ML20137G308

Forwards Annual Operating Rept for Jul 1984 - June 1985

ML20137G308
Person / Time
Site:	University of Wisconsin
Issue date:	08/19/1985
From:	Cashwell R WISCONSIN, UNIV. OF, MADISON, WI
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM)
References
NUDOCS 8508270260
Download: ML20137G308 (1)

Text

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e.. .n University o f Wisconsin NUCLEAR REACTOR LABORATORY ADDRESS:

NUCLEAR ENGINEERING DEP ARTMENT 130 MEC H ANIC AL ENGINE ERING BUILDING PHONE 242 8 392. ARE A CODE 400 MADISON. WISC ONSIN 03708 August 19, 1985 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555

Dear Sir:

Enclosed herewith is a copy of the Annual Report for the fiscal year 1984-85 for the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor Laboratory as required by our Technical Specifications.

Very truly yours, Y

. J. Cashwell Reactor Director RJC:mid Enc. (Annual Report 1984-85)

XC: Administrator, Region 111

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h l 3 0 -16 THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN l

NUCLEAR REACTOR LABORATORY 1984-85 ANNUAL OPERATING REPORT

. july June PREPARED BY: R. J. CASHWELL DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR ENGINEERING U -

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~ .n 9.4 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN NUCLEAR REACTOR LABORATORY ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 1984-1985 A.

SUMMARY

OF OPERATIONS

1. INSTRUCTIONAL USE - UW-MADISON FORMAL CLASSES Three Nuclear Engineering Department classes make use of the reactor. Fifty-one students enrolled in NE 231 participated in a two-hour laboratory session introducing students to' reactor behavior characteristics. Twelve hours of reactor operating time were devoted to this session. NE 427 was offered in the fall and spring semesters and had an enrollment of 28. Several NE 427 experiments use materials that are activated in the reactor. One experiment entitled " Radiation Survey" requires that students make measurements of radiation levels in and around the reactor laboratory. The irradiations in support of NE 427 and the radiation survey take place during normal isotope production runs, so no reactor time is specifically devoted to NE 427. The enrollment in NE 428 was 25, as it was offered in both semesters.

Three experiments in NE 428 require exclusive use of the reactor.

Each of these experiments (" Critical Experiment", " Control Element Calibration", and " Pulsing") was repeated four times during the year requiring a total of seventy-eight hours of exclusive reactor use. Other NE.428 laboratory sessions use material that has been irradiated in the reactor (" Fast Neutron Flux Measurements by Threshold Foil Techniques" and " Resonance Absorption"). These two experiments were repeated eight times during the year. Individual one- to two-hour sessions in the reactor laboratory were also held f or other depar tmen ts on campus.

2. REACTOR SHARING PROGRAM User institutions participated in the program as detailed in the f ol l owing paragraphs:

! Beloit College (Wisconsin)--Professor Dobson and 14 undergraduate students came to the laboratory to participate in i

the " Reactor Operation Demonstration" laboratory session, which i

familiarizes the students with reactor behavior while subcritical, critical, supercritical, and prompt supercritical.

Carleton College (Minnesota)--Professor Henrickson and 12 undergraduate students used the NAA service to analyze l

rocks, pottery, and sediments for senior theses projects.

I i Carroll College (Wisconsin)--Professor Auchter and 6 of his advanced chemistry students came to the laboratory for a 4-hour NAA laboratory session.

l l Edgewood College (Wisconsin)--Professor Wilte and 5 students at tended a neu tron ac t ivat ion analysi s laboratory session.

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4 UWNR Annual Report 2 Lakeshore Technical Institute (Wisconsin)--Professor Reindi and 15 of his students in a Heal th Physics Technician Training Program visited the laboratory for a reactor operating characteristics demonstration and familiarization with instruments and to detect radioactive effluents.

University of Minnesota-Duluth--Professor Rapp and his research group continued their work using NAA of artifacts to determine provinance of metals and pottery.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire--Professor Gleiter and 12 of his undergraduate students visited the laboratory for formal experiments on Neutron Activiation Analysis and reactor startup.

University of Wisconsin-Parkside--Professor Firebaugh and 6 undergraduate students visited the laboratory for an experiment entitled " Control Element Calibrations".

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point--Professor Lokken and 9 undergraduate students visited the laboratory for a reactor operation demonstration experiment and tour.

