ML20035D328
| ML20035D328 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oregon State University |
| Issue date: | 02/19/2020 |
| From: | Michael Balazik NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | Oregon State University |
| Balazik M,NRR/DANU/UAPL, 415-2856 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20035D424 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML20035D328 (4) | |
Text
February 19, 2020 LICENSEE:
Oregon State University
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JANUARY 8, 2020, MEETING WITH OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, TRIGA REACTOR On January 8, 2020, a Category 1 public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of Oregon State University (OSU) via teleconference. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the OSUs anticipated license amendment request (LAR) to remove the requirement for an instrumented fuel element (IFE) from technical specification (TS) for the Oregon State TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) Reactor (OSTR). The meeting notice and agenda, dated December 2, 2019, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML19344A575. OSUs presentation used in the meeting is also available in ADAMS at Accession No. ML20035C743. A list of attendees is provided as an enclosure to this summary.
The OSTR is located on the OSU campus in Corvallis, Oregon. The OSTR is a natural convection, water-cooled, Mark-II TRIGA pool-type reactor built by General Atomics. The OSTR can be operated at a maximum steady-state thermal power level of 1.1 megawatt thermal (MW(t)), pulsed up to a peak power of about 2,500 MW(t), or operated in a square-wave mode.
The OSTR experienced a significant increase in its measured IFE temperature that occurred after a pulse was conducted in May 2018. OSU plans to submit a LAR to remove the IFE requirements in the OSTR TSs.
During the meeting, OSU first presented a timeline for the IFE temperature increase over a six-month period. The IFE is a fuel element that contains three thermocouples used for measuring temperature. OSU believes that the measured IFE temperature is artificial and does not represent actual temperature within the entire fuel element. OSU then presented information on the OSTR neutronics for different core configurations and thermal hydraulics analyses for both steady-state and transient operations. OSU discussed with the NRC staff that a research reactor of similar design to the OSTR does not have any TS requirements associated with the IFE. OSU concluded that the IFE can be a faulty instrument thereby resulting in an unexpected shutdown, and not needed for the safe operation of the OSTR.
OSU plans to request additional public meetings to continue discussing its anticipated LAR.
Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-2856, or by electronic mail at Michael.Balazik@nrc.gov Sincerely,
/RA Greg Casto Acting for/
Michael Balazik, Project Manager Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-243
Enclosure:
As stated
ML20035D424 Pkg ML19344A575 Mtg. Notice ML20035D328 Mtg. Summary ML20035C743 Slides
- concurred via email NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NRR/DANU/UNPL/LA NRR/DANU/UNPL/BC NRR/DANU/UNPL/PM NAME MBalazik NParker GCasto MBalazik (GCasto for)
DATE 2/13/2020 2/7/2020 2/18/2020 2/19/2020
Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES JANUARY 8, 2020, MEETING WITH OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Name Organization Steven Reese Oregon State University Robert Schickler Oregon State University Celia Oney Oregon State University Linh Tran U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Molly-Kate Gavello U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Patrick Boyle U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Greg Casto U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission William Kennedy U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Travis Tate U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Duane Hardesty U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Edward Helvenston U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jeremy Wachutka U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Theresa Lalain U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Geoffrey Wertz U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael Balazik U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joseph Staudenmeier U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kevin Roche U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission