ML20136B746

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Forwards WE Wallace Re Formation of Zirconium Hydride in Reactor Core as Core Cools.Hydrogen Produced by Accident Still Present & Represents Grave Explosion Hazard
ML20136B746
Person / Time
Site: Crane 
Issue date: 05/24/1979
From: Clint Jones
PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF
To: Vollmer R
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML19261E774 List:
References
NUDOCS 7909110564
Download: ML20136B746 (3)
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.j 24, i i79

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'? ichied Vollmar, Asst. Director, Systers and Projects, NAC

'o' Rebart Ar,.ald,.".atropoli tan Edison Company, Ec3 ding, Pa.

Thcm s Sarusky, Diryctor, Eureau of Radia tion Protaction, DEP.

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Clif ford L..lones, Secretary i i

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D*partment of Envi ronmentai R u cCrce -

I am enclosing a letter from Dr. W. E. Wallace who is a Distinguished Service Professor at the Universi.y of Pittsburgh with a speciality in chemistry.

Dr. Wallace and one of his associates, Dr. Earl Gulbransen, fcel that there may be problems with zirconium hydride at the reactor as it is ccoled.

Dr. Gulbransen has of fered his tin e without cost as a consultant on this problem.

These people are reliable individuals who are concarned and have knowledge and experience to offer.

I would appreciate it if you would be in touch with Dr. Earl Gulbransen, his telephone nu:nbers are on the attached letter and see if he can be of help. Thank you.

Att:

cc: Gover-or Dick Thornburgh Lt. C:vernor Will O.m Scranton,111 William Middendcrf

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I f y:u ne o,i e, I can be rea,iied in Japar, as fo!!cws:

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Makonc Prince 'Otel, Makone; "ay 2 - 27, ficl i d ay !nn, T;;to, Janan; "ay 23, 29 in Tokyo with Jim Cent 6 -- Telephene:

03-337-4753; "ay 30, 31, June 1, Pa ua i Su r f.4 t al, Ra ua l : June 2 with,y son, 'iallac e in Se it tI e -- Telephone contac::

206-631-5336 I will be back at my office (412-C'-5004) on June 4 Ee sure that cemeone alive t o t he chemis try o.f. t he. s.rnblem is involved

- o in the clean-up effort.

I knew you will take e,teps which are appropriate in follcuini; up on this letter.

Sin.erely jours,

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b'. E. 'ta llace D'stinguished Service Professor

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'EN;.UQUM FOR
P;ul S. Ch:-:k, Ch:e f, Resctor Eifety Eranch, COP.

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Carl H. Seriinger, Section Lader, Reactor Saf a:y 3 ranch, CCR g

FRCM:

'ris I. he::cuski, Reactor Safety 3 ranch, CCR SU3 JECT-FOR".UIC.N OF ZIRCONIUM HYORIDES IN THE THREE MILE ISL.UC-2 I'4C I DE NT

ntredt: tion The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources, C:rcer. wealth of 72nnsylvania transmitted to us a letter frcm Professor W. E. '.lallaca of the University of Pittsburgh in which he draws attention to the fact that during the THI-2 accident large amount of generated hydrogen may have caused for-mation of zirconium hydrides which, if not handled properly, can under certain circumstances cause a violent reaction.

Prof. '.,*allace gat:d the work of Professar E. 3dlbransen, also from the University of Pitti.rgh, who for the last 25 years was studying the kinetics of formation and dec:mpasition of

ircanium hydrides.

The purpose of this memo is'to eval te, in light of the presently available information, tho concerns brought by Prof. Wallace.

Available information The information used in evaluating the probie a of zirconium hydrides came from the folicwing sources:

(1) Telephcne conversation with Prof. Gulbransen (06/Cd/79). -

(2)

Conv.er:ations with several members of the NRC Sta f f (F. D. Cof fman, M. L. Pickles tir.er, D. A. Fewers).

(3)' "The !'etallurgy o f Zi rconium," by 3. Lustman and F. Kerze, Jr., Mc Graw-Hill Book Cc,; any, Inc.,1955.

(4)

"The Metallurgy of Zirconium," by D. L. Douglass, IAEA, Vienna,1971.

(5)

"The Encyclopedia of the Chemical Elements," by C. A. Hampel, Reinhold Sook Corporation,1958.

(6)

" Dangerous Froperties of Industrial Materials," by N. I. Sax, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company,1975.

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