3. UTILITY PERSONNEL TRAINING One group of four STA candidates from Northern States Power Company attended a one-week Research Reactor Training Program. This program gives operating practice while it reinforces previous training in reactor physics and operation and gives laboratory experience in heal th physics and instrumentation.

4. SAMPLE IRRADIATIONS AND NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS SERVICES There were 2,322 samples irradiated during the year.

There were 1,103 samples which received short (15 minutes or less) irradiations. Other samples accumulated 282.05 Irradiation space hours and 2568.11 sample hours. Most of'the samples were l irradiated and subsequently counted at the laboratory as part of our neutron activation analysis service. In the listing below, the notation (NAA) indicates that the samples were processed by our neutron activation analysis service.

Chemistry Department. (NAA) 70 samples, 68 less than 15 minutes, 7.58 irradiation space hours, 20 sample hours.

Professor Record, 1 post doctoral fellow, and 1 graduate student used the neutron activation analysis service in a study of sodium and rubidium interactions with DNA. Research is supported by NSF and NIH.

Chemistry Department. (NAA) 15 samples, 1 Irradiation space hour, 15 sample hours.

Professor Wright and 4 graduate students used the neutron activation analysis service to determine absorption coefficients of various Eu sites in PbF matrixes . Supported by NSF.

r- 4 UWNR Annual Raport 3 Enzyme Institute (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

(NAA) 7 samples, 7 less than 15 minutes, 0.58 irradiation space hours.

Professor Frey and 1 graduate student measured metals present in an enzyme to determine mechanism of action. Supported by Nat i onal Insti tute of General Medical Sciences.

Globe Battery Division of Johnson Controls. (NAA) 231 samples, 238 less than 15 minutes, 26.65 irradiation space hours, 45 sample hours.

Measurement of impurity levels of lead samples to be used in batteries. Industrial support.

Human Dncology Department . 12.91 hours0.00105 days <br />0.0253 hours <br />1.50463e-4 weeks <br />3.46255e-5 months <br /> of beam port use.

Professor Clif ton and his research group of 4 f acul ty and academic staff, 2 post doctoral fellows, 2 graduate students and 1 other staff member are preparing for a study of radiation induced carcinogenesis. Work done thus far has consisted of building the facilities on beam ports 1 and 2 and dosimetry and beam tailoring to establish the optimun fast neutron to gamma dose ratios.

Supported by DOE and USDHHS National Cancer Institute.

Mechan i cal Engineering Department. (NAA) 49 samples, 39 less than 15 minutes, 4.24 irradiation space hours, 10 sample hours.

Professor Ragland and 1 graduate student used the neutron activation analysis service to determine the halogen content of residues from combustion of refuse derived fuels. Support unknown.

Medical Physics Department. 6 samples, 6 less than 15 minutes, 0.5 irradiation space hours.

Professor Deluca and one undergraduate student activated standards for use in detector calibrations. Instructional funds.

Nuclear Medicine Department. 68 samples, 2 less than 15 minutes, 37.25 irradiation space hours, 64 sample hours.

Professor Gatley, 2 additional staff member, 3 graduate students and 1 undergraduate student. Production of fluorine-18 to produce compounds for positron emission tomography. Supported by NIH.

Nuclear Engineering Department NE 427 and NE 428 instructional use. 151 samples, 89 less than 15 minutes, 81.22 irradiation space hours, 170.71 sample hours.

Irradi at i on of f oi l s and NAA unknowns in support of laboratory instruction.

Reactor Laboratory and Utility Training. 25 samples, 13 less than 15 minutes, 13.06 irradiation space hours, 72 sample hours.

Tests of neutron activation analysis techniques and preparation of samples used in calibration of reactor instrumentation.

Radiation damage studies.-- 74.7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> of beam port irradiation.

Professor Wolfer and 2 graduate students have performed neutron

' irradiations of static RAM semiconductor chips to determine failure

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UWNR Annual Report 4 rates under radiation exposure. This work was done inside beam port #3. Departmental support.

Orthopedic Surgery Department. (NAA) 24 samples, 6.3 Irradiation space hours, 74.4 sample hours.

Professor Lindgren and 2 staff members. Determination of possible toxic effects of degraded artificial hip Joint materials on heart of heart transpl an t pat i en t . Supported by Department of Surgery.--

Physics Department. (NAA) 8 samples, 9.5 I

irradiation space hours, 4 sample hours.  !

Professor Knutson and 1 student. Determination ofAnalysis ytterbium of concentrations in samples of yttrium ethyl sulfate.

samples for the presence of other contaminants and analysis of synthesized crystals. Supported by the Department of Energy.

