ML20205J966

Informs Commission of Staff Plans to Formally Agree to Participate in Oecd/Nea Lower Head Failure Program at SNL

ML20205J966
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/24/1999
From:	Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:
References
SECY-99-091, SECY-99-091-01, SECY-99-091-R, SECY-99-91, SECY-99-91-1, SECY-99-91-R, NUDOCS 9904120278
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POLICY ISSUE March 24.1999 SECY-99-091 FOR:

The Commissioners FROM:

William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations

SUBJECT:

NRC PARTICIPATION IN OECD COOPERATIVE PROJECT ON REACTOR VESSEL LOWER HEAD FAILURE PURPOSE:

To inform the Commission of the staff:s plans to formally agree to participate in the OECD/NEA Lower Head Failure Program (OLHF) at the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)..This program is a followup to the recently completed NRC supported lower head failure program at SNL.

BACKGROUND:

The Staff Requirement Memorandum (SRM) of December 19,1997, specifically directed continuation of the experimental program on reactor vessellower head failure at SNL, conditioned upon OECD support. The objectives of this project are to characterize the timing, and characteristic sizes of lower head failure under pressurized conditions with large differential temperatures across the lower head wall without external cooling of the lower head of RPV.

These experiments will be carried out in an appropriately scaled model of the lower head and will consist of five tests as followup to an eight test program that was recently completed under NRC sponsorship. Rupture size and timing of the lower head failure dictate conditions for ex-vessel phenomena and the results from this test program will be used to develop and assess a model for analysis of lower head failure under severe accident conditions DISCUSSION:

In a memorandum to the Commission, from L. Joseph Callan, dated August 11,1998, "OECD Cooperative Project on Reactor Vessel Lower Head Program," the staff provided you with the I

status of this OECD program (Attachment 1). At this time, an agreement has been drafted (Attachment 2) and will be finalized for signatures by participating countries. We intend to sign this agreement contingent upon commitment by other participating countries.

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POLICY ISSUE March 24.1999 SECY-99-091 FOR:

The Commissioners FROM:

William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations

SUBJECT:

NRC PARTICIPATION IN OECD COOPERATIVE PROJECT ON REACTOR VESSEL LOWER HEAD FAILURE l

PURPOSE:

To inform the Commission of the staff:s plans to formally agree to participate in the OECD/NEA Lower Head Failure Program (OLHF) at the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)._ This program is a followup to the recently completed NRC supported lower head failure program at SNL.

BACKGROUND _;

The Staff Requirement Memorandum (SRM) of December 19,1997, specifically directed continuation of the experimental program on reactor vessel lower head failure at SNL, conditioned upon OECD support. The objectives of this project are to characterize the timing, and characteristic sizes of lower head failure under pressurized conditions with large differential temperatures across the lower head wall without external cooling of the lower head of RPV.

These experiments will be carried out in an appropriately scaled model of the lower head and will consist of five tests as followup to an eight test program that was recently completed under NRC sponsorship. Rupture size and timing of the lower head failure dictate conditions for ex-vessel phenomena and the results from this test program will be used to develop and assess a model for analysis of lower head failure under severe accident conditions.

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DISCUSSION:

1 in a memorandum to the Commission, from L. Joseph Callan, dated August 11,1998, "OECD Cooperative Project on Reactor Vessel Lower Head Program," the staff provided you with the I

status of this OECD program (Attachment 1). At this time, an agreement has been drafted l

(Attachment 2) and will be finalized for signatures by participating countries. We intend to sign this agreement contingent upon commitment by other participating countries.

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_2 RESOURCES:

With the assumption that seven countries will participate in this program, the total cost of this project is estimated to be $1,876,000 over a three year period, and the total US share of this cost would be approximately $1,000,000. The Department of Energy has informed us of their interest in participating in this project. We are currently discussing with the USDOE their participation in this program. In order to keep the facility and project at SNL active, the FY 1998, and part of FY 1999, share of NRC's project cost has been committed to SNL. The remainder of NRC's share would then be paid in accordance with the formal agreement.

COORDINATION:

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel concur in this paper.

A) m William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations Attachments:

1.

Memorandum dated August 11,1998, to Chairman Jackson, Commissioner Diaz, Commissioner McGaffigan from L. Joseph Callan 2.

Draft Agreement DISTRIBUTION:

Commissioners OGC OCAA OIG OPA OCA ACRS CIO CFO

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t MEMORANDUM TO: Chairman J ckson CommtsionerDiar Commissioner McGaffigan OdginalSigedby FROM:

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Executive Director for Operatio

SUBJECT:

OECD COOPERATIVE PROJECT ON REACTOR VESSEL LOWER HEADFAILURE in the Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) of December 19,1997 (COMSECY-97-029), the Commission approved progrom adjustments to address reductions required by the FY1998 i

Energy and Water Developme'nt Appropriations Act. The SRM specifically directed continuation of the experimental program on reactor vessel lower head failure at Sandia National Laboratories, conditioned upon OECD support. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with the status of that activity.

