ML20052A690
| ML20052A690 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001216 |
| Issue date: | 11/09/1977 |
| From: | Sarvis R NAVY, DEPT. OF |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20049A233 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-81-428 0403-38, 08270, 403-38, 8270, NUDOCS 8204290033 | |
| Download: ML20052A690 (8) | |
Text
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DEPARTMENT OF THE N AVY
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1,lf N AVAL OCEAN SYSTEMS CENTER san omGO, CA UFORNI A 92152 n
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10330 Ser 0403-38 Q[.f/
. g 9 HOV 1977 From: Commander, Naval Ocean Systems Center To:
Director, Division of Materials and Fuel Cycle Facility Licensing, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555 Via:
Officer in Charge, Naval Nuclear Power Unit, Port Hueneme, California 93043 Subj: Request for amendment of Special Nuclear Material License No. SNM-ll54 Ref:
(a) NUC ltr 1104/ALS:cc Ser 1104-6 of 4 Feb 1975 Encl:
(1) Test Program - Environmental Test of Plutonium 0xide Fuel 1.
The technical program for which Special Nuclear Material License No. SNM-ll54 was obtained, by reference (a), have progressed to the point where amendments are requested as follows:
a.
The marine environment tests of oxide I.ellets and clad oxide pellets described in reference (a) have been completed. Accordingly, it is requested that the quantity of 40_gr_ams-of-plutonium-238 as oxide pelle.ts and the quantity of 61 grams of plutonium-238 as.claifbiide~'p'ETlets
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(ifems A and B on the license),be-del._eted from the license.
b.
A new program, similar to that for the marine environment test of clad oxide pellets, is being planned. This program will involve tests of two pellets of oxide, each containing 44 grams of to'..:1 plutonium, of which 80.3% is plutonium-238. Both pellets will be clad with a 20 mil thickness of iridium and will be vented.
Details of the test procedure are submitted as enclosure (1).
2.
It is requested that SNM-1154 be amended to authorize the possession and use, as described herein, of 88 grams of plutonium, principal isotope L
plutonium-238, as oxide pellets.
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- =L R. W. dAnvn3 Ey Direc; ion 08270 i
8204290033
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TEST PROGRAM EtVIRONMEllTAL TESTS OF PLUT0llIUPI OXIDE FUEL
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1.
General Information:
Under the sponsorship of the Flight Safety Branch,liuclear Research and Applications Division, Energy Research and Deve'opment Administration, the
!!aval Ocean Systems Center is planning a test program to determine the effects of the ocean environment on the physical and chemical characteristics of pure plutonium oxide (PP0) fuels used a radioisotepic heat sources.
A general ob-jective of the program is to evaluate the consequences of the entry into the ocean environment of a radioisotopic thermoelectric generator fueled with plutonium oxide. The ocean tests introduce temperature, tidal, wave and biotic effects not reproducible in the laboratory.
It is planned that the phase of the program described herein will be extended over a period of two years start-ing late in. calendar year 1977 or early in calendar year 1978.
These fuels are in the form of granules of plutonium oxide (80% Pu-238),
175 micron or smaller in size, hot-pressed into pellets, prepared by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.
The pellets to be tested are cylindrical in form, 0.735 inches in diameter, 0.725 inches in length.
Each pellet is clad with 0.02 inch thick iridium metal and are vented.
Each pellet contains approximately 44 grams of plutonium, of which 35 grams is plutonium-238.
The thermal output is 19.3 watts each pellet.
The attached data sheet from Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory shows isotopic composi tion, actinide impurities, expected radiation levels and spectrochemical data for the pellets.
The radiation data indicates that the hand dostge to be expected at a normal handling ai;tance of 10 inches, during the test program, is approximately 6.5 mrem /hr gamma plus neutrons.
2.
Test Site
Description:
The program will be carried out at the Marine Environment Test Station, located on the protected (mainland) side of San Clemente Island, California.
The island, itself, is located approximately 60 miles from the nearest mainland.
Figure 1 shows the location of San Clemente Island with respect to the Los Angeles area and the other channel islands. Also shown on Figure 1 is the north end of the island where all of the facilities to be used by this project are located.
The !!aval Ocean Systems Center is a tenant at the island, which is under the jurisdiction of the llaval Air Station, f orth Island, San Diego, California.
Entry to the island is restricted to personnel authorized by the flavy.
