ML20072T935
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I UJIT2D STATES 0.7 AICRICA AT0ti10 2~ERGY 00ttilSS10i!
Ill THE !!ATTOR OP
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SAXTO'! TUC*JAt ZXPERIM2JIAL CORPORATIO.4 )
DOCKET 'J0. 50-146
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APPLICATI0d FOR C0ilSTRUCT10d P2RHIT
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Appearances George F. Troubridge, Esq. oJ ltarns 6 Trowbridge, Jor Applicant Maurice Axeirad, Esq., for Staff oJ Atomic Energy Comnission IdT2RltEDIATE DECISI0d Saxton Muclear Experimental Corporation (Saxton) organized as a non-profit corporation under the aus of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, filed an application on July 24,.959 pursuant to the provisions of Section 104(b) oJ the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, for a con-struction permit to authorize the buitding oJ a uuelear power reactor.
The application requests authority :.or both a construction permit and an operating license, but this proceeding is limited to che inicisi under-taking invoAving the construction r m The issuance od a construction imit depends only upon a 9 4
rion that a ir 4
ap.
' type pr.. v co can be conc tructed eno opera w.
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.ad location without undue risa to tac heatch and sadety o! the pub.ic. The construction permit does not constitute final approval of any technical speci-dication o2 the Jacility.
This simitation oJ the proceeding to che con-struction permit contemplates that a subseqvenc proceeding wi'l.. be convened to consider the issuance o.: eu operating license.
9104100343 910314 PDR FOIA PDR DEKOK91-17
The nuclear power reactor sought to be constructed by Sexton is a closed cycle pressurized water ru ctor with a nominal rating of 20 H9 (thermal) which is proposed to be connected to an existing turbine generator at tne Saxton, Pennsylvania, steam generating station o2 the Pennsylvania diectric Company.
It is proposed that the reactor will primarily be utilized (1) for experimental purposes, specifically, for the demonstration of the capability and life of various cores that will be used in the reactor; (2) for obtaining data on individual test fuel assemblies, as well as entire reactor cores, that will improve the overall economics of aarge-scale commercial size reactor cores; (3) lor determining eptimum primary coolant operating conditions, including the possib1Aity of some bulk boiling in the reactor core; and (4) for obtaining information during the latter stages of the research and development program that will be helpfui in designing a nuclear super-heat reactor, or a reactor containing a superheat section.
Pursuant to the notice published by the Commission, a hearing was held in Germantown, Maryland, on December 15, 1959.
Appearances were entered on behalf of Saxton and the Staff of the Comaission, do other persons expressed a desire to interves or to otherwise participate in a proceedings. The issuen c: mission for co w & a,i
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wete.
(1) Uhether there is information sudficient to provide reasonable assurance that a utilization iacility of the type proposed in the application can be constructed and operated at the location pro-posed therein, without endangering the health and saiety of the public; - - - - _
(2) Phether there is reasonable assurance that the tecnnical inJormation omitted : rom, and required to coup.ete the application wilt se sepptied.
(3) '~ nether Saxton is technically quali;ied to destga and construct the proposed Jacility; (4) % ether, pursuant to Section 50.40(b) o ! the ASC's Regutation, Saxcon is.:inanciaity qualified to design and construct the cacility; and (5) "hether the issuance of the construction permit will be inimicai to che connon deJense and securicy or to the hearth and saJety o.
ene public.
Saxton is a subsidiary o; Pennsylvania Electric Corporation, Metropolitan 2dinon Company, Jew Jersey Centrai Power G Light Company, aad Jersey Power 4. i.,ignt Company, unich.:our utilities are operating sucaidiarf is o:: General Publi: Utiitties' Oorporation, a registered public b:itity hording compt.ny.
Saxcon has entered into a contract with
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estinghouse Esectric Corporation, (Uestingaouse).lor construction of the proposed reactor Jor toe cotal :ixer' sum oi $6,250,000, which 81gure
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ctated to be not subject to ee t 2.
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'ca aave useo.,,,"hject <: w eo /4
"'h t iour uti.ir'e 4
02 app.icaote regul,atory commissions, to supply the necessary fur.de 2or 1 / The estimated comp etion dace is not earlier than December., 1961, nor later than December i,1952.
2__/ 1 : modilications to the presently proposed design are agreed upoa between Saxton and estinghouse, presuma'cly, the.:our utility owners ce S-xton will provide any aceded additional junds......
this construction, as weit as provide an additional sum o' approximately 2./
$2,250,000..'or estinated corts of operation over a ;ive year period.
