ML20141H329

Requests That Small Number 4 Replacement HEU Fuel Elements Be Provided So Research Can Go Forward W/O Delay.Ltr Requesting Fuel,Encl

ML20141H329
Person / Time
Site:	University of Lowell
Issue date:	06/16/1997
From:	Bettenhausen L MASSACHUSETTS, UNIV. OF, LOWELL, MA (FORMERLY LOWELL
To:	Michaels T NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
References
NUDOCS 9707220350
Download: ML20141H329 (4)

Text

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$ UNIVERSITY OF M ASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

! ONE UNIVERSITY AVENUE

. LOWELL, MA 01854-2881 a

-June 16,1997 1

?

s Theodore S. Michaels, Senior Project Manager i PDND/DRPM/NRR Mail Stop llB20

. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4- Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 e Docket No. 50-223 -

License NoJR-125

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Dear Mr. Michaels,

I This letter is submitted pursuant to 10 CFR 50.64 regarding fuel

{ acquisition for.the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR). The enclosed letter from Aspen Systems, Inc. states a need to

. operate the reactor at full power for extended periods to support critical

! Department of Defense sponsored research. The original highly enriched i uranium (HEU) fuel supplied in 1971 no longer provides sufficient excess j reactivity for the experiments, the transient poisioning from xenon, and j the higher temperatures during the summer months. Since there is not'

[ any low enriched uranium available for UMLRR at this time, I have i i requested that a small number (4) replacement HEU fuel elements be i i ' provided so that the research can go forward without delay. The letter  ;

4 requesting this fuelis attached, j

_ If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact me at (508)9 34-33.65.

I i

i

). -b' W

ce H. Bett(nhausen Reactor Supervisor I

Enclosures:

As stated

i. Og O i cc w/ enclosures: See n< It page

9707220350 970610 PDR ADOCK 050002da P PDR C20072 lElElElE, ele!ll$

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission'

- Docket No. 50-223 cc:

Desk Copy U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - l Mall Stop llB20 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Mayor of Lowell City Hall Lowell, Massachusetts 08152 Office of Attorney General Environmental Protection Division 19th Floor One Ashburton Place Boston, M A 02108 1

REACTOR SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS University of Massachusetts Lowell:

John White Warren Church Mary Montesalvo George Chabot Gunter Kegel  ;

Lee Bettenhausen Kanti Prasad David R. Medich 4

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, ASPEN SYSTEMS,INC. 184 c.de HW Sweet, Mwbwmeh MA 01752

• Tel:(508) 4815058 e Fax:(508) 480-0328 May 14,1997

Dr. Lee Bettenhausen a

Reactor Supervisor University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory 1 University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854

Reference:

Reactor Usage for Extended Periods of Operation Dear Dr. Bettenhausen

. i

This letter is in response to our recent conversation on extended operation of the UML Research Reactor. Aspen Systems is currently under contract from the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake CA to perform two Phase i SBIR's. This work is in the i

critical path of the development of several DoD weapons systems. As you are aware to date our programs have been unequivocal successes. In addition, we have been invited by the Navy to submit Phase ll proposals for follow on work.

In order to effectively utilize your facility we will require a significant number of reactor runs for times in excess to 35 hours4.050926e-4 days <br />0.00972 hours <br />5.787037e-5 weeks <br />1.33175e-5 months <br />. These runs will start in June of 1997 and continue through the summer months. After this time we will still require reactor runs on a regularly scheduled basis to accommodate commercial application of our research.

If necessary our Navy Program Manager, Dr. Daniel Harris can be contacted by phone

~

at 619-939-1649.

If necessary I can be reached at Aspen Systems at 508-481-5058 ext.150.

Sincerely, Thomas gan i Program Manager l

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' UNIVERSITY OF M ASSACHUSETTS LOWELL I RADI ATION LABORATORY ONE UNIVERSITY AVENUE

.LOWELL, MA 01854 )

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Anthony Vinnola University Reactor Fuel Assistance Program Manager b

Lockheed Martin Idaho j P.O. Box 16 25 I Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2090 l 1

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Dear Mr. Vinnola,

i i

We have discussed the continued operation of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR) with the highly enriched l

uranium (HEU) fuel originally supplied in 1971 on several occasions.  !

Replacement low enriched uranium fuel elements have not yet been fabricated to replace the original fuel which has been in use for 23 years.

i As you can see from the enclosed letter, UMLRR is supporting urgent

Department of Defense work. There is not sufficient excess reactivity left in l the original fuel to operate in reliable support of this work during the l coming summer. I am therefore requesting a small number of I replacement HEU fuel elements to support this research work and I continued UMLRR operation until LEU fuel suitable for UMLRR is delivered.

In our discussions, you have stated that four HEU fuel elements I fabricated for the Rhode Island Reactor, a sister facility, may be available.

These four elements would provide the reactivity needed for operation in

' support of the research.

i I therefore request that those four elements be provided to UMLRR on or about July 1,1997 as replacement fuel for original 1971 fuel elements.

The licensed possession limit for UMLRR is 4.80 kg, U-235: the quantity on hand is 3.9 kg U-235; thus the existing license can accomodate the four elements of about 0.6kg.

If you wish to discuss this issue, please contact me at (508)934-3365.

m /M Lee H. BeEnhausen Reactor Supervisor

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