ML20114C061
| ML20114C061 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Lowell |
| Issue date: | 06/30/1992 |
| From: | Kegel G MASSACHUSETTS, UNIV. OF, LOWELL, MA (FORMERLY LOWELL |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9209010133 | |
| Download: ML20114C061 (12) | |
Text
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tini,versi,ttJ of hssacfittsetts Loweff Radiation Laboratory !
1 Lintversittj Avenue l LowcE, Massachttsetts, 018S4 S08 934-3821 1
August - 25, 1992 Director Nuclear Reactor Regulations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Gentlemen:
Enclosed please find a_ copy of the Annual Report covering the operations _ of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor for the period from July 1,1991 to June 30, 1992.
Sincerely yours,
(,,jtuL L LL'bl%
(Gunter Kegel, Director. Radiation Laboratory l
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OPERATINO REPORT FOR THE UNIVERSTFY OF MASS. LOWELL REACFOR FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1,1991 TO JUNE 30,1992 Docket No. 50-223 License No. R-125 OP92-1
COVENTS A. Introduction B. -Function -
.C Operating Experience-
- 1. Expenments and Facility Use
- 2. Changes in Facility Design
,3. Performance Characteristics
- 4. Changes in Operating Procedures Related to Reactor Safety
- 5. Results of- Surveillance Tests and Inspections
- 6. Staff Changes
- 7. Operations Summary D. - -Energy Generated Inadvertent ~ and -Emergency Shutdowns
-E F. Major Maintenance G Facility Changes Related-to 10 CFR 50.59 H. Environ m~ ental Surveys I. _ Radiation ~ Exposures and_-_ Facility Surveys 1.- JPersonnel Exposures
- 2. Radiation Surveys
=3. Contamination -Surveys
-J. Nature: and Amount of Radioactive- Effluents
- 1. - Liquid ' Wastes-2.- Gaseous Wastes
- 3. . Solid Wastes -
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s s A. INTRODUCTION in the late 1950's the decision was made to build a Nuclear Center at what was then Lowell Technological -Institute, its stated aim was to train and educate nuclear scientists, engineers and technicians, to serve as a-multi-disciplinary research center for LTI and all New England academic institutes, to serve _the Massachusetts business community, and to lead the way in the economic revitalization of the Merrimack Valley. The decision was taken- to supply a nuclear reactor and a Van-de-Graaff accelerator as the initial basic equipment.
Construction cf the Center was started in the summer of 1966.
Classrooms, offices, and the Van-de-Graaff accelerator were in use by
-1970. Reactor license R-125 was issued by the Atomic Energy Commission on December 24, 1974, and initial criticality was achieved on January 1975.
The name of the Nuclear Center was officially changed to the "Pinanski Building" _ in the spring of- 1980. The purpose was to reflect the change in emphasis of work at the center from strictly nuclear studies. At that ~ time, the University of Lowell Reactor became part of a newly established - Radiation Laboratory. The Laboratory occupies the first floor of _ the Pinanski Building and performs or coordinates research and educational studies in the fields of radiological sciences and nuclear engineering. The remaining two floors of the Pinanski Building am presently occupied by various other University departments.
On February 14, 1985, the University of Lowell submitted an y application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for renewal of the facility operating license R-125 for a period of 30 years. On November 21,
- 1985, the license renewal was granted as Amendment No.9 of License R-
- l. 125 in. accordance 'with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. No amendment i:- applications have been submitted since that time.
On September 30, 1991 the name of the University was officially b changed to The University of Massachusetts Lowell.
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B FUNCTION i
The Radiation Laboratory is a major research focal point of the University. More than 200 graduate students have used or are using the Laboratory's services; the comparable number for the faculty is in excess of 25. The University departments utilizing the facility include Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physica, Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Radiological Science and Nuclear Engineering. Much research is correlated
- with safety and efficiency sn the nuclear and radiation industries, including public utilities, pharmaceuticals, medical applications, health effects, etc.;
however, much _ research is also done by- workers in other fields who use the unique facilities as analytical tools.
In addition, the Laboratory's facilities are used in the course work of various departments of the University. It also provides these services to other universities in the New England area, government agencies and, to a limited extent, industrial organizations in Massachusetts and the New England area C. OPERATING EXPERIENCE
- 1. Experiments and Facility Use
. The major-uses of the reactor during this fiscal year were activation analysis,- dosimetry studies, calibrations, . isotope production, neutron damage studies, teaching and personnel training.
