ML20114B322
| ML20114B322 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dow Chemical Company |
| Issue date: | 01/14/1985 |
| From: | Kocher C DOW CHEMICAL CO. |
| To: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8501290072 | |
| Download: ML20114B322 (1) | |
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DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A.
MICHIGAN DIVISION MICHIGAN DIVISION January 14, 1985 MlOLAND, MICHIGAN 48640 PdIORITY ROUTING Y<$&c
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PA0 Region III FILE M 799 Roosevelt Rosd Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 MALFUNCTION OF THE WIDE-RANGE LOG CHANNEL DURING OPERATION OF THE DOW TRIGA RESEARCH REACTOR On Monday, January 7, 1985, at about 3:30 P.M.,
Senior Reactor Operator T. J. Quinn was taking the TRIGA to a power level of 95 KW.
As this was the first operation of the day, Mr. Quinn first took the reactor to a steady-state power level of 5 watts for a measurement of the core excess, which he found to be correct for the current configuration of the TRIGA.
Mr. Quinn then initiated the rise of power to the desired level by pulling the shim rod while watching the period meter and the log power and linear power recorder traces. Within a few seconds he observed the period meter indicate that the period was decreasing, while at the same time the log power trace was levelling off and the linear power trace continued to rise. At this point, Mr. Quinn initiated a manual scram and secured the reactor.
He discussed this event with Ward Rigot, the Assistant Reactor Supervisor. They concluded that the wide-range log channel had malfunc-tioned, possibly in the Campbell circuitry.
Mr. Rigot reported this to me.
I reviewed the experience and the recorder tracings with Mr. Quinn and determined that a malfunction had occurred.
I notified D. L. Berry, Research Manager and chairman of the Reactor Operations Committee, and telephoned Mr. Kenneth Ridgeway at Region III, U.S.N.R.C., shortly after 4:30 P.M. that day.
Repairs and testing are in progress.
Cu K G C. W. Kocher Reactor Supervisor Analytical Laboratories 1602 Building cc:
D. L. Berry, Chairman L. W. Rampy, Chairman Reactor Operations Committee Radiation Safety Committee The Dow Chemical Co.
The Dow Chemical Co.
1602 Building 1803 Building Midland, MI 48674 Midland, MI 48674
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