"estinghouse has contracted to (a) desi n, construct, and Jurnish to E
Saxton the complete nuc. ear steam Lenerating piant, together with certain nuclear and non nue: ear supporting laci.ities; (2) lutnish als '!uei requirements tor the first.ive years o.' operation aiter initial criticality; and (3) conduct a substantial pre operationat and post construction research and deveaopment program over a period oJ iive years, inc4uding the surnishing oJ,certain equipment and personnet. Festinghouse has also agreed to assume financiat responsibi.ity lor all specias nuciear material needed during the period o.' operation as required by Commission regulacions, and to pay directly to the Connission the charges in connection vita such materians.
The researen and development project to be undertaken by Saxton will invoave operation ol' the reactor uader utility operating conditions, with primary emphasis on lowering nuclear pouer costs tnrough exploring the possibiattles od increasing nuclear zuet use e.:'iciencies and economies and lovering future nuc4 ear power plaat can!N costs. The program will ine'.ude
,o i me cores, with
" mental operation of the ceo
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' " aonditim.6, u nh di; crent arrang m nt.. an' i.. c ee. 9 and with experiments invo.tving transient conditions oJ operation within 3_/ If this sum is not suJJicient, the utilities owning Saxton have indicated thac they vi;; provide what additional is needed tu order to carry out the objectives of the project.
See In the 14atter of power Reactor Development Oo., Opinion and Final Decision, May 26, 1959, pp.55-53.
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timited ranges. ?inal safety analysis o! the experimental program nust avait detailed design o? che reactor, deve.opment o: detained experimenta.
programs, and talormation aoout c'.:e reactoc to 'oe gained in actus.
operation o2 the p. ant.
Saxton aad the sta. ! (gree, bovever, that there is no acason wny a suitable experimente: program cannot ce developed sad saaelf carried out utta the Saxton reactor along toe generat.ines presently pcoposed by Saxton. Tne detailed plans (or experimental operation of tae reactor vi.e be reviewed and evaluated by the Conunission in connection with the issuance oJ an operacing license.
The proposed reactor is to be buitt on a 150 acre site owned by Pennsylvania E ectric Company and tocated about three-tourtne o.! a mile from the boroubb o; Saxton in Liocrty Tovasi.ip, bed;ord County, Penneyavania.
The norougn of Saxton is approximate'ty ninety.iive air miles east o; Pittsbuc6a and seventy two air mi.es vest of 1:arrisburg.
The area surrouading the site is sparsely sett.ed, with a population o.'
approximately tL,000 persons witt.in a cen mi;e radius and a poputattoa o.:
ress tnan 1000 witain a one mile radius o.; toe site.
Tne Saxton Steau Generating St<
ca.;ed on tae Raystown and je' t
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'5e Juniata River.
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h;.ar. stow. Lt mb of cce Jun!..t. River tc, som ca.c o.ain ut anen v. the Juatata River, emptf ng into the Susquehunna Rivet above Harrisburg.
i Pennsylvania.
Puolic water suppties in this area vit'.iin a ten mile raJits of the nice are obtaiaed primariij. rom springs and wet.s, none is derived from grovad vacer in tha. vsiley in vaico ebe reactor is to be located.
There is no drinking, commercial, or it.dustriat use or water
_ rom the Raystown Stanen o: the Junista River downstream croc t..e site (approxtmately sive miles), houever, several miles below the site t..e river ce:omes a recreationa:. ares. The only nnoun use of drinding water
. tom the main branct. of the Juniaca, downstream.: rom Saxton, is an emergency intaae at the Lorouga oJ riewport, sixty miaes east o! Saxton.
Tais water is iltered be. ore enttrius tae Dorougt' mains.
la_oruation concerning ti.e hydrology, copography, t..id geograpa/
oJ cae area, toget.er uit., pre.iminary inJormation on racteorotogy ou-tained at the site, indicate t.at the sice is Javoragte. rom a sa :ety standpoiat.
A coacinuing prograta o ! veat;.er o.sservations and meteor
- otogica', investigations wiii be -onducced by Saxcon.
In addition, Saxton in t..e near luture wiL iaicine a prog, ram o. radiacion monitoring d.n tiie viciatt/ o.! tr.e s;.te, inciuding sampling o. air, water, soit, vegets.
tion, and anima; ti2e.
As staced, tne hutou reactor is of the pressurized water, more particularly or t..e c.ectna.. neucron, betroi,eneove t;tpe etnploying altaat../
enriened uranium dioxide as ti e nue. ear ;ue., uoderated and cooled 'oy M
.er.