Radiology Department. 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> of beam port use.

Professor Wiley and 1 staff member have begun studies of use of epithermal neutron beams for boron capture therapy. Initial work has been on construction and evaluation of appropriate filter systems. Supported by Graduate School.

Reactor Sharing Program.

Carroll College. (NAA) 2 samples less than 15 minutes, .5 irradiation space hours. Professor Auchter and 6 students.

3 Activation for neutron activation analysis laboratory session.

Carleton College. (NAA) 101 samples, 14 irradiation space hours, 206 sample hours. Prof. E. Henrickson of the Geology Department, 1 additional staff member and 6 undergraduate students use the NAA service for senior theses on effects of geological processes as indicated by trace element patterns.

Edgewood College. (NAA) 1 sample, 1 less than 15 minutes, 0.08 irradiation space hours. Professor and 5 students. Samples irradiated for NAA laboratory exercise.

University of Minnesota-Duluth. (NAA) 478 samples, 4 Irradiation space hours, 992 sample hours. Prof. Rapp, 2 staff members, and 2 students continued work on determining common origin of copper and pottery artifacts.

Universi ty of Wi sconsi n-Eau Cl aire. (NAA) 46 samples, 46 less than 15 minutes, 3.4 sample hours. Professor Gleiter and 12 undergraduate students. Irradiations in support of neutron activation analysis session and NAA of l ake core samples f or unsponsored research.

All of these instructional and research uses were supported by the United States Department of Energy's Reactor Sharing Program.

Safety Department. (NAA) 6 samples, 2 irradiation space hours, 12 sample hours.

Measurement of halogen content of organic waste samples.

Supported by the University of Wisconsin.

Soils Department. 36 samples, 4.5 irradiation space hours, 79 sample hours.

Professor Helmke, 1 post doctoral fellow, 1 graduate student.

Development of rare earth tracer techniques to measure in-situ

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UWNR Annual Report 5 l

l biogenic sediment redistribution by deposit feeding benthic microinvertebrates. Supported by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Tracer studies of elemental behavior in environmental systems.

Supported by federal Hatch Act and EPA.

University of Maryland. (NAA) 141 samples, 9 irradiation space hours, 729 sample hours.

Professor Erdman of the Department of Animal Science and his graduate students used stable tracer techniques for measuring feedstuff utilization in cattle. Support unknown.

University of Minnesota. (NAA) 45 samples, 2.75 Irradiation space hours, 72 sample hours.

Professor Gorham of the Department of Ec ol ogy and Behavi oral Biology with 1 post doctoral and 1 graduate student is using the neutron activation analysis service to anal yze pl ants and pea t Research cores from bogs ranging from Minnesota to Newfoundland.

supported by the National Science Foundation.

Warzyn Engineering, Inc. (NAA) 466 samples, all less than 15 minutes, 39.74 irradiation space hours, 3 sample hours.

Determination of halogen content of groundwater using EPA standard method. Industrial support.

5. CHANGES IN PERSONNEL, FACILITY, AND PROCEDURES Changes reportable under 10 CFR 50.59 are indicated in Section E of this report.

Two studen t empl oyees, David Skulina and Tim Tautges, were licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the year and appointed as reactor operators.

Fast neu tron beam exper imen ts f or bi ol ogical irradiations were installed on beam ports 1 and 2 durin0 the year.

These facilities will be used in support of Professor Kelly Clifton (Human Oncology Department) and his research group who are investigating the effect of low dose high LET radiation under a DOE grant. Preliminary work has begun on development of an epithermal beam experiment for boron / epithermal neutron therapy evaluation.

There were no significant changes in facility procedures during the year.

6. RESULTS OF SURVEILLANCE TESTS Surveillance tests and inspections during the year reve al ed no saf e ty-rel ated def ec ts.

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B. OPERATING STATISTICS AND FUEL EXP0SURE Critical Operating Period Startups Hours MW Hours Pulses FY 84-85 142 647.11 535.59 39 Total Present Core 1201 4467.49 3457.07 260 Total TRIGA Cores 3256 11650.27 8596.85 1621 C. EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS AND INADVERTENT SCRAMS There was one shutdown initiated for emergency reasons during the year. On 10/18/84, while the reactor was being brought to critical during the final control element pull concluding a NE 428 laboratory session on loading to critical smoke was observed coming from the vicinity of the area radiation monitor chassis.

