ML20035A794

Grants Temporary Waiver of Compliance from TS 3.2.3.13 to Allow Magnet Currents Up to 100 Ma Before Rod Drop Initiated.Waiver Effective 15 Calendar Days After Date of Ltr

ML20035A794
Person / Time
Site:	Ohio State University
Issue date:	03/24/1993
From:	Grimes B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Cruz J OHIO STATE UNIV., COLUMBUS, OH
References
NUDOCS 9303290324
Download: ML20035A794 (4)

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UNITED STATES

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Docket No. 50-150 Dr. Jose B. Cruz, Jr.

Executive Director Engineering Experiment Station Ohio State University 142 Hitchcock Hall Columbus, Ohio 43210

SUBJECT:

TEMPORARY WAIVER OF COMPLIANCE - 500 KW NON-POWER REACTOR AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, COLUMBUS OHIO By letter dated February 3,1993, (misdated February 3,1992), you requested that Technical Specification (TS) 3.2.3.13 be waived temporarily. This TS requires that the control rods be dropped if the magnet current holding them is equal to or exceeds 60 milliamps (ma).

The basis for your request is to test greater holding currents, up to 100 ma, through the magnets in order to avoid dropping the adjacent rod when you are performing rod drop tests. At the present setting of 60 ma, the adjacent rod drops because it is mounted on a common beam support structure, and the mechanical vibration is greater than the magnets' holding power at 60 ma.

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The purpose of the test is to determine if the rods will drop in less than 600 milliseconds (msec) as required by TS 3.2.1, with magnet currents up to 100 ma. Depending on the results of the tests you plan to request a change to TS 3.2.3.13 to allow a greater holding current than 60 ma before the control rods are dropped.

We note, from a supplementary letter of March 15, 1993, by Richard D. Myser, that the TS prior to 1988 allowed operation with magnet currents up to 80 ma and that testing done with the same control rods and magnets indicated that the rods would meet the 600 msec required by the TS. The setting at which the rods are scrammed does not have any safety significance other than at some level of current above the normal holding current, termination of reactor operation is needed because of a possible short in the magnet circuit.

The drop setting for the rods can be set higher if the magnet circuit is so rated.

It was determined from a conversation with your staff that the magnet circuit i

is capable of handling 100 ma.

2 Based on the information provided in the March 15, 1993 letter, the staff has determined that the request does not involve a significant hazards consideration and that no irreversible environmer.tal consequences would result from this waiver.

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i Dr. Jose B. Cruz March 24, 1993 6

Although the March 15, 1993 letter requested 30 calendar days for the waiver period, in a subsequent telecon between R. Hyser and T. Michaels of my staff, it was decided that 15 calendar days would be adequate to perform these tests.

Accordingly, we grant a temporary waiver of compliance to TS 3.2.3.13 to allow magnet currents up to 100 ma before a rod drop is initiated. This waiver will be in effect fcr 15 calor.dar da3;.f t, u.c dote of this letter.

Sincerely, l

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i Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page i

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.i March 24, 1993 l

Dr. Jose B. Cruz !

Although the March 15, 1993 letter requested 30 calendar days for the waiver period, in a subsequent teleton between R. Myser and T. Michaels of my staff, i

it was decided that 15 calendar days would be adequate to perform these tests.

Accordingly, we grant a temporary waiver of compliance to TS 3.2.3.13 to allow magnet currents up to 100 ma before a rod drop is initiated. This waiver will

.t be in effect for 15 calendar days after the date of this letter.

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Sincerely, Original signed by:

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Brian K. Grimes, Director i

Division of Operating Reactor Support i

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i

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DISTRIBUTION:{0H10WAIV.] [Michaels-lb diskette]

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l Ohio State University Docket No. 50-150 l

CC:

I Ohio Department of Health l

ATTN: Radiological Health l

Program Director P. O. Box 118 Columbus, Ohio 43216 i

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Planning i

Fnvironmental Accacement Roetinn l

P. O. Box 1049 l

Columbus, Ohio' 43216 Mr. Richard D. Hyser Reactor Operations Manager Engineering Experiment Station Ohio State University 142 Hitchcock Hall

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Columbus, Ohio 43210 I

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