The steam generated in th<
- rotor is directed to a
1 hi
^r is de turbine generator p %
to deve t o p twen y d. 4 ma s.upwa t t s e pover.
To achieve. cait'vi licj...
trae conduct o.: cents whien ma/ be run with the reactor :stiaity, the steam generator is designed to extract a maxitoum o'. 2L megawatts o.!
heae ; rom ti.e cooiant. The Santon reactor is basically simt.ar to the Snippingport Pressurized *:atei Reactor (P"R) and the Army Pac.; aged Power Reactor (APPR),.rotn vt.ica An extensive taount o.. data and successju. operac: sng experience have been accumulated.
Experiments have 6-
beca perJormed with tae designated Borax and Spert reactors, vaich utve characteristics essentia.ly cne same as the Saxton reactor, to in-vescigate toe ensracteristics and demonstrate toe stabi'.ity of pressurtred water reactors.
The results o. e.ese experiments iudicate that this type o! reactor, because oc its nuc' ear theresa and hydrodynamic characteristics, is inhereatly staole.
The Saxton reactor is also sub-
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stantially simi6ar, a.chough smarier in sice sud power octput, to toe Yan4ee Atomic diectric Company reactor, at dove,lbssachusetts, and the seibiaa thermai reactor, oeias constructed at Mol, Belgium.
Oonceptual design and design criteria.or the major components or the cacility have been developed in considerable detail in Saxtoa's applicatioa and in testimony at the hearings.
Alcaough detai..cd engineering design o.; the Saxton reactor is not complete, the information provided, as partaf summarized crea.'cer, supports the :one.usion taat there is reasonatis assurance that the Saxton reactor can be satis-2actorily designed and saleiy operated.
A!cer all engineering details oi che plant have 'ocea settled, Saxton will suomic additicasa in2ormation e m or construccion to te mission as an amendment to its
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-= form of a Jiaal m a a
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intornr.
wil be considctc.J at the neatius ou We operating tievnse.
Saxton expects to submit this in formation approximately June.,1961.
It is contemplated taat the initial core vili consist os thirty-two :: vel assemblies arranged in a grid pattern Joratog an approximately cylindrical active core 40.2 inches in F.ci.gr.r and 33.6 inches in diameter.
Tne nuciear fuei is orauiwa dioxide, enricaed in che uranium 235.sotope 7
s
I to approximate *y 3 - 4 percent, compacted aad sintered in the form o.?
solid cylindrical pellets.
The core is similar in design to tae cores oJ a number oa othec reactors, particularly the Yanaee reactor.
The reactor will be contained witnin a vertica cylindrical carbon steet pressure vesse. (pproximate.y seventeen.~eet la overati height, witn an lu:ernsi diaceter oJ.i!t;- eigh t incaes and a si.eit tiiic'a-ness o: 4.5 incaes. Tne vesse'. is designed end wi;i 'e constructed in o
accordance wich cne ASit; hoiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
The desiga Pressure is 2500 psia. The operating pressure of the primary coo; ant sjstem is not expected to exceed 2000 psia, and relief valves are provided to eimit systeu pressure transtents to ;ess than che design pressure o; 2500 psia.
The reactor control system, as designed, is comprised of control rods and a nucacar poison disso;.ved in the primary coo:. ant.
The controt rods, stx in numoer, are o'.' a crucL.orm shape containing a cadmium-indium-si.ver poison section c.ad with stainiesa stee'..
Tne controt rod system design is similar to that ustd on a num'or-of reactors.
In i n flicc tae rod meterial aad drive
.-e ai)ar to those v.
t <
.. a retor.
The co.e:a. c.... a padrest : cacti.. /.. ms mul.iciene co st,ut down the reaccor in the not clean condition vy 2 to 3 percent in excess reactivity.
A chemical neutron poison materia?..
boric acid, wi'.1 've added to cae primary coolant to maintata the reactor in a suberitical condition wren it is cold. The use o:? liquid poison or reactor controi is 'octag extensively studied by *estinghouse wit'c.
respect to ca.is reactor and t'.te Yankee and Deigian reactors. The results
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I of these studies to date indicate.that tais method ol contro. utit be
.iea s ible.
Since the Yankee end !!elgian reactors will be completed beJore tae Saxton reactor, operating information on this method of controi is expected to oe avai.ubte lo.,.urther review becore ene Saxton reactor is coupleted.
Standard instrumentation is used to measure process parameters t..rougaout t' e phnt and neutron levels o! the reactor. The usual pro-n tective systems and inter'.oc..s.or this type o.! reactor are also provided.