The reactor was. shut down by a manual scram, the AC power was removed from the chassic, and a fire extinguisher was used to suppress the suspected fire. Upon examination it was discovered that a large oil-filled capacitor in the Sola regulating transformer for the Victoreen area radiation monitor power supply had failed by leaking oil and the smoke resulted from the oil being evaporated from the transformer coil where it had dripped. There was no actual fire, and the instrument was still operating until the power was removed after the shutdown. The capacitor was replaced and the instrument was returned to service.

There were 7 inadvertent scrams distributed as indicated below:

4 Trainee Operator Error Scraras 7/23/84--Trip f ran p i ccaramme ters 1 and 2 due to trainee failing to uprange in a timely fashion while increasing power level.

12/11/84--Period scram when trainee withdrew transient rod drive excessively because he thought the rod was not latched, when in reality it was latched.

5/30/85--Period scram when trainee failed to observe period attained upon control element motion and excessive control element motion occurred.

6/3/85--Period scram when trainee failed to allow sufficient time after pulsing operation fur instrument recover before returning the mode switch to manual.

3 Spurious Scrams Attributed to Fuel Temperature Indicating Meter 19M1 7/3/84--Re l ay scram with no indication of initiating instrument while at steady full power and 98 deg. F pool temperature. There was no upscale deflection on any recorder chart, and the fuel temperature readings had been constant before and after the event.

3/12/85--Same as 7/3/84 event.

5/2/84-- Same as above two events, except i t was suspected that the thermocouple leads at the bridge top had been bumped coincident with the scram.

The modifications of the fuel temperature monitor indicated in section 5. of the previous annual report have reduced

-m j UWNR Annual Report 7 o .

the number of spurious fuel temperature scrams to 3 during the fiscal year compared to 9 in the previous year. The problem is still under investigation.

D. MAINTENANCE Normal preventive maintenance kept equipment in good operating condition. See Section A.5 for modifications and Section E for any changes reportable under 10 CFR 59.59.

E. CHANGES IN THE FACILITY OR PROCEDURES REPORTABLE UNDER 10 CFR 59.59 There were no changes in the facility or procedures reportable under le CFR 59.59.

F. RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

1. Solid Wasto No waste was transferred offsite during the year.

2. Liquid Waste There were two 11 gul d waste di scharges during the year. The concentrations at discharge were below MPC levels without considering dilution by the sewage discharge flow. Table 1 details-the discharges to the sewer system.

3. Particulate and Gaseous Activity Released to the Atmosphere' Table 2 presents information on stack discharges during the-year.

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c UWNR Annual Roport 8 TA8LE-1 s

LIQUID WASTE TO SANITARY- SEWER Annual-9 Nov. 84 7 May 85 Total Total Activi ty Discharged gicrocuries) 31.17 93.85 125.02

"/ , 1 .

Liquid; Quanti.ty Gallons f300 1150 2450

.g.

Co MPC - 4E-4 Microcuries- 0.07 --

0.07 Microcuries/ml 8.03E-10 --

Co MPC - 4E-3 Miccocurie5 --

1.85 1.85 Microcuries/ml --

2.06E-8 Co MPC - 1E-3 Microcurles 0.29 2.69 2.98 Microcuries/mi 3.22E-9 2.99E-8

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Zn MPC - 3E-3

- Microcuries 6.92 30.5 37.42 Microcuries/ml 7.69E-8 3.39E-7 Mn MPC - 4E-3 i

.- - Microcuries 1.05 5.26 6.31 Microcuries/mi , 1.17E-8 5.84E-8 Cr MPC - SE-2 Microcuries 22.84 12.5 35.34 Microcuries/ml 2.538E-7 1.36E-7 Fe MPC - 2E-2 Microcuries -- 40.3 40.3 Microcuri,es/mi -- 4.47E-7

. Fe MPC - 2E-3 Micrd7 pries -- 0.746 0.746 Microcuries/ml

-- 8.28E-9 All concen tr at ions di scharged were bel ow MPC wi thout accounting for

- dilution by sewage flow.

Average concentration at point of release to sewer = 1.35E-5 microcuries/ml.

Average dal1y sewage f1ow for dilution = 2.37E4 gal 1ons.

Average year 1y concentration = 3.82E-9 microcuries/ml.

