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Category:CORRESPONDENCE-LETTERS
MONTHYEARML20211A1421999-08-19019 August 1999 Ack Receipt of Application for License Renewal for Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor Dtd 990708.Existing License Will Not Be Deemed to Have Expired Until Application Has Been Finally Determined by Commission ML20211C7761999-08-16016 August 1999 Informs of Arrangements Made with E Lau,For Administration of Operator Licensing Exam at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor.Written & Operating Exams Scheduled for Wk of 990906 ML20210Q0651999-08-10010 August 1999 Informs That Staff Has No Objection to Changes to Bases Section 3.10, Fuel Element & Core Component Handling & Storage. Revised TS Page 3-39 Encl ML20210G6801999-07-30030 July 1999 Withdraws 990527 Request for TS Amend 31,submitted for Purpose of Correcting Typographical Error in Basis of Mitr Re Storage & Handling of Fuel.Corrected Page of Basis Per 10CFR50.59 Encl ML20210H6711999-07-30030 July 1999 Forwards Insp Rept 50-020/99-201 on 990628-0701.No Violations Identified ML20210G6261999-07-29029 July 1999 Forwards App I,Inadvertently Omitted from 990624 Response to TAC M99844 ML20209B8551999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That MT Kenworthy,License SOP-70222,no Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor, Effective 990701 ML20209B8521999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That Rj Ortiz,License SOP-70223 No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 990701 ML20209B8481999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That Pj Lafond,License SOP-70217,graduated from Mit with Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering & Is No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 990701 ML20209B8461999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That Bm Baker,License SOP-70216,graduated from Mit with Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering & Is No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 990701.License Should Be Terminated ML20196K0191999-06-30030 June 1999 Responds to Question 13 Noted in NRC Re TS Amend 32.Amend to TS 6.4 Requested.Provision to Conduct Patient Irradiation with Inoperable Minor Scram from Medical Control Panels Deleted ML20212J3541999-06-24024 June 1999 Forwards Response to TAC M99844,except Answers to Questions 12 & 13.Separate Amends Will Be Submitted to Address These Questions ML20206N5091999-05-13013 May 1999 Forwards RAI Re & Suppl ,requesting Amend for Amended FOL R-37 for Mit Research Reactor. Response Requested within 30 Days of Date of Ltr ML20206H1431999-04-28028 April 1999 Submits Message Received from Individual Treated for Glioblastoma & Underwent Neutron Capture Therapy at Mit One Yr Ago.Life Expectancy After Diagnosis Is 9-11 Months with Conventional Therapy.Individual Still Alive After Yr ML20206F0391999-04-28028 April 1999 Informs That Mit Recently Received Message,Which Has Been Reproduced Below,From One of Individuals Who Underwent Neutron Capture Therapy at Mit Research Reactor About Yr Ago ML20205T2401999-04-22022 April 1999 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Has Been Notified by DOE That Federal Funding for Conversion to LEU Will Not Be Available During FY99,per 10CFR50.64.DOE Encl ML20204H6601999-02-11011 February 1999 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Will Be Making Two Shipments of Spent Fuel from Cambridge,Ma to Westinghouse ML20206S4541999-02-0101 February 1999 Forwards Insp Rept 50-020/98-203 on 981210.No Violations Noted ML20199H2201999-01-14014 January 1999 Forwards Response to NRC RAI Re 971003 Request for Amend to License R-37,for Operation of Fission Converter in Conjunction with Research on Neutron Capture Therapy.Revised SER & Revised Wording to Proposed TS 6.6 Also Encl ML20198G1951998-12-21021 December 1998 Submits Mit Comments on Proposed Changes to 10CFR50,52 & 72. Licensee Supports Stated Intent of Proposed Change & Appreciates If Addl Time for Comment Is Available ML20196H4301998-12-0303 December 1998 Informs That Ja Bernard Has Received Certification as Health Physicist from American