The design oJ tl.e instrumentation system has not been completed. 11oweve r,
there are no unusuai leatares proposed, and no unusua. probieus are anticipated.
A sa.'ety iajection system is provided to supply boronated unter to tae reactor vessel for caoling the core in the eveat normal core coolant is lost. This water can be pumped directly ineo the main coo.aut loop.: rom the re.?ueling unter storage tanxe.
These tanks have su..;icient capacit/ to provide cooling wacer to the core for oae hour.
A2ter ti.is time, the water vaich nas leaked ; rom tne primary system and collected i the tower part o.,
the contai w '
can be recirculated to the rhrough the storage v*l'.
v: my
,c-i core for continued cooti!...
A steel containment soen, partiatly lined with concrete, will ene.ose the reactor end high pressure primary system. The containment vessel is designed as a pressure vessel in accordance with the ASIC Code to contain -in the event o.! c pipe rupture--tne :iashing o: all ene primary cooiant, including snf water or steam that might be associated with experimentar operation o2 the reactor, so an equi ~itarium mixture 9
o: water and steam. The design pressure is conservatively chosen, and the integrity o. the vesse. voutd be expected co be preserved in the event of a rupture o0 the primary system. The destga 'eanage rate o.!
tae contairanene vesse. is.2 percent oa ebe coatained votume in twenty-lour hours at the design pressure of the vesse!..
2xperience vita otaer vessets o. this type indicaces trat t:iis teagage rate can be accained.
I' "aste disposa' Jacitities vi 1 be provided to receive and process att.iquid and solid vastes arom tne picnt.
Gaseous vastes will be col'accted and processed pior to 1,eing dispersed througa the stac't under monitored, cor. trol.ed conditicas. There are no unusual 'eatures proposed reasonabte anticipated in tne waste disposa. sjatera, aiid chere as or as.urance taat a sat!a laccory design o2 ene vaste disposa.. syste.n can ce developed to monitor, cor.crot, and process plaat vastes and pertnit discharges to cae environineat vitatu perinissib;e nmics.
The major accidents t.at can occur to the Saxton reactor have seen ana'yzed, includiag accidents resu'. ting.: rom Acte ol God, se, numan errors, and equipment..ailures. For most of t'-anc accidents,
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-cuge vouid result. Slovever.
littla i s
, ittprouable.
. u..a.a c.. < pan t u n t-c toe
.. co t ; o6ei
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- vessel, ptuouces in cr.e reactor could oe reicased ta:o t'..e containment Applicar.t's accident anaxysis indicates that the tnost severe accident of tnis type would reaut arotn t!.e loss of coolant due to a pipe rupture accompanied by simuttausous ai.ure o; the safety injeccioa s/ stem.
Results o; suca an accideat i. ave been aa s:.yud by the app.icant based on assutaptions represeating a realistic upper ?.hnic of the quantities o.
lissioa products whic:.nig. t be released to et.e containment vesset... -....
..id based on conservative calcuistions as to the radiation dosages to wrdch persons in the viciutty of the site might be subjected.
Assuming that the containment vessel teatts at its design rate oJ.2 percent oJ the coataiaed vo.ume in twenty-;our hours, that atmospheric dispersion condicions are the worst that might prevail, i.e., a severe temperature inversica exists, and ti.a: exposed persons are unprotected and stand ou tne site bouaduty - approximately 1000 feet - at che cloud centeeltae Jor eiCht hours
- o', lowing tne assumed accideat, the radio-logical doses in roentgen or rem to taese individuals are ca.culated to bei Direct Radiatioa to traole Body:
7 tom Containment 6
roentgen From Leakage 0.G recatsen Lisetime dose due to inhsiation o.
nuclides a ::ecciag the ;oiloving organs:
Lone (SrCS -Sc90)
L.5 rem Thyroid (Iodine) 2500 rem Decause of t'ne assumptioas used by tne applica"* in-its acciden:
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oi such and kn earda < >
- nis, ic is tine.y n.at the r : '
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9t ar.n than taosi o
s ut v-that a accident o; the magnitude described by appiteant should occur, it might become necessary to evacuate a smat number el persons in the namediate vicinity o f the site.
Evacuation times are suediciently ;ong to permit an order. y evacuacion oJ the threatcaed area, and pians are being developed by Saxton to prepare..'or chts pos6ituity.
Considering all o ? the factors involved in cne anai> sis o2 this aypothetical accident, tac'..uding the conservatisu esp.oyed aad tne
-is.
uu.idelihood of such ca a:cident occurritig, the possib e dosages described above represent an acceptable degree of potential hazard in pub.ic areas.