In May 1998, OECD/NEA hosted a technical meeting to review the proposed project.

Wdespread intomational interest was expressed and at their June 1998 meeting the OECD/NEA Committee for the Safety of Nuclear installations (CSNI) approved proceeding with steps to initiate this as a formal OECD cooperative project. It is expected that all the necessary steps will be completed by the Fall of 1998. The cooperative project will consist of five tests as followup to an eight test program that was recently completed under NRC sponsorship. The total project cost for the five tests is estimated to be $2.0 million with NRC's share being $600K over a three-year period. These funds are currently in the RES budget. Due to the tirne required to complete the formal OECD agreement, we intend to commit our FY 1998 share of the project cost ($200K) to SNL in August 1998, prior to completing all the steps leading to a formal agreement, in order to keep the facility and project active. The remainder of NRC's share

($200K in FY 1999 and $200K in FY 2000) would then be paid in accordance with the formal agreement.

If you would like further inforuation on this project, we would be pleased to provide a briefing at

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I AGREEMENT on the LOWER HEAD FAILURE PROJECT A PROJECT FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF CREEP BEHAVIOUR OF REACTOR VESSEL LOWER HEAD

d AGREEMENT on the LOWER HEAD FAILURE PROJECT A PROJECT FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION l

OF CREEP BEHAVIOUR OF RF ACTOR VESSEL LOWER HEAD The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the AV Nuclear of Belgium, the Nuclear Research Institute Re.

of the Cze:h Republic, the Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus of Finland, the Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique/Institut d<

Protection et de Soret 6 Nucl6 aire of France, the Gesellschaft fur Anlagen-und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) mbH of Germany, th, Consejo do Seguridad Nuclear of Spain, the Statens Kurnkraftinspektion of Sweden, being Governments or bodies designatet by their res pective Goveraments (hereinafter referred to as "the Signatories");

CONSIDERING that the United F ates Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) has set up an internationa programme called the Lower Head Failure P oject, for the experimental investigation of creep behaviour of reactor vesse lower head and has gained considerable experience and knowledge in this area; CONSIDERING that the experiments which have already been conducted have produced highly valuable results; CONSIDERING that there remain uncertainties related to safety decisions about the failure modes of the lower heai of the reactor pressure vessel which may be reduced by a new series of experiments; CONSIDERING that the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) is entrusted with promoting the creation o intemational co-operation projects between its Member countries in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; CONSIDERING that the USNRC has proposed to OECD/NEA Member countries that they participate in a series o experiments to be conducted in the lower head failure experimental facility at Sandia National Laboratories; CONSIDERING that this proposal is of interest to the Signatories and that they are willing to provide fm' ancial ani other support to such a joint project for a period of three years; CONSIDERING that the development, construction and operation of the Lower head failure facility will be carrie out under the USNRC's responsibility and in accordance with all relevant laws and agreements; AGREE to participate in a project to investigate creep failure modes of the RPV lower head by the Lower Hea Failure Project (hereinafter referred to as "the Project"), on the terms and conditions stated herein:

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i Article 1 OBJECTIVES The Signatories shall define an experimental test matrix, experimental conditions, and parameters, and shall carry ot a series of experiments, according to the Programme described in Appendix A hereto, to provide data derived from cree failure tests oflower head models to assess possible RPV lower hud failure modes. To achieve this basic objective, supportin material property tests and analyses to guide the mock-up tests and develop the methodology to describe the phenomena (

interest, and to produce a consistent interpretation and understanding of the results will be performed as further described i i

Appendix A.

Anicle 2 PROJECT COMMITTEE (a)

Control of the Project shall be vested in a Project Committee constituted under this Article.

(b)

The Project Committee shall consist of one member designated by each Signatory, provided that, in the case (

Signatories panicipating jointly in the Project, the members of the Project Committee designated by them shall be considere as a single member for the purpose of the execution of this Agreement. Signatories shall also designate alternate members t represent them in the event of members being unable to do so. Signatories shall notify the OECD/NEA the members designate to represent them on the Project Committee. Members may be accompanied by advisors provided the OECD/NEA and tl Chairman are notified at least twc weeks in advance.

(c)

'Ihe Project Committee shall:

1) approve each year the annual programme of work and budget, including the allocation of tasks an ng Signatories,in accordance with the outline of the Programme set down in Appendix A hereto;

2) approve each year the financial report covering the previous year;

3) make such rules of procedure, directives and regulations, consistent with the objectives and provisions of th Agreement, as may be required for the sound management of the Project;

4) provide technical advice and recommendations to the USNRC acting as Operating Agent concerning the carryir out of the programme of work;

5) review the technical reports of the Project, assess the results of experiments performed and provide guidance fi l

future work.

