ML20058L332
| ML20058L332 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/30/1993 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUREG-BR-0177, NUREG-BR-0177-N93-3, NUREG-BR-177, NUREG-BR-177-N93-3, NUDOCS 9312160268 | |
| Download: ML20058L332 (4) | |
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i Sealed Source & Device Newsletter g!\\
U.S. Nuclear Courtesy of the NUREGlBR-0177 a
y i
j Regulatory Scaled Source No.93-3
+
Commission Safety Section '
November 1993
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With technology constantly changing and the need to protect public health and safety, it is imperative that communications between the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Agreement State programs and also between these regulatory authorities and users of radioactive sealed sources and devices be open and cooperative. The NRC Sealed Source Safety Section (SSSS) is providing this newsletter to promote such communications.
ADMINISTRATlVE ISSUES source / device combination, to ensure its compatibili-ty. Once the evaluation is complete, the source regis-
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SERVICING OF INACTIVE DEVICES statement that the source / device combination is ac-A registration certificate for a device may be trans, ceptable. Any special conditions for the source /de-vice combination should be noted on the amended ferred toinactive statusif the distributorlisted on the certificate is no longer commemially distributing the source certificate. These conditions may include in-creaced radiation levels, use of a source holder, or a device.11awever, persons licensed to possess and use a device that is listed on an inactive registration certif, change in the conditions of use of the device.
icate may continue to do so.
'lhe distributor, or other licensee, may provide ser-vice for the device and may receive the device for O: What are the differences between a custom and disposal, under an NRC or Agreement State license, non-custom registration certificate and how are even if the egistration certificate for the device is custom certificate numbers assigned?
inactive. The services provided for the device may consist of routine maintenance, repair, source re-A: A registration certificate issued to a custom user placement, or relocation. All senice must be per-is unique in that the productslisted on the certif-formed in accordance with the terms and conditions icate may only be used by the custom user.This of the certificate for the device, and with the license is because the products listed on the certificate of the person perforra the senice. Modifications are designed to the unique specifications of the i
l to the device are not cowdered to be routine senice.
custom user. However, the products may not be commercially distributed by the custom user.
Licensees wishing to n odify the device must request Since the certificate is issued in support of the an evaluation of the modified device by the appropri-custom user's license application, the custom ate regulatory authority. A custom registration certif-user is the responsibic party for the certificate.
icate will be issued for the licensee. An inactive regis-Visually, certificates issued for custom users are tration certificate cimnot be amended to include identical to non-custom certificates, except that modifications.
the custom user's name and address are in-cluded on the first page of the certificate and, If a vendor wishes to provide sources for a device typically, a statement is added to the "LIMITA-listed on an inactive registration certificate and the TIONS" section, which states that the product certificate does not authorite use of the source in the may only be used by the custom user listed on device, the vendor may request an amendment to the the first page.
registration certificate for their source to include a statement that it may be used m the oevice. The Ceruficate nuniocts ion cunom users imvc die appropriate regulatory authority must evaluate the same format as for non-custom users. lhe cer-9312160269 931130 "
tificate is issued by the regulatory authority hav-ly affected operation of these cameras, unless the cor-ing jurisdiction over the area where the custom rosion is extreme. It is recommended that any camera -
~ it h a noticeable bulge be inspected often, for proper.
user is hicated. The vendor number 'is assigned w
to the initial distributor of the product or the operation and. cracked welds'on the housing. If custom user if there is no initial distributor. All cracked welds are noticed, or the operation of the other parts of the certificate number are as-camera is impaired, the camera should be removed signed the same as if the certificate were non-from service and repaired or replaced.-
custom. However, if the initial distributor is a licensee of another regulatory authority (e.g.,
Agreement State or NRC), the next available TROXLER GAUGES WITH -
product code should be obtained from the other DISCONNECTED SOURCE RODS regulatory authority.
Recently, two incidents occurred where the source cap of'lioxler Model 3400 series portable moisture TECHNICAL ISSUES density gauges became disconnected from the source rod at or near the weld The first incident involved a licensee that reported a disconnect with its Troxler RESURFACING OF TRITIUM-Model 3411 gauge. *ltoxler has requested that the li-EXIT SIGNS censee return the gauge for evaluation.De second incident involved a licensee that reported a discon '
Self-luminous exit signs containing 'Iritium gas (H-3) nect with one of its 'Iroxler Model 3401 gauges. Tins have a visible life span. Many of these signs are now licensee mspected other Model 3401 gauges in its.
approaching the end of their visible life.These prod-p ssesson and noticed cracks and wearin some of the ucts are used under a general license, as defined in 10 s urce rods and welds of these gauges, as well.This CFR 31.5 or the equivalent regulations of an Agree-licensee has mdicated that the gauge that had the dis-ment State. Recently, "Iricx Group International, a c nnect willbe returned to Iroxler, also. Gauges that California firm, developed a non-radioactive photo-experienced disconnects and those that the second h,-
luminescent replacement face for these types of exit censee had noticed cracks and/or wear m are older signs that have reached the end of their visible life.
gauges. Tr xler has mdicated that the weld process span. This allows users of resurfaced exit signs to f r Iderm delgaugeswasdifferentfromthecurrent continue to use them. According to information from.
method.Troxleralso mdicated that this type of failure
'ltiex, radioactive exit signs with replacement faces is rare and that one gauge that expcnenced a similar continue to retain all labeling required by the general failure showed signs that the gauge had not been used.
license.His means that exit signs that have exceeded according to the manufacturer's operating proce-their useful life span may remain in the possession of ur s.
the general licensee for many additional years. This -
activity appears to be within the scope of the provi-gg: readers of this newsletter are awarc of similar situa-sfons of the genemi license. If you have specific ques-tions with the source rods of these or other model tions concernmg this activity in your area of junsdic-gauges, please inform the SSSS andyour local regula-tion, contact Mr. David Smith of Triex Group tory authority.