Board of Health Physics. Certification Augments Licensee Ability to Deal with Radiological Issues ML20198C3101998-11-16016 November 1998 Forwards Desription of Sept 1998 Shiptment.Without Encl ML20154R0651998-10-20020 October 1998 Forwards RO & SRO License Certificates for Seven Listed Newly Licensed Individuals at Massachusetts Inst of Technology ML20154J5871998-10-0202 October 1998 Forwards Results of Operator Initial Exam Conducted at Mit 980908-10.W/o Encl ML20237E0381998-08-24024 August 1998 Submits Reminder That Amended Facility Operating License R-37 for Massachusetts Inst of Technology Scheduled to Expire on 990808 ML20237D1801998-08-21021 August 1998 Responds to NRC 980716 RAI Re Licensee 980606 Submittal of Rev of Emergency Plan,Per 10CFR50.54(q) ML20236S1561998-07-20020 July 1998 Refers to 971003 Request for Amend to FOL R-37 for Mit Research Reactor.Forwards RAI Re Amend Request ML20236S4221998-07-20020 July 1998 Forwards Copy of Recently Approved Regulation in Fr Which Permits Colleges & Universities to self-guarantee Decommissioning Costs If Certain Criteria Met.Requests Copy of Criteria to Be Used If School self-guarantees ML20236V1471998-07-14014 July 1998 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Will Be Making Two Shipments of Spent Fuel from Cambridge,Ma to Westinghouse- Savannah River Co in Aiken,South Carolina Using Route Described in Enclosure.W/O Encl ML20236K3961998-07-0606 July 1998 Informs That NRC Made Arrangements W/E Lau for Administration of Operator Licensing Exams at Mit Reactor. Written & Operating Exams Scheduled for Wk of 980907.Matl Requested Listed in Encl 1,in Order to Meet Schedule ML20236L3321998-07-0606 July 1998 Informs That Jr Eich,License SOIP-70184,is No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor, Effective 980701 ML20249C6481998-06-25025 June 1998 Expresses Appreciation to NRC for Actions Throughout Past Two Years Re Licensed Employee at Mit Research Reactor Indicted by Commonwealth of Massachusetts on Eight Felony Counts Plus Perjury.Trial Held & Individual Acquitted ML20249B4021998-06-18018 June 1998 Informs That DA Kelly Is No Longer Employed as SRO at Mit Research Reactor Effective 980601 ML20249C3071998-06-18018 June 1998 Informs That SB Palacios Is No Longer Employed as RO at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 980601 ML20247E1451998-05-0505 May 1998 Informs That Subpoena Has Been Served on Mit to Provide All Reactor Console Logs from 1993 Through Present Re Operator Being Tried on Criminal Charges by State of Ma ML20217G0541998-04-24024 April 1998 Notifies That Trial Date Has Been Set for 980427 & Expected to Last Several Weeks.Policy Toward Employee Will Continue to Be Outlined in ML20216D5711998-03-0909 March 1998 Submits Info Required by Subsection (c)(2)(ii) of 10CFR50.64 Re Proposal for Conversion to Low Enriched U.Doe Ltr from J Gutteridge,Dtd 980223,notified That Federal Funding for Conversion Not Available During FY98 ML20203L4381998-02-25025 February 1998 Forwards Description of First Shipment Number R-37-02-02-98 Per Request ML20217H6281998-02-19019 February 1998 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Will Be Shipping Sf from Cambridge,Ma to Westinghouse Savannah River Co in Aiken,Sc.Fuel Was Used in Mit Research Reactor & Had Original Enrichment of 93% ML20202H2461998-02-17017 February 1998 Forwards Results of Operator Initial Examination Conducted at Massachusetts Inst of Technology on 980130.W/o Encl ML20203B5891998-02-0505 February 1998 Responds to 971121 Request for Approval of Route to Be Used for Transport of Spent Fuel.Encl Route Meets Regulatory Requirements of 10CFR73.37.Approval for Route Also Encl ML20217C8851998-02-0202 February 1998 Requests Use of Transcom Sys in Tracking Upcoming Fuel Shipment ML20203F4501998-02-0202 February 1998 Notifies That in Notification of Shipment of Spent Fuel on 980130,incorrect Shipment Identification Number Was Given. Correct Shipment Number Would Be R37-02/02/98 ML20198N0731998-01-0909 January 1998 Forwards Insp Rept 50-020/97-202 on 971118-21.No Violations Noted ML20248J6421997-12-0404 December 1997 Informs That Ok Harling & L Clark Have