ML20203N302
| ML20203N302 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos Nuclear Center |
| Issue date: | 09/16/1986 |
| From: | Darmitzel R GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8609230303 | |
| Download: ML20203N302 (2) | |
Text
_ _ _ _
~~
GENERAL $ ELECTRIC NUCLEAR ENERGY BUSINESS OPERATIONS GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY e VALLECITOS NUCLEAR CENTER e PLEASANTON, CAUFORNIA 94566 September 16, 1986 Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Waahington, D.C.
20555
References:
- 1) License R-33, Docket 50-73,
- 2) " Operational Impacts of Low Enrichment Uranium Fuel Conversion on the Ford Nuclear Reactor", R. R. Burn, Proceedings of the 1984 International Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors, ANL/RERTR/TM-6 CONF-8410173; October 15-18, 1984.
Dear Dr. Denton:
The General Electric Company requests that the GE Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) located at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC), Pleasanton, California, be exempted from the requirements to convert from high enriched uranium fuel (HEU) to low enriched uranium fuel (LEU).
The NTR has been operated under License R-33 since 1957.
In 1969 the maximum permitted steady-state operating power was increased from 30 kW to 100 kW.
There are no spare irradiated or unirradiated fuel assemblies for the NTR, and the reactor fuel has never been replaced (no replacement is currently scheduled).
During operation and shutdown periods (off-shift and weekends),
the radiation level on the fuel elements exceeds 100 Rem / hour at three feet, and the fuel is self-protected from diversion.
The NTR is used almost exclusively for nondestructive testing (NDT) such as neutron radiography and reactivity testing.
It is also used to a lesser degree for irradiations.
Neutron radiography provides NDT information which cannot be obtained by any other method. Much of the neutron radiography performed at the NTR is in support of the NASA space program and national defense programs. The NTR plays a significant role in these programs.
Effective neutron radiography requires a high thermal neutron content in accordance with the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. A neutron beam with a thermal neutron content not meeting these standards would be unacceptable to neutron radiography customers.
gO P
1 D l
GENER AL $ ELECTRIC Harold R. Denton September 16, 1986 Experience at the Ford Nuclear Reactor (FNR) demonstrates that conversion to a low enriched uranium (LEU) core results in a hardened flux in the core (Ref. 2).
It is not known that the neutron beam will be satisfactory with a LEU core. Additionally, the unique fuel (disc on a support rod) and core geometry (water-cooled annular core with graphite reflector and flux traps) make the extrapolation of data from other reactors extremely uncertain.
In view of the foregoing, General Electric believes that the programs at the NTR satisfy the definition of " unique purpose" defined in 10CFR50.2 and accordingly requests that the NTR be exempted from conversion to LEU fuel.
If you or your staff require additional information, please contact my office on (415) 862-4344. Thank you.
Sincerely, R. W. Darmitzel, Manager Irradiation Processing Operation
/ca Affirmation To the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in this document is accurate, f
R. W. Darmitzel, Manager Irradiation Processing Operation Submitted and sworn before me this
/7M day of September, 1986; N
, Notary Public, in and for the County of Alameda, u
State of California, m _ _ _- m OFFICIAL SEAL
@ NOTARY PUBUC-CAUFORNIA CHRISTINE ARl!ZUMI ALAMEDA COUNTY My comm. expires APR 2,1989 m ----..