The implacement area will be the shallow water just off shore of the Marine Environment Test Station site, at florth Light liarbor. The waters contiguous to the florth Light liarbor are not normally used for projects other than those conducted at the Marine Environment Test Station.
3.
Test Program:
The test program involves immersion of two PPO samples placed in ocean bottom material (sand, mud, organic material) in an exposed chamber which will be im-planted on the ocean bottom at about a 50 foot depth of water.
A sketch of the exposure chamber is shown in Figure 2.
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At 3 month intervals, an exposure chamber will be recovered, the sample visually' inspected, marine biota samples recovered for Pu-238 analysis, and the sample reimplanted if it appears normal.
If the sample appears abnormal, it will be returned to LASL.
!!e water will be circulated through the exposure chambers during the test.
The chambers will be vented to the ocean to permit convection interchange of sea uater and biotic material between the chamber and the ocean.
l 4.
Rad-Safety lleasures:
Upon receipt of the test samples a complete monitoring survey will be made, including neutron and gamma dose rates, surface and removeable alpha activity and air sampling as indicated by the nature of work. The samples will be opened in a glove box and immediately immersed, in the glove box, in sea water.
Transport of the samples to the implant area will be in water in bottles.
Appropriate protective clothing, including gloves, coveralls and respira-tors as needed, will be worn during sample handling.
Personnel will be monitored for alpha contamination during and af ter sample handling.
Film badges, including beta-gamraa and neutron monitoring film will be worn by personnel handling samples.
Each time the exposure chamber is removed from the water, contamination control neasures will be employed.
The chamber will be placed in a plastic wading pool, monitored for direct and removeable contamination, samples of sand, water and biological material will be collected for Pu-238 analysis, and an area survey made upon completion.
The Radiological Safety Officer will be present for monitor-ing services during recovery of exposure chambers, examination and/or recovery of samples and replacement of chambers.
Upon completion of the test program, test samples will be packaged in accordance with Department of Transportation requirements and returned to LASL.
The exposure chambers and their contents will be packaged and disposed of through a licensed disposal contractor.
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UNIVER$1TY OF CALIFO;UllA h
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LOS ALA.VOS,NEWPAEXtCO T 7545 L/
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Telephone Est OFFICE MEMORANDUM To George Matlack, CMB-1, MS 740 DA1E July 22, 1977 fro '
R. A. Kent S'Juncr TEST PELLET LOT HPZ-186
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SYfASOL CMB-ll e4Ait stor-328 We have sent you 2 pellets from lot IIPZ-186 on 7/22/77. The feed material consisted of <125 pm granules from LASL lot BND-319, processed from SRP lot 365. The isotopic composition of the feed material (determined 8/2/76 at SR) is:
236 0.5 ppm Pu 238 80.30 wt%
Pu
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239 16.12 ut%
Pu 240 2.65 wt%
Pu 241 0.69 wt%
Pu 242 0.23 ut%
Pu Actinide impurities (determined 12/10/76 at SR) are:
Am
<0.01 ut%
Np 0.05 ut%
U 0.02 wt%
Th 0.09 ut%
Spectrochemical data for the feed powder (determined at CMB-1) are on the attached sheet. Tlie neutron emission rate for the feed powder 38 (af ter our 0-exchange treatment) was 4924 n/s-g Pu and the y-dose rate was 0.52 mR/h-g sample at 10 cm.
These numbers were determined at CMB-1.
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.o Dimensions for the sintered pellets are:-
Diam Length Weight No.
(in.)
'(in)
(g)
% TD Ua t ts
2 0.735 0.726 48.554 86.3 19.3 4
0.736 O.725 48.551 86.3 19.3 0.735 0.725 48.553 86.3 19.3 Our dies have 4 holes, numbered 1-4.
When we press 2 pellets, we balance the load, thus, have pellets 1 & 3 or 2 & 4.
These pellets are essentially identical to those used in our high-density fuel im-pacts except that for the shots we " fine-tuned" the dimensions slightly to match the capsules.
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R. A. Kent RAK:bs xc:
R.-A. Kent, CMB-11, MS 328 File e
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...iPLE ID = Ct1B-11-RWZ-SRP-607547 LATE SUEMITTE'D =
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. SUBMITTER =. Ct1B-11-20CHER FORi1 B CGDE = D433
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