Retired & No Longer Needs NRC Access Authorization.Correspondence Should Now Be Sent to Ja Bernard.Security Termination Statement for L Clark,Encl ML20202G6631997-12-0101 December 1997 Informs That Trial Date of 980115 for Employee Who Had Been Charged by Commonwealth of Ms,Will Be Delayed of at Least 2 Weeks or Several Months.Ltr Should Be Disregarded ML20199K3881997-11-25025 November 1997 Informs NRC That Trial Date for Licensed SROs Which Had Been Indicted by Commonwealth of Ms on Various Felony Charges, Has Been Tentatively Set for 980115 ML20198S1041997-11-21021 November 1997 Informs of Plans to Make 2 Shipments of Spent MITR-II Fuel in Early 1998.Shipments Will Be Made to Savannah River Site Using Route Approved in 1993 ML20199E6791997-11-13013 November 1997 Discusses Administration of Operator Licensing Exams at Mit Reactor Scheduled for Week of 980126.Reference Matl Listed in Encl 1 Requested at Least 60 Days Prior to Exam Date ML20199C1911997-11-13013 November 1997 Forwards Senior/Reactor Operator License Certificates for Bm Baker,Pj Lanfond,Ra Mascorro,J Mata,Vl Toren,Rj Cohen, Jr Eich & Ph Lee.W/O Encls 1999-08-19
[Table view] Category:INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE
MONTHYEARML20210G6801999-07-30030 July 1999 Withdraws 990527 Request for TS Amend 31,submitted for Purpose of Correcting Typographical Error in Basis of Mitr Re Storage & Handling of Fuel.Corrected Page of Basis Per 10CFR50.59 Encl ML20210G6261999-07-29029 July 1999 Forwards App I,Inadvertently Omitted from 990624 Response to TAC M99844 ML20209B8461999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That Bm Baker,License SOP-70216,graduated from Mit with Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering & Is No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 990701.License Should Be Terminated ML20209B8481999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That Pj Lafond,License SOP-70217,graduated from Mit with Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering & Is No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 990701 ML20209B8521999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That Rj Ortiz,License SOP-70223 No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 990701 ML20209B8551999-07-0101 July 1999 Informs That MT Kenworthy,License SOP-70222,no Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor, Effective 990701 ML20196K0191999-06-30030 June 1999 Responds to Question 13 Noted in NRC Re TS Amend 32.Amend to TS 6.4 Requested.Provision to Conduct Patient Irradiation with Inoperable Minor Scram from Medical Control Panels Deleted ML20212J3541999-06-24024 June 1999 Forwards Response to TAC M99844,except Answers to Questions 12 & 13.Separate Amends Will Be Submitted to Address These Questions ML20206H1431999-04-28028 April 1999 Submits Message Received from Individual Treated for Glioblastoma & Underwent Neutron Capture Therapy at Mit One Yr Ago.Life Expectancy After Diagnosis Is 9-11 Months with Conventional Therapy.Individual Still Alive After Yr ML20206F0391999-04-28028 April 1999 Informs That Mit Recently Received Message,Which Has Been Reproduced Below,From One of Individuals Who Underwent Neutron Capture Therapy at Mit Research Reactor About Yr Ago ML20205T2401999-04-22022 April 1999 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Has Been Notified by DOE That Federal Funding for Conversion to LEU Will Not Be Available During FY99,per 10CFR50.64.DOE Encl ML20204H6601999-02-11011 February 1999 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Will Be Making Two Shipments of Spent Fuel from Cambridge,Ma to Westinghouse ML20199H2201999-01-14014 January 1999 Forwards Response to NRC RAI Re 971003 Request for Amend to License R-37,for Operation of Fission Converter in Conjunction with Research on Neutron Capture Therapy.Revised SER & Revised Wording to Proposed TS 6.6 Also Encl ML20198G1951998-12-21021 December 1998 Submits Mit Comments on Proposed Changes to 10CFR50,52 & 72. Licensee Supports Stated Intent of Proposed Change & Appreciates If Addl Time for Comment Is Available ML20196H4301998-12-0303 December 1998 Informs That Ja Bernard Has Received