International, at (510) 895-0901.
INTERNAL CORROSION OFDEPLETED URANJUM IN SPEC 2-T RADIOGRAPHl' SEALED SOURCE AND DEVICE CAMERAS TESTING When an NRC inspector recently inspected a radio-The second phase of the contract is underway. Repre-graphy licensee, he noticed that a SPEC 2-T camera sentatives from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) had a definite bulge on one side. De manufacturer have been contacting licensees and vendors, to obtain D was contacted and stated that the bulge may have re-products for testing. Criteria used for selection of sulted from either the camera being dropped from a '
products are based on representation of a product significant height or, more likely, corrosion develop-
' category, typical conditions of use, abundance of use, ing on the internal Depleted Uranium shield. The and availability. His selection process will' continue manufacturer stated that bulges have been noticed on
. through the next few months.'If you have questions.
these cameras, because of corrosion, especially in -
concerning this contract or the selection process,' or -
~
older cameras and cameras that have been used ex-receive a request and cannot resolve your questions.
tensively in corrosive atmospheres (such as near salt
. with SwRI, contact Doug Broaddus, the contract--
weer), This rondition doe:S not seen to have adverse-technical monitor, at (301) 504-2503..
2
l t
.i If you believe that a particular device or scaled source On the basis of the results of the irsestigation, SwRI may be a good candidate for testing, appears to have concluded that the root cause of the in-service fail-inherent problems orbe inadequately designed forits uresof thesourcewireswasenvironmentally-induced intended conditions of use, please inform the SSSS, embrittlement, because of the breakdown of the te-5 so Ihat 1he product may be considered for fut ure test-flon lining of the storage cask sleeves,in the presence
- ing, of a high-radiation field, and subsequent reaction or interaction with the Nitinol alloy.
Omnitron brachytherapy source wire investigation:
l In August, SwRI completed its investigation of the Teflon has been shown to break down in the presence failed Omnitron Nitinol brachytherapy source wires of a high radiation field. In this case, the breakdown and submitted a report to this office, which gives a de-products interacted with the Nitinol wire and caused l
tailed account of the investigation and SwRI's conclu-embrittlement.He effect of the breakdown products sions.
with other alloys (e.g.,316L SS) was not determined.
i Manufacturers and users should be catitioned about The investigation focused on determining Nitinol the possible hazards of using teflon in close proximity source wire resistance to failure, when subjected to to high activity sources for extended periods of time likely environments. Dummy and active source wires (e.g., during shipping or storage). In the past, teflon were subjected to environments of moisture, teflon, has been used in other situations,in the presence of a l
temperatures below 50 F (10 C), and were electro-high-radiation field, without causing any problems.
l lytically charged with hydrogen. Before and after be-Omnitron has committed to no longer using teflon-ing exposed to these environs, the wires were sub-lined storage casks, with Nitinol source wires.
jected to a bcnd test, to evaluate the material l
properties of the Nitinol wire, and to establish frac-Persons located in Agreement States who would like ture characteristics of clinical source wires.
to receive a copy of the SwRI report should contact Lloyd Bolling, Office of State Programs (OSP), at As part of SwRI's m.vestigation, the failed source (301) 504-2327. All others contact Kim jones at (301) l wires were examined usmg a Scanning Electron Mi-504-2540.
l croscope (SEM), to view the fracture characteristics I
and fine-scale topogmphic features on and near the fracture area. In addition, various other analysis tech-SS&D COMPUTER PROGRAM niques were performed on the failed source wires, as well as on additional identically constructed clinical and new source wires obtained for additional testing.
Development of Vers. ion 2.0 continues. Persons m.
These techniques included x-ray spectrography, Agreement States who would like to receive a copy of
]
chemical analysis, metallographic examination, mi-Version 2.0, when it becomes available, should con-l l
crohardness measurements, and thermal analysis.
tact Lloyd Bolling (OSP)at (301)504-2327. All others contact Kim Jones at (301) 504-2549.
l The investigation revealed that source wires that l
were shipped or stored in teflon-lined storage casks
-t suffered hydrogen-type emi rittlement and failed in RADIOGRAPHY CROSS-REFERENCE l
a manner similar to the in-service wire failures.This PROGRAM (RADXREF) type of failure is atypical for Nitinol wire.The investi-gation also indicated environs of moisture, low tem-Persons who have not received a copy of Version 2.0
)
perature, and high radiation were not likely to in-of RADXREF and'would like to, should contact crease the probability of brittle failure of Nitino!
Lloyd Bolling (OSP) at (301) 504-2327 (Agreement I
l alloy.
States) or Kim Jones at (301) 504-2540 (all others).
l If readers of this newsletter need answers to specific questions, or have information that they believe will be l
valuable to other users and regulators of scaled sources and devices, we encourage them to provide this l
information to the SSSS by the 15th of each month. We will review the submitted information;if we find it to be l
within the scope of this newsletter, the information will be covered in a future issue. Send all questions, comments, or articles to Kim Jones or Doug Broaddus of the SSSS at: SS&D Newsletter, US Nuclear Regulatory i
l Commission, Mail Stop 6-H-3, Washington, DC 20555, or FAX (301) 504-2260.
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