ML20008F876
| ML20008F876 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/01/1981 |
| From: | Quigg C POLLUTION & ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, INC. |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8105120229 | |
| Download: ML20008F876 (2) | |
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. Pollution & Envimnaental Problemas, Inc.
. P.O. Box 309 ca, f t,
Palatine, Illinoia 60067 i
-May 5, 1981
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Mr. Hamla Denton Office of Nuclear Reacto r R ation v.a. maue neauwass U.S. Nuclear Regulato ry 0omaiedon 9
soawssiam Washingten, D.C. 20555 p
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Dear Mr. Desttons. /
You may be interested in the stelos d letter from Dr. Earl A.
e Oulbransent of the Univerdty of Pittaburgh. It say s, better than snything I can say, why the NRC is wrong to allor, compact spent
.2 fuel stored onsite of ratelear reactors around ths country. I sagged.- the NRC arrange a meeting with Dr. Gulbren eart as soon as
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po'e sible.
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3 In the meantime, please add his letter to the file for.sy appeal
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.n y Catherine quigg, reser 'ch director MLIUTION & DIVIBONENTAL PROBLEM 35 INC.
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University of Pittsburgh SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering June 20, 1980 Mrs. Catherine Quigg Pollution and Environmental Problems 838 Harriet Lane Barrington, Illinois 60010
Dear Mrs. Quigg:
I have your note of June 2,1980 and the statement of Walter F. Pasedag conenning Doaket No. 50-272 " Proposed Issuance of A=endment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-70", also the comments of Dr. A. S. Benjamin. Both are NRC staff experts and witnesses. It is unfortunate that Mr. Carl Valore, Jr., as an inter-venor did not have available his own technical witnesses in addition to Dr. Richard Webb.
Dr. Webb is a nuclear engineer and a very knowledgeable one but not a materials expert.
Dr. Benjamin and Mr. Pasedag assume with the NRC staff and industry the Baker - Just parabolic rate law to describe the kinetics and heat effects of the zirconium
- steam reaction and conventional data for the air oxidation of zirconium.
The Baker - Just equation for example is based on a series of studies on the
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steam-zirconium reaction without adequately considering' the influence of steam flow which can have a major influence on the kinetics of the reaction. Grain boundary penetration of oxygen greatly accelerates the deterioration of the unre-acted zirconium tube. Also the development of the Baker - Just equation is based on very dubious extrapolations. In addition oxygen raises the a-S transition temperature which leads to spikes of brittle oxygen-saturated a-Zr crystals into the S structure.
My criticism of the testimony which you kindly sent to me is that they have not used the proper rate equations and that zirconium probably reacts much faster than that predicted by the Baker - Just equation. The same would hold true for the air - oxidation. Both nitrogen and hydrogen.present in the zirconium can lead to blowing out of small particles of zirconium igniting neighboring fuel rods and spreading the reaction.
I hope the above comments answer your questions.
Very truly yours,
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YMc.ss sn Earl A. Gulbransen Research Professor
/ps P.S.
Send Dr. Webb's testimony if it is availab u.
848 BENEDUM HALL. PITTS8URGH. PA.15261