On Septetaber 14. 1959, the Advisory Cocenittee on Reactor Sa ?e-guards reported to toe Cocunission on the Saxton project, in part, as
".ollous t "Decause of the davorabic meteoro'.ogy, topography, geol 08Y, hydrology and '.ou population density, it is the Cotanittee's opinion caere is reasonab4e assurance that a reactor o. this general type can be :enstructed and operated at tnis site without undue batard to the heaath and safetf o/ the puolic.
A preaiminary presentation of the paanned research program was made.
3 valuation of this program must be deterred pending core detailed studies of a41 phases o. design and operation.'
Uestinghouse has had an extended history in the nuclear energy and ciectric pover field, inc.uding the design, testing, and operation o.' nuclear reactors at Arco and Shippingport, and of subctarine reactors.
"estinghouse has also been responsible for the design, and associated research and deve opment of the Yankee reactor, and the Deigian thermai reactor whicti are essentiat y the same as the Saxton reactor.
In addition to the xoregoing constituting *ind hgs and conclusions, proposed le entire record in enis proc e:
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.o and be m m contentiot. ud s u u so u o ', at p,'e Nits -
- cap, a con n - +-
the Presiding 0.2icer 2urther Jiada as xollous 1.
Saxton Juclear Experimental Corporation, a duly organized non-profit corporation, existing under and pursuant to the laws or the Oournonwealth of Pennsytvania, is a quali.?ied applicant to receive a construction permic provided by the Ato.aic Euergy Act of 1954, es amended.
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i 2.
Tne nuciear.acility proposed to ve :oastructed by Saxton is a utilization 'aci.it/ witt.in the meat.iuS o. the Atomit Energy
/.c t invo..ved in tae conduct o3 researca and development activities tesding to a detaonstration o f the practica'. value of such.:atiitties for industrial or comercia.. purposes.
3.
Destinghouse.!.ectri: Corporation is technicaily qua.i.ied to design and construce t'..e reactor, t.nd according y, Santon has provided.or adequate cechnic.1'. qua.1:icacions to design and construct.oe proposed ;.acility.
4.
Su..Ticient in.ortnation has been presented to provide reasonable assurance that a auclear reactor o.. tree genera 4 type described in the application c.nd Preliminary Hazards Sernmary Report can we constructed and operased at cne proposed location vicaout endangerig, 6he t.eaatn cad sa?.et/ o c the puouc.
5.
Saxton is :xnancia.if quau.!ied to design and cot.struct tne proposee aci ity.
6.
Tnere is reasonab.e assuraace that tectinicai in.ormation tMn
& ter to:n, and required to con'.ece 3.ed.
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me t e ra m e o.:,. austructivi. pesw.e cc haton vi!,1..ct ce inimicai :o tr.e coiraon de :ense and secertt/ or co tae r:eaith and saiety of the pubste.
1M2RE?OR3, IT IS 0.U)MED, subsect to review by tae Cowaission upon its own motion, or upon eppeal, a.ter enceptions, i, any, are 1:.ed:
A.
Saxton Ae; ear 2xper11neaca[ Oorporation is aut: orited to con-struct ene auciear.'aciitty described la te app.1 cation
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and to accordance witn ti.e desiga set 2 orth in the Prelitainary Ma,, da Sa :eguards report lited wit.. the Connissionised tae Director o ; tae Dtvis.ou os Licensing and aegu.ation o; ens Atomic Oriergy Oonaission is directed to issue to Saxton a provisional construction permit in the..orm attached to tne llotice oJ liearing issued by the Oonnission.
D.
This authoritation is provistoasi to the catent that an authorization co cperate tne.:aci'ity vili not we issued by the Conrnission unicas a final hazards sununary report is filed by Saxton and until the Connission has found that the finat design provides reasonatile assurance tnat the nealth and safety o2 che public wi:1 not t,e endangered by operation or tne Jacility, C.
Exceptions, il any, and brie s in support chereot, taust be 2iled by 7ebruary 10,1950 briefs in opposition thereto shall be filed */ebruary 12, 19'30, and LJ cne Coranissioa makes no review on its oun motion, and no exceptions are Oiled, this or'.
unall, in accordan:e uith the C a
. Nies ol:
m e finat on 7ebrue -
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6 ' u.
.e,
.e Samuel 1. Jeasch Presiding 0.'.?icer Issued:
January 21, 1960 Germantown, liaryland.
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