Activation techniques were 'used -to study geologic composition of ~
rock samples. The evaluation of the. neutron to the gamma ratio for in-core experiments is continuing.
F Dosimetry studies and calibrations utilized N-16 production for high energy gamma fields.
Isotopes were produced for calibration standards and lab practicums.
Reactor time used for teaching purposes included a reactor operations ~ course emphasizing control- rod eCbrations, critical approaches, l period measurement, prompt drops and calorimetric measurement of 7
power.
. OP92-4 4
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Radiological science students utilized the facility by performing standard surveys. Senior students participated in a laboratory that required locating and identifying an unknown isotope of low activity. The isotope was provided for the students in an isolated area in containment during non-operating hours. During the practicum, the students were supervised by faculty and . staff.
Several activation and decay experiments were performed for both university and non-university students alike. For the fifth consecutive year, an activation and decay experiment was provided for local high schoni physics classes which observed the experiment in their classrooms-via live cable T.V. hook-up.
The major outside use for the reactor facility is neutron and gamma damage studies of electronic components.
- 2. Changes in Facility Design None.
- 3. Performance Characteristics Overall, the performance of the reactor and associate systems has been normal over the past year.
4, Changes in Operating Procedures Related to Reactor Safety Reactor Operating Procedure-RO 4 " Addition and removal of core samples" has been revised to minimize the possibility- of operator error
- while performing this procedure.
Emergency Operating Procedure EO-1 has been revised to clarify _ the duties of the operating staff during a radiation emergency condition.
The above changes were reviewed and approved by the Reactor Safety Sub-Committee.
'5. Results of Surveillance Test and Inspections All Technical Specification Surveillances required during the fiscal
-year were performed in a timely manner. The results of each requirement have- been reviewed by the Reactor Supervisor and Chief Reactor Operator.
All surveillance test results were found to be within specified limits and surveillance inspections revealed no abnormali;ies which would jeopardize OP92-5
4 the safe operation of the reactor. Each required calibration was also performed. '
- 6. - Staff On March 31,1992 the Chief Reactor Operator resigned. On May 21, 1992, after successfully completing the NRC's SRO exam, Dennis Martineau was _ appointed Chief Reactor Operator. As of June 30, 1992 the operations staff consists of five Trainees, and three Senior Operators including the Reactor Supervisor.
- 7. .Qperations Summary During the course of the fiscal year 1991-1992 the reactor was critical a total of 222.15 hours1.736111e-4 days <br />0.00417 hours <br />2.480159e-5 weeks <br />5.7075e-6 months <br />. The utilization is broken down as follows:
Operating Hours Critical hours 222.15 Ilours at full power 103.52 Megawatt hours 101.15 Experimental Utilization Sample -hours 154.40 i
Number of irradiations- 402 Number of training hours 76.53 D. ENERGY GENERATED
-Total -energy generated (MWD) 4.2146 Number of hours -reactor was critical 222.15 Total cumulative energy output (MWD) 155.015 l-l l
OP92-6
.4 E. INADVERTENT AND EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS There was one(l) inadvertent scram due to a blown fuse in the Nuclear- Instrumentation Cabinet.
There were two (2) manual scrams due to a stuck _ pneumatic tube sample holder.
F. MAJOR MAINTENANCE No major ' maintenance was performed during this fiscal year.
G. CHANGES TO THE FACILITY UNDER 10 CFR 50.59 There have been no facility changes to date which pose an unreviewed safety question. All other changes made throughout the year are listed under changes in - Operating Procedures (C.4).
H. ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS Surveys of. the environs external to the reactor building have continued to show no increase in levels or concentrations of radioactivity as _a result -of reactor operations. Air particulate: samples collected at a continuously monitored site on the roof of an adjacent building have shown no reactor produced radioactivity. Film badges collected monthly at the same location have failed to show any elevated radiation leveIs above background.
Analysis' of water samples collected from the Merrimack River upstream and- downstream of the reactor location have continued to yield no- radioactivity associated with reactor operations.