Certification as Health Physicist from American Board of Health Physics. Certification Augments Licensee Ability to Deal with Radiological Issues ML20198C3101998-11-16016 November 1998 Forwards Desription of Sept 1998 Shiptment.Without Encl ML20237D1801998-08-21021 August 1998 Responds to NRC 980716 RAI Re Licensee 980606 Submittal of Rev of Emergency Plan,Per 10CFR50.54(q) ML20236V1471998-07-14014 July 1998 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Will Be Making Two Shipments of Spent Fuel from Cambridge,Ma to Westinghouse- Savannah River Co in Aiken,South Carolina Using Route Described in Enclosure.W/O Encl ML20236L3321998-07-0606 July 1998 Informs That Jr Eich,License SOIP-70184,is No Longer Employed as Reactor Operator at Mit Research Reactor, Effective 980701 ML20249C6481998-06-25025 June 1998 Expresses Appreciation to NRC for Actions Throughout Past Two Years Re Licensed Employee at Mit Research Reactor Indicted by Commonwealth of Massachusetts on Eight Felony Counts Plus Perjury.Trial Held & Individual Acquitted ML20249B4021998-06-18018 June 1998 Informs That DA Kelly Is No Longer Employed as SRO at Mit Research Reactor Effective 980601 ML20249C3071998-06-18018 June 1998 Informs That SB Palacios Is No Longer Employed as RO at Mit Research Reactor,Effective 980601 ML20247E1451998-05-0505 May 1998 Informs That Subpoena Has Been Served on Mit to Provide All Reactor Console Logs from 1993 Through Present Re Operator Being Tried on Criminal Charges by State of Ma ML20217G0541998-04-24024 April 1998 Notifies That Trial Date Has Been Set for 980427 & Expected to Last Several Weeks.Policy Toward Employee Will Continue to Be Outlined in ML20216D5711998-03-0909 March 1998 Submits Info Required by Subsection (c)(2)(ii) of 10CFR50.64 Re Proposal for Conversion to Low Enriched U.Doe Ltr from J Gutteridge,Dtd 980223,notified That Federal Funding for Conversion Not Available During FY98 ML20203L4381998-02-25025 February 1998 Forwards Description of First Shipment Number R-37-02-02-98 Per Request ML20217H6281998-02-19019 February 1998 Informs That Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab Will Be Shipping Sf from Cambridge,Ma to Westinghouse Savannah River Co in Aiken,Sc.Fuel Was Used in Mit Research Reactor & Had Original Enrichment of 93% ML20217C8851998-02-0202 February 1998 Requests Use of Transcom Sys in Tracking Upcoming Fuel Shipment ML20203F4501998-02-0202 February 1998 Notifies That in Notification of Shipment of Spent Fuel on 980130,incorrect Shipment Identification Number Was Given. Correct Shipment Number Would Be R37-02/02/98 ML20248J6421997-12-0404 December 1997 Informs That Ok Harling & L Clark Have Retired & No Longer Needs NRC Access Authorization.Correspondence Should Now Be Sent to Ja Bernard.Security Termination Statement for L Clark,Encl ML20202G6631997-12-0101 December 1997 Informs That Trial Date of 980115 for Employee Who Had Been Charged by Commonwealth of Ms,Will Be Delayed of at Least 2 Weeks or Several Months.Ltr Should Be Disregarded ML20199K3881997-11-25025 November 1997 Informs NRC That Trial Date for Licensed SROs Which Had Been Indicted by Commonwealth of Ms on Various Felony Charges, Has Been Tentatively Set for 980115 ML20198S1041997-11-21021 November 1997 Informs of Plans to Make 2 Shipments of Spent MITR-II Fuel in Early 1998.Shipments Will Be Made to Savannah River Site Using Route Approved in 1993 ML20198M2441997-10-23023 October 1997 Informs of Mit Opposition to Proposed Amend Which Would Require Licensees to Prepare,Proctor & Grade Written Exams for Individuals Applying for Operator Licenses.Rejection of Proposed Amend,Urged for Listed Reasons ML20217G9101997-07-31031 July 1997 Withdraws 970222 Request for Amend to License R-37,revising TS Governing Emergency Battery Surveillance Frequency ML20140E8451997-06-0606 June 1997 Forwards Revised Emergency Plan for Mit Research Reactor & Revised Principal Procedure for Implementation of Plan.Rev Undertaken to Update Plan to Reflect Current Mitr Operation in Such Areas as Staffing & Instrumentation ML20137M7381997-03-28028 March 1997 Submits Three Copies of Rev 40 to SAR for Mit Research Reactor (MITR-II) MITNE-115 for Inclusion in Physical Security Plan.Encl Withheld ML20136J4711997-03-17017 March 1997 Responds to 970314 RAI Re Amend to Mitr TS 6.5 ML20135F3561997-03-0707 March 1997 Submits Info Required by Subsection (c)(2)(ii) of Paragraph IAW 10CFR50.64, Limitations on Use of Highly Enriched U in Domestic Non-Power Reactors. Federal Funding for Conversion to Low Enriched U Will Not Be Available During Fy 1997,encl ML20138L1991997-02-18018 February 1997 Requests for Adjustment of License R-37 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor ML20134A5651997-01-22022 January 1997 Submits Comments on Preliminary Rept AEOD Case Study Re non-power Reactor Survey ML20135C0681996-10-28028 October 1996 Submits Comments on NUREG-1537, Guidelines for Preparing & Reviewing Applications for Licensing of Non-Power Reactors ML20128G8331996-10-0202 October 1996 Informs That Natl Organization of Test,Research & Training Reactors Conducted Review of Operations at Mit Research Reactor on 960819-20.Copy of Rept Encl ML19353D9101996-09-11011 September 1996 Responds to 960802 Ltr Which Requested That Info Showing That Performance of Licensed Duties Were Consistent W/Terms of License Including 10CFR55.25 & 10CFR55.53(g) ML20117N4271996-09-0606 September 1996 Submits Response to RAI Re Commonwealth of Ma Indictment of Licensed SRO on Various Felony Charges Unrelated to His Assignments &/Or Activities at Mit ML20117G6761996-08-28028 August 1996 Informs Ok Harling Will Retire as Director of Mit Nuclear Reactor Lab,Effective 960930 ML20115H0081996-07-15015 July 1996 Submits Response to NRC Request for Addl Info Re Emergency Plan of Facility ML20115H0131996-07-15015 July 1996 Submits Response to Insp Request Re Reactor Instrumentation of Mit Research Reactor Docket 50-20,License R-37.Update & Proposed Schedule for Certain Items to Be Replaced Included ML20115D2261996-07-10010 July 1996 Notifies That Td Shubert (SOP-70121,Docket 55-70088) No Longer Employed as SRO at Mit Research Reactor Effective 960701 ML20113D7771996-06-26026 June 1996 Submits Ma Inst of Technology Policy Re Licensed Employee Fitness for Duty 1999-07-30
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NUCLEAR REACTOR LABORATORY AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL CENTER OF
^
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY r
^>u; ' X O. K. HARLING 138 Albany Street. Camtridge, Mass. 0213S4296 J. A. BERNARD. JR.
Dr% tor Telefax No. (617) 253 7300 Drector of Reactor Operabons Telex No. 921473-Mir-CAM '
Tel No. (617) 253 4202 April 26,1995 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Attn: Document Control Desk
Subject:
Item of Information Concerning Use of a Fission Converter for the Generation of an Epithermal Neutron Beam Gentlemen:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in the process of designing a fission converter for the purpose of generating an epithermal neutron beam. Enclosec. is a brief description of the design and an enumeration ofits major safety, features. 'Ihis is provided
~
to you as an item of information. Detailed technical information will be provided upon completion of the design studies later this year.
Sincerely, AN CL John A. Bernard, Ph.D.
Director of Reactor Opera 'ons MIT Research Reactor JAB /CRM cc: USNRC - Senior Project Manager, NRR/ONDD USNRC - Region I- Project Scientist, Effluents Radiation Protection Section (ERPS)
FRSSB/DRSS j oo.- r\
- 8 9508100122 DR 950426 ADOCK 05000020 PDR -
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Epithermal Neutron Beam Using A Fission Converter Prepared by Professor Otto K. Harling, Project Director July 27,1995 Introduction Recently the pace of R&D in neutron capture therapy (NCT) for y cancer has been accelerating [Ref.1]. Clinical trials have been initiated at 1 the MIT Reactor (MITR-II) and at the Brookhaven Medical Reactor. An European collaborative effort is poised to begin trials-in the near future, and q Japanese researchers are continuing their clinical trials using several reactors j
[Refs. 2,3,4,5]. The advantages of using epithermal rather than thermal neutron beams for deep seated tumors have been clearly demonstrated !