5- # j UWNR Annuci Roport 9 TABLE 2 EFFLUENT FROM STACK

1. Particulate Activity There was no discharge of particulate activity in excess of background levels.

2. Gaseous Activity - All Argon 41 Activity Maximum Instantaneous Average Stack Discharged Concentration Concentration Month (Curies) (Microcuries/ mix 10-6)(Microcuries/ mix 10-6)

July '84 .22382 2.2 .1290 August .17177 1.8 .0873 September .22527 2.0 .1450 October .16867 1.8 .9939

. November .27551 2.0 .1490 December .19375 2.0 .1120 January '85 .22065 2.0 .1160 February .11758 1.6 .0813 March .13913 1.8 .0776 April .15241 1.8 .0880 May .16121 2.0 .0767 June .16104 2.4 .0971 TOTAL 2.21081 2.4 (maximum) .1047 The MPC used is 2.4x10-5 microcuries/ml.

This MPC is that calculated in the SAR to result in a concentration of 3x10-8 microcuries/ml in the area surrounding the laboratory.

The maximum instantaneous concentration released was 0.100 of MPC, while the average concentration released was 0.00436 of MPC.

The approximately 20% increase in Argon 41 activity discharged was due to installation and use of two beam port experiments during the year.

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UWNR Annual Report 10

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SUMMARY

OF RADIATION EXPOSURES (1 JULY 1984 - 30 JUNE 1985)

' No excessive exposure of personnel to radiation i

occurred during the year. The highest exposure for any employee was 320 mrem whole body, 320 mrem skin, and 120 mrem extremities which may be compared to the federally permissible doses of 5,000 mrem, 7,500 mrem, and 18,750 mrem respectively per year. The highest annual dose for any student was 50 mrem whole body and 140 mrem skin.

Routine' radiation and contamination surveys of the facility revealed no areas of high exposure rates or high contamination levels due to operation of the facility.

$ H. RESULTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS The environmental monitoring program at Wisconsin consists of thermoluminescent dosimeters (LIF TLD service from Eberline) located in areas surrounding the reactor laboratory.

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- The table below lists doses for persons continuously in the area for representative dosimeter readings.

Annual Dose Data--Environmental Monitors Location Average Dose Ratemmrem/ week Inside Wall of Reactor Laboratory 6.74 i 1.30 Inside Reactor Laboratory Stack 1.68 0.22 i

Highest Dose Outside Reactor Labor- 3.04 0.63 i atory (Reactor Lab roof entrance windows Monitor adjacent to stone I

surface)

Highest Dose i n Occupied Nonrestricted 1.55 1 0.21 i Area (third floor classroom facing away from Reactor Lab - Room 314)

Average Dose i n Occupied Nonrestricted 1.33 t 0.25 Area Average Dose i n All Unrestricted Areas 1.43 0.36 (29 Monitor Points) i i

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g UWNR Annual Raport 11 I. PUBLICATIONS 6ND PRESENTATIONS ON WORK BASED DN REACTOR USE Soils Department J. R. Kawas, PhD Thesis, " Significance of Fiber Level on Nu tr i t i ve Val ue of Al f al f a Hay-based Di e ts f or Ruminan ts",

University of Wisconsin (1983).

J. R. Kawas, R. D. Shaver, J. A. Woodford, N. A. Jorgensen, and D. A. Rohweder, " Forage Quality for Dairy Cattle", 44th Minn. Nutrition Conf. (1983).

Jose Danelon, M.S. Thesis, " Evaluation of Partial Substitution of Dietary Components with Dehydrated Alfalfa in Diets of Lactating Cows", University of Wisconsin (1983).

Nuclear Medicine James R. Halama, S. John Gatley, Timothy R. DeGrado, Dana R.

Bernstein, Chin K. Ng, and James E. Holden, " Validation of 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose as a glucose transport analogue in J. Physiolooy 247, pp H754-H759 (1984).

4 rat heart", Amer.

M. S. Rosenthal, Al Bosch, R. J. Nickles, S. J. Gatley,

" Synthesis and some characteristics of no carrier added F-18 f l uoro tr ime thyl si l ane" , Int. J. Apol. Radiat. Isot.. (in press)

L. G. Hutchins, Al Bosch, M. S. Rosenthal, R. J. Nickles, S.

J. Gatley, " Syn thesi s of F-18 2-deoxy-2-fl uoro-D-gl ucose f rom highly reactive F-18 tetraethylammonium fluoride prepared by hydrolysis of F-18 fluorotrimethylsilane", Int. J. Aool.

Radiat. Isot. (in press)

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