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6) consider any matters brought before it by ad hoc project meetings, the Operating Agent or any Signatory; i

7) carry out the other functions conferred upon it by this Agreement.

(d)

The Project Cornmittee shall elect each year a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman from amongst its members. It sh; meet at least once a year and shall be convened by its Chairman. A special.necting shall be convened by the Chairman withir reasonable time after receiving a written request from members of the Board representing a majority of the voting strength from the USNRC acting as the Operating Agent. A representative of the OECD/NEA may attend the meetings of the Projc Committee in an advisory capacity.

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(e)

The Project Committee shall operate and reach its decisions to the greatest extent possible on a mutually agreed basis However, when formal voting is requested, decisions of the Project Committee shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of thi votes cast, unless unanimity is expressly required by this Agreement. Unanimity requires the agreement of each membe voting. All members of the Project Committee shall each have one vote. Notwithstanding the above, the agreement of th<

USNRC shall be required for decisions which might affect the safety of tests, operations and personnel, or concernin; insurance. The quorum for transaction of business in meetings of the Project Committee shall be tw(-thirds of the votin; l

strength.

(f)

If necessary, decisions of the Project Committee may also be reached by mail or telefax commumcation m which cast unanimity shall be required. The Chairman shall be responsible for ensuring that all members are informed of each decisio made pursuant to this paragraph.

(g)

At least thirty days before each regular meeting, notice of the time, place and agenda of the meeting shall be given b.-

the Chairman to each member and to other persons entitF a'ter.d the meeting.

(h)

The Project Committee Chairman shall, after eac we:ing, send to all the members of the Project Committee and th Operating Agent a letter that contains the Minutes of the meeting including any decisions of the Project Committee.

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(i)

The Project Committee shall conduct its business in o " English language. Reports and other documents to b l

submitted to the Project Committee under this Agreement shall also be in English.

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Article 3 OPERATING AGENT (a)

The Project shall be operated by USNRC as the Operating Agent. The Operating Agent shall be responsible for takin all steps and performing all legal acts required to operate the Project in accordance with this Agreement, the laws of the US/

and the decisions of the Project Committee.

(b)

The Operating Agent shallin panicular:

1) ensure that the Project is administered in accordance with the outline of the Programme and within the limits c funds as set forth in Appendices A and B hereto;

2) secure the maximum protection and safety of the Lower head failure facility and related staff and ensure that th programme of work is carried out according to acceptable standards of quality, budget and schedule;

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3) ensure that the scientific and administrative staff necessary to perform the Programme as outlined in Appendix e hereto is made available to the Project;

4) prepare, in accordance with a format agreed by the Project Committee, the draft annual programme of work an budget not later than three months before the beginning of the financial year in question as defined in Article 4;

5) submit reports on the progress of the Project to the Project Committee twice a year or at such other intervals a the Project Committee shall determine.

(c)

The Operating Agent shall have the power to enter into contracts for the procurement of equipment and materials i the interest of the Project provided that such contracts are allowed for in an approved budget, by the provisions of thi Agreement or by authorisation of the Project Committee.

(d)

A USNRC employee shall be designated by the Operating Agent as Programme Manager with the approval of th e

, Project Committee. He shall attend meetings of the Project Committee in an advisory capacity. He shall supply all informatior which is requested o hin:concerning the carrying out of the Project.

r Anicle 4 FINANCE (a)

Each Signatory hereby agrees to commit to the Project the amount set forth in Appendix B hereto. The schedule fo:

payment of contributions shall be determined by the Project Committee on the basis of a proposal by the Operating Agent.

(b)

The Project Committee shall ;mprove the annual budget not later than thirty days before the beginning of the financia par in question. The financial year shail be from 1 January to 31 December. The Project Committee shall approve the firs budget at its first meeting.

(c)

A financial report covering the previous year sha:1 be submitted by the Operating Agent to the Project Committee in format agreed by the latter, not later than two months after the end of each financial year.

(d)

It is agreed that monetary contributions to the Project shall be deposited by Signatories other than the Operatin; Agent in US$ into an account designated by the OECD/NEA. Payments shall be deposited on the dates specified in the corresponding invoices issued to the Signatories by the OECD/NEA The OECD/NEA is invited to' administer thest contributions and shall, from time to time and in accordance with the payment schedule approved by the Project Committee pay all or a portion of such contributions to USNRC in consideration of the work performed by or on behalf of USNRC is connection with the Project.

(e)

The system of accounts employed by the Operating Agent shall be in accordance with USNRC accounting principles The Project Committee shall be provided with financial records in a format agreed by it on an approximately 6 monthly basi-by the Operating Agent. The financial records maintained by the Operating Agent shall clearly account for all funds of the Project. These records shall be kept by the Operating Agent for three years from the date of termination of the Project. The OECD/NEA is invited to maintain accurate and complete finaacial records of the receipt and disbursement of all contribution-received for the Project br the same period for which it would normally maintain such records.

