ML20199H587
| ML20199H587 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Framatome ANP Richland |
| Issue date: | 11/14/1997 |
| From: | Edgar J SIEMENS POWER CORP. (FORMERLY SIEMENS NUCLEAR POWER |
| To: | Weber M NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| JBE:97:164, TAC-L30997, NUDOCS 9711260163 | |
| Download: ML20199H587 (2) | |
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4 JBE:97:164 ~
N U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
. Attn: Mr.- M.F. Weber, Chief.
Lice'nsing Branch' Division'of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS
-Washington, DC 20555
Dear Mr,
Weber:
Subject:
.UF. Recertification Facility Amendment Request (TAC No. L30997)
Ref:
Letter, M. F. Weber to L. J. Maas, " Adequacy of Siemens Power Corporation Licensing Submittals," dated November 4,1997 -
In the referenced letter,~ you requested a supplement to Siemens Power Corporation's (SPC's) amendment request for the addition of a UF. Cylinder Recertification Facility (CRF). In our telephone conversation on November 3,1997 with Melanie Galloway and Kim Hardin of your -
staff, it was evident that the NRC staff misunderstood SPC's letters of April 24 and August 4, 1997 with regard to where cylinder washing is carried out. All cylinder washing is done in the UO Building prior to the cylinders' delivery to the recertification facility where they will undergo 2
the recertification process described in the April 24,1997 letter.
There also appeared to be some misunderstanding about Table 1-4.1 in SPC's license application. The purpose of this table is to list the types of criticality controls which are or g gused to assure criticality safety in major system components at SPC. The controls themselves as well as their application are described in chapters 4 and 14 of the application.
With regard to the use of neutron absorbers in the cylinder wash and recertification processes, neutron absorbers are used in the cylinder wssh process, but not in the CRF. The controls applicable to the cylinders in the CRF are actually carried out at the UO Building cylinder was's 2
station and result in the cylinders' not containing a significant amount of fissile material wher, they are transferred to the CRF. Parameters specifically controlled at the CRF are mass, concentration (by virtue of mass) and enrichment.
The maximum amount of uranium allowed in a cylinder after washing in accordance with ANSI N14.1 Appendix B would be 94 grams based on a maximum of 5000 ppmU in the final five o
gallon wash. The 230 ghilons cf water used in the hydrostatic testing of each cylinder would, therefore, contain a maximum concentration of 0.11g U/l compared to the minimum critical.
concentration of approximately 285g Ull. The CRF has a capacity of 11 cylinders and if each Siemens Power. Corporation
- Nudear Divisian '
2101 Horn Rapids Road Teh (509) 375 8100 N
Engineering & Manufacturing '
- P.o.. Box 13o Fax:
(509) 375 8402 -
'!chland, WA 99352 0130 kDk D
7 C
PDR1
' 4 M. F. Wab:r.
JBE:97:164 '
November 14,-1997
- Page 2 825 contained this maximum amount of uranium, th6 total would be 1034g U or 51.79 U at 5%.
enrichment. Under normal conditions, however, based upon empirical data from the cylinder washing process, the maximum amount of uraniura that is expected to be contained in any cylinder in the CRF is 20 grams.
Under accident conditions, a non washed cylinder containing a 15 kg UF " heel"is hypothesized to be introduced into the CRF. -Such a 15 kg UF heel would contain 10 kg U, w.ich is approximately 26% of a minimum critical mass for 5% enriched uranium. To preclude such an accident, only washed cylinders will be allowed in the CRF. Washed cylinders are distinctively tagged and also those to be recertified have had their valves removed 'and replaced with special plugs which are used in the hydrostatic test. Prior to recertification, the follower card for each cylinder to be recertified is reviewed to determine that the cylinder has mdeed been w?shed and is certified by a supervisor _to be clean and dry. The criticality safety analysis for the cylinder wash process in the UO Building bounds the CRF process.
2 Based on conversations with your staff, SPC believes that this information will clear up any confusion on what operations are carried out in the CRF will allow an independent assessment of the safety of the operation.
if you have questione or require additional information, please call me on 509 375 8663.
Very truly yours, 4
J B. Edgar.
Staff Engineer, Licensing 4
4
/pg Enclosures cc:
NRC-Region IV Walnut Creek Field Office NRC Region IV Arlington, TX
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