ML20079R658
| ML20079R658 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Breazeale Nuclear Reactor |
| Issue date: | 06/23/1983 |
| From: | Cunningham R PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV., UNIVERSITY PARK, PA |
| To: | Thomas C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8306240157 | |
| Download: ML20079R658 (2) | |
Text
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,v d THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY 207 OLD MADi BUIIIING UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA 16802 Vice PruiJent for Aru CoJ. 814 Renarck and Gr.Ju.a. St.Ji" .865-6332 23 June 1983 Chief, Cecil Thomas Standardization and Special Projects Branch Division of Licensing Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555
Subject:
Request for Change in Technical Specifications Docket No.: 50-5 NRC License: R-2
Dear Sir:
My letter of October 18, 1982 requested an amendment to The Pennsylvania State University Breazeale Nuclear Reactor's (PSBR) technical specifications to permit using non-TRIGA fuel elements, containing 6.95% enriched UO2 fuel pellets, in subcritical arrays with the TRIGA core and control system. In addition, and most important was the elimination of the requirement for close packed arrays of the TRIGA fuel elements in the subcritical core.
The suberitical experiments are to be used as part of a Ph.D. research thesis to develop techniques to determine the fuel and poison distribution in a damaged reactor. The period for which the amendment was requested was five years.
We now wish to modify the letter of October 18, 1982 eliminating the use of the non-TRIGA fuel elements in this amendment. All other conditions of the letter remain unchanged. Therefore, paragraph 1, Section E, Reactor Core, of the PSBR technical specifications should read:
When the keff of the core is greater than 0.99 with all control rods at their upper limit, the core shall be an assembly of either 8.5 wt% stainless steel clad or a mixture of 8.5 wt% and 12 wt% stainless steel clad TRIGA fuel-moderator elements placed in water with a 1.7 inch centerline grid spacing. The fuel and fueled follower control rods shall be arranged in a close packed array except for (1) single positions, (2) positions greater than five inches from the center of the core where flux peaking and corresponding power densities produce fuel temperatures less than in the B-ring. When the k eff f the core is less than or equal to 0.99, the fuel may or may not be arranged in a close packed array.
The determining factor is that the array Oh 8306240157 830623 l I
4 e-C 1
b Chief, Cecil Thomas
. Standardization and Special Projects Branch . i
., Division of Licensing page 2 i
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must have keff 1 0.99, with al1 con *.rol rods at their upper. limit. ..The source and Jetector shall be arranged such that the k,ff of f.he suberitical assembly shall always be measured and monitored
- to assure compliance with k,gg 1 0.99.
The Penn State University Reactor Safeguards Committee has reviewed and approved the experiments as requested in this amendment.
1 Th'is research effort receives major. support from a Department ,
of Energy (DOE) contract (DE-FC02-83ER75088) which terminates October 14, 1983. It is essential that the subcritical experiments-be performed in July to allow timely completion of this effort.
] - Professor S. H. Levine-has discussed this change with Dr. R. E. Carter
, of your' office. If you have any.questionsfregarding this request, you may address your questions to this office or to Professor S..:H. Levine, telephone (814) 865-3110.
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Sincerely yours,-
f Ri hard G. Cunningham 2
Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies e
I- cc: E. H. Klevans
,. S. H. Levine l- 1. B. McMaster i R. E. Carter W. F.~Witzig i Reactor File I
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