-13 Grid Strap Damage in 5/18/80 All holders of reactor Westinghouse Fuel Assemblies OLs and cps

'80-12~

Valve-Shaft-To-Actuator Key 5/14/80 All holders of reactor May, Fall-Out of Place When OLs and cps Mounted Below Horizontal Axis 80-11 Emergency Diesel-Generator 5/13/80 All holders of a power

. Lube Oil Cooler Failures reactor OL or CP 80-10' Failure to Maintain 4/29/80 All holders of reactor Environmental Qualification OLs and cps

of Equipm'ent

'80-09

- Problems With Plant ~ Internal-4/28/80~

All holders o'f a power

. Communications Systems..

reactor OL or CP 4

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