(f)

The cost of the pro ~ vision of the Lower head failure facility and related installations, ancillary services and thi infrastructure for management and administration of the Project provided by the Operating Agent in agreement with the Projee Committee, shall be allowed as a credit against the contribution due by USNRC, execpt for its contribution to the cost of thi design and construction of experimental apparatus as listed for task I, table 1, appendix B.

(g)

Each Signatory shall bear all costs of its participation in the Project other than cordmon costs funded by the budget o the Project.

Anicle S INFORMATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (a)

This Article sets forth the provisions applicable to the publication, distribution, handling, protection and ownership o information and intellectual property relevant to and arising from the Project. Additional rules and procedures related theretc where necessary, shall be adopted by the Project Committee acting by unanimity and in conformity with this Agreement.

(b)

Subject to prior approval by the Project Committee and to restrictions applying to patents and copyrights, thi Signatories shall have the right to publish information arising from the Project and information provided to the Project, exce t

proprietary information. The Project Committee will review technical reports of individual participants prior to thei publication.

(c)

For the purposes of this Article, proprietary information shall mean information acquired prior to or outside thi Project of a confidential nature such as trade secrets and know-how (for example, computer pmgrams, design procedures an techniques, chemical composition of materials or manufacturing methods, processes or :reatments) which is appropriatel:

marked, provided such information:

1) is not generally known or publicly available from other sources;

.21 has not previously been made available by the owner to others without obligation conceming its confidentiality and

3) is not already in the possession of the recipient Signatory without obligation conceming its confidentiality.

The Operating Agent and the other Signatories shall take all necessaiy measures in accordance with this Article, the laws o their respective countries and international law to protect proprietary infonnation provided to the Project. It shall be thi responsibility of the Signatory supplying proprietary information to identify the information as such and to ensure that it i appropriately marked.

(d)

The Signatories should aim to notify the Operating Agent of, and contribute to the Project, all pre-existin:

1 information and information developed independently of the Project which is or may potentially be relevant to the Project an the transfer of which is not subject to any contractual or legal limitation. To the extent that the provision of such informatioi entails costs of any significance, the Project Committee acting by unanimity shall determine whether and on what terms ti acquire the information.

1 (e)

The Project Cem 1,

• tee will be responsible for the production and publication of periodic reports and a final report o this Project. All reports.. work performed under this Agreement and the results thereof, including studies, assessments ;

analyses, evaluations, and other documentation shall be produced and compiled in the manner and format decided by th.

Project Committee. Such reports shah be provided by the Operating Agent to the other Signatories.

(f)

The Signatories agree with respect to the inventions made or conceived in the course of or under the Project that eac!

Signatory shall, in its own country, own such inventior's, subject to a non-exclusive, assignable, royalty-free licence for th other Signatories with the right to grant sub-licences in mch inventions. In determining ownership of such inventions in thin countries, the Proj:ct Committee shall, acting by ucanimity, equitably apportion the rights to the Signatories taking inti account the obligations, contributions, and rights and benefits of all the Signatories.

(g)

All material generated under the Project may be copyrighted in the name of the Operating Agent for the benefit of th Signatories in proportion to their respective contributions to the Project, provided that each Signatory shall be free to reproduc and distribute such material. The Project Committee will decide on the transfer of know-how from the Project to Signatories.

(h)

Each Signatory shall, without prejudice to any rights of authors and inventors under its national laws, take th necessary steps to secure such co-operation or assignment of rights as are required to implement the provisions of this Artic!

Each Signatory shall assume the responsibility to pay awards or compensation required to be paid 'o its employees according t the laws ofits country.

I Article f ASSIGNMENTS OF PERSONNEL AND VISITS I

(a)

Any Signatory may, subject to the approval of the Operating Agent, send technical experts for participation in th Project. The person to be delegated and the purpose and term of such delegation shall be agreed in writing by the Operatin Agent and the Signatory sending the expert, in advance of each delegation of personnel. In addition, these parties shall sign separate personnel assignment agreement. The personnel shall be integrated into the scientific and technical work of th Project. In this context, and to the extent permitted by such separate personnel assignment agreements, the assigned personn(

shall have appropriate access to information concerning the Project and to participation in technical discussions. A Signator sending an expert is responsible for all associated salary, transportation, living, communication, insurance and other costs. Th Operating Agent shall provide suitable office space and computer access for approved tasks.

(b)

Similar arrangements may also be made between Signatories in relation to any work under the Project carried out b the Signatories themselves.

(c)

It is further agreed that, to the extent reasonable, visits of a Signatory's emerts to the facilities where work is bein performed for the Project shall be facilitated. Such visits shall be arranged with