I. RADIATION EXPOSURES AND FACILITY SURVEYS
- 1. Personnel Exposures Personnel exposures are maintained at the lowest reasonable level.
Doses . received by individuals concerned either directly or indirectly with OP92-7
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- operation of the reactor were within allowed limits. Measurable whole body penetrating and ring finger shallow dosc are given below.
Personal Exn.w'/.--'.
Dose Summary 1991 1991 1992 1992 Total 3rd 4th 1st 2nd Wallace Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring _0 0' 0 0 0 Martineau- Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring 20 0 0 40 60
- Montesalvo Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Rin g' O O O O O Mckee Whole Body 0 0 0 60 60 Ring -
50 20 70 140 Gebrgeorgis Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring - -
0 0 0 Leipprandt Whole Body - - 0 0 0 Ring - - - - -
Regan Whole Body - - -
0 0 Ring - - -
0 0 Pace Whole Body. - - -
0 0 Ring- - - - - -
Church Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring - - - - -
McCarthy Whole Body 0 0 0 20 20 Ring 60 20 80 0 160
, Coakley Whole Body- 0 0 0 0 0 Ring 40 0 30- 0 70 Mayer Whole Body 0 0 0 10# 10 Ring - -
310* 60 370 DeInnocentis Whole Body - - -
10 10 Ring - - - - -
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4 5
V!aters Whole Body - - -
30 30 Ring - - - - -
Shea Whole - Body - -
0 0 0 Ring - - - - -
Morro Whole Body 0 - - -
_0 ;
Ring - - - - -
LeYang Whole Body. 0 - - -
0 Ring - - - - -
Milu Whole Body 0 - - -
0 Ring - - - - -
Ilobbs Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring 40 0 0 0 40 _
- Catino Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring - - - - -
Chabot Whole Body 0 0 0 0 0 Ring - - - - -
Total Whole Body 100 mrem or 0.10 manrem
- Not Reactor Related
- Shallow Dose
- 2. Radiation Surveys Radiation levels measured in the reactor building have been typically
- less than 0.l_ mrem /hr in general areas. Experiments have been conducted
, in which transient levels at specific ;ocations have been in excess of 100 mremihr. -Doses in- these instances have been controlled by use of shielding and/or personnel access control. The pump room remains designated as a- high radiation area during reactor operation. Dose
- equivalent levels -in the order of 10 mrem /hr are present adjacent to the beam ports during maximum power operation.
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- 3. Contamination Surveys General area contamination has not been a problem in the- reactor
- building. _ Contamination can occur- at specific locations where samples are handled and particular experiments have been in progress. Monthly Surveys have_ failed to detect significant contamination levels at these locations.
J. NATURE AND AMOUNT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES
- 1. Liquid Wastes n Following is a summary of radioactivity releases to the sanitary sewer during the reporting interval:
Date Undiltted Gross Beta Total pCi 1991 Ci/ml -
7/15/91 1.054x10-7 0.30 8/28/91~ 5.189x10 8 ~1.473
-11/01/9_1 2.610x10-7 0.74 12/23/91 1.434x10 6 40.7_i
.1992 -
2/28/92 6.195 x 10 17.59 e4/7/92 1.899x10 7 1.5 5/20/92 2.588x10 7 7.35
'6/15/92 8.874x10-7 23.43 OP92-10
.9 % .N '
- 2. Gaseous' Wastes
' Argon-41 continues to be the only reactor produced radioactivity identifiable in the gaseous effluent. Following are the monthly stack release data for Ar41 for- the reporting period:
Date Amount Released Duration of Release (Ci) (hrs)
July 1991 0.15 7.7 August 1991 0.016 0.7 September 1991 0.064 3.0 October 1991 0.211 13.3 November 1991 0.336 13.0 December 1991 0.000 0.0 January 1992- 0.158 8.4 February 1992 0.221 12.4 March 1992 0.159 8.0 April 1992 0.090 6.2 May 1992 0.192 10.0 June 1992 0.355 20.0 Total 1.961 103.5
- 3. Solid Wastes Solid wastes, primarily paper, disposable clothing along with other miscellaneous items have been packaged in appropriate containers. Most of the activity from these wastes consisted of short lived induced
- radioactivity. These wastes- were held for decay and then released if no activity remained.
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