1 [Refs. 6,7]. .
I An improved epithermal beam at the MITR-II would be very useful in i the current near term clinical trials and is essential for future Phase III l clinical trials and for routine application of NCT should this treatment become an accepted approach to cancer therapy. An improved epithermal neutron beam for NCT has been designed at the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory. This beam uses a fission converter as a source of neutrons. The i converter, can be composed of any suitable fissionable fuel. We have based most of our studies upon the use of standard MITR-II fuel elements, both !
fresh fuel and fuel which has been discharged from the MITR-II. In the !
following sections an overview of the preliminary design for this facility is l presented and safety features are outlined. This overview of the current design is provided to the NRC as an item ofinformation. It is hoped that by doing this the formal and detailed request for the necessary approvals, which ;
we expect to prepare in the future, will require a shorter review because the 1 request will have addressed all NRC concems. We would therefore appreciate any comments and/or guidance that NRC can provide on our preliminary design.
1 Overview of Design !
The fission converter based epithermal neutron treatment facility is shown schematically in Fig.1. This figure is taken from Ref. 8, which provides the neutronic design of the facility. A copy of Ref. 8 is attached.
The neutron source for the converter-based beam is created by the MITR-II i
. 2 7
fuel, which is located in a water-filled tank . The fueled tank is located near ,
l the core side of the reactor's thermal column, where the unperturbed thermal heutron flux is 1-2x EXP 12. Monte Carlo calculations show that a converter, using 12 MITR-II fuel elements will generate 90-210 kW at a i reactor power of 5 MW. The power depends on whether spent or fresh fuel l is used and whether the water cooling is achieved with light or heavy water. !
The converter operates with a k-effective which is much less than one. !
Typically this important parameter is in the range of 0.4-0.6 with D 2 0/H2 O coolant for the configurations ofinterest. The fission neutrons from the converter are moderated and filtered to a beam of the desired energy with a low background of undesired thermal and fast neutrons and of gamma rays. I After collimation the epithermal beam is incident upon the target, which I might typically be a human head / brain for the treatment of virulent brain
- tumors. We have carried out extensive neutronic calculations using the MCNP Monte Carlo program. These calculations show that our converter-based beam will have a high intensity of desired neutrons in the 1 eV-10 kev range and negligible components of fast neutrons and gammas in the treatment beam. l The converter fuel elements are located in a double-walled aluminum
, tank which will have a leak detector in the air space between the tank walls.
, Level and temperature measurements am also provided for the cooling water 1- in the tank. Figure 2 provides a schematic of the fuel tank and cooling i
system. The cooling circuit for the converter uses a separate heat exchanger
- to transfer heat to the secondary system of the reactor. A circulating pump is used to force the coolant, either light or heavy water, through the heat
- exchanger. The fuel in the fuel tank has its heat removed to the water by natural convection. This assures that a coolant pump failure will not cause d
rapid changes in fuel temperature since the entire heat capacity of the
, ~ 246 gallon fuel tank is available as a thermal buffer. The normal operating
- temperature of the fuel clad is 70 C, i.e. well below the onset of nucleate boiling on the surfaces of the fuel plates. The time dependence of the fuel I temperature in the event of cooling pump failure has been calculated and is shown in Fig. 3. A considerable time, 2100 minuter, is available after pump or cooling pipe failure before any actions are needed to prevent potential fuel I damage. Lowering the cadmium curtain in front of the converter reduces the converter power by two orders of magnitude, requires only ~10 sec, and is independent of the continued operation of the reactor Reactor shutdown
, provides the ultimate backup to reducing converter power if the cadmium shutter failed to operate.
i
3 The converter fuel is loaded and unloaded in a manner which is very similar to the way these functions are handled for the MITR-II. A fuel iransfer cask is positioned above the fuel tank and irradiated fuelis transferred through the water into or out of the shielded transfer cask. The fuel in the fuel tank is positioned in a grid. A linear array of up to 12 fuel elements can be loaded.
Patient safety is assured by observing carefully developed written procedures and hardware systems to help assure precise dose control. These procedures will be comparable to those which have been developed for use with the existing medical beam at MITR-II. The hardware systems used for patient dose control will include a fast-acting shutter placed directly in front of the patient position and a cadmium shutter directly in front of the converter fuel. The possibility of rapid reactor shutdown provides the ultimate backup for tuming off the treatment beam. Beam monitors and n:adout systems currently used at the MITR-II medical irradiation facility will be adapted for use at the fission converter based epithermal treatment beam and will help assure that the patients receive the prescribed dose.
Reactor and medical staff will be protected against unnecessary radiation exposure by the shield walls of the medicalirradiation room. Only the patient will be in this room when the beam is allowed into the room.
This is exactly the same approach which is used with the current medical beam and is similar to that which is used at conventional radiotherapy facilities.
Summary of Safety Features Water cooled fuel in a double walled tank Convection cooling of fuel Long time periods before temperature can reach boiling if the heat removal system for the fuel tank fails MITR-II fuel elements capable of much higher power densities will be
- used The k-effective will be much less than 1, typically less than 0.6 Fuel will be handled similarly to fuel at MITR-II The treatment beam is controlled by two shutters and is backed up by the reactor shutdown options Radiation dose will be monitored by a currently used and proven system Radiations will take place in a shielded room
- O, 4
References
- 1. D. E, Wazer, R. G. Zamenhof, O. K. Harling, and H. Madoc-Jones,
" Boron Neutron Capture Therapy," Chapter 7 in: Radiation Oncology Technology and Biology, P. M. Mauch & J. S. Loeffler, eds., W. B.
Saunders, Company, Philadelphia,1994, pp.167-192.
- 2. R. L. Moss, " On the Progress Towards Clinical Trials at Petten (Post-Sydney)" in: Advances in Neutron Capture Therapy, A. H. Soloway, R. F. Barth, and D. E. Carpenter, eds., Plenum Press, New York, 1993, pp. 739-743.
- 3. Y. Nakagawa, T. Kageji, H. Hatanaka, K. Mukai, K. Kitamura, F. Tsuji, K. Kanda, and T. Kobayashi, " Thermal Neutron Capture Therapy for Brain Steam and Skull Base Tumors: Heavy Water and Multiportal Neutron Delivery," in: Advances in Neutron Capture Therapy, A. H. Soloway, R. F. Barth, and D. E. Carpenter, eds.,
Plenum Press, New York,1993, pp. 671-675.
- 4. Y. Oda, M. Takagaki, Z. H. Zhang, H. Kikuchi, T. Kobayashi, and K. Kanda, " Clinical Experience with BNCF for Malignant Brain Tumors," in: Advances in Neutron Capture Therapy, A. H. Soloway, .
R. F. Barth, and D. E. Carpenter, eds., Plenum Press, New York, !
1993, pp. 689-693.
i
- 5. H. Hatanaka, J. H. Goodman, and M. E. Miner, " Current Standard Boron Neutron Capture Therapy with Shionogi's Mercaptoundecahydrododecarborate for Malignant Glioma," in:
Advances in Neutron Capture Therapy, A. H. Soloway, R. F. Barth, and D. E. Carpenter, eds., Plenum Press, New York,1993, pp. 695-698. ,
- 6. S. D. Clement, J. R. Choi, R. G. Zamenhof, J. C. Yanch, and O. K. l Harling, " Monte Carlo Methods of Neutron Beam Design for Neutron 1 Capture Therapy at the MIT Research Reactor (MrrR-H)," in:
Neutron Beam Design, Development, and Performance for Neutron Capture Therapy, O. K. Harling, J. A. Bemard, and R. G. Zamenhof, . l eds., Basic Life Sciences, Vol. 54, Plenum Press, New York,1990, ;
pp. 51-69. l
- 7. J. C. Yanch and O. K. Harling, "A Comparison of Epithermal Neutron Beams for NCT: Effect of Beam Collimation on Therapy
4
^
.5
, Parameters," in: Advances in Neutron Capture Therapy, A. H.
. Soloway, R. F. Barth, and D. E. Carpenter, eds., Plenum Press, New York,1993, pp. 67-70.
- 8. O. K. Harling and W. S. Kiger III, "High-Intensity Fission-Converter-Based Epithermal Neutron Beam for Neutron Capture Therapy,"
Proceedings of the 6th Intemational Symposium on Neutron Captum Therapy for Cancer (ISNCT), October-November 1994, Kobe, Japan, to be published in Cancer Neutron Capture Herapy.
I i
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