ML20205J251

Resubmits Application for Amend to License R-67,changing Tech Spec Section 10.2.6 (D) to Allow Uninterrupted Continuation of Thermionic Experiment Now in Progress & to Extend Irradiation Time to 20,000 H

ML20205J251
Person / Time
Site:	General Atomics
Issue date:	01/28/1986
From:	Asmussen K GENERAL ATOMICS (FORMERLY GA TECHNOLOGIES, INC./GENER
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
67-8060, NUDOCS 8601300138
Download: ML20205J251 (2)

Text

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4-In Reply GA Technologies Inc.

Refer To: 67-8060 PO. BOX 85608 SAN OtEGO. CAUFORN!A 92138 28 January 1986 (619) 455-3000 Director

-Office of Nuclear Reactor-Regulation U.S. Nuclear' Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention: Document Control Desk.

Subject:

Docket 50-163: R-67; Request for Technical Specification Change (1 copy).

Reference:

(a) GA ltr 67-8044 dtd 11/26/85 to Harold Denton, Director, Office of NRR, NRC, Washington, DC 20555.

Dear Sir:

GA Technologies Inc. (GA) previously-submitted a request (reference a) for a change to the subject reactor technical specifications. .Today, during a telephone inquiry regarding the progress / status of this request, it was learned that the original letter was apparently misdirected. Fur-ther, because we had inadvertently failed to notarize the application, no official action could be taken on it. However, we have verified that our check for $150 which was submitted with our initial request has been cashed; therefore no check is enclosed with this re-application.

In view of the above, we are hereby repeating our request.

GA has an urgent need to make a change to the subject technical specifica-tions to allow the uninterrupted continuation of a thermionic (direct conversion device) experiment now in progress. Currently, section 10.2.6

. item (d) of the subject technical specifications limits.the irradiation time for any one direct conversion device to not more than 10,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br />.

We need to extend the irradiation time beyond 10,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> in order to further test the devices under conditions more closely approaching those for which they were designed to perform. Therefore, we hereby request that Section '10.2.6(d) of our subject technical specifications be. amended to read:

10.2.6(d). The irradiation time for any one device shall not exceed 20,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br />.

The justification for amending the subject technical specifications to ex-

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tend the allowable irradiation time for direct conversion devices from 10,000 to 20,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br />'is the following:

9601300138 86012B', p DR p ADOCK 05000163 PDR, (0g, 10955 JOHN JAY HoPKINS DR. , SAN DIEGo. CAUFoRNIA 92121 l

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4 Director, NRR 67-8060-

1. Each thermionic device being t'ested meets all the specifications set forth in' Sections 10.2.6(b).and (c). Further, all the reactor and facility specifications set forth in Sections 10.2.6(e) through (h) shall be met.

2. 'All modes of failure are very unlikely as attested by the GA exper-ience in the successful operation of many similar devices for well over ten thousand hours. - Each device will be monitored as set forth in the Technical Specifications.

3. The major hazard from the fission product inventory involves the shorter half lives. The increase in their inventory is insignif-icant for irradiation times increased from 10,000 to 20,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br />.

4. Historically, GA's Mark III TRIGA reactor (R-100 License) was lic-ensed to allow individual thermionic device irradiation times of up to 20,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> and the simultaneous testing-of as many as 15 de-vices.

GA concludes that there is no increase in the likelihood or consequences of hazards involved with the requested Technical Specification amendment.

As ' mentioned above, we have verified your receipt of our check for $150 to cover the administrative fee, thus no check is enclosed.

We look forward to receiving the requested Technical Specification amend-ment at your earliest convenience. Should you have any questions regard-ing this matter, please contact me at (619) 455-2823.

Very truly yours, LA d. G Keith E. Asmussen Manager, Licensing &

Nuclear Material Control KEA:he JURATE FOR NOTARIZING AND CERTIFYING STATE OF CALIFORNIA )

) ss COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) I l

After being duly sworn, the person known to me to be Keith E. Asmussen, Manager, Licensing and Nuclear Material Control, GA Technologies Inc.,

San Diego, California, signed the above document this 28th day of January 1986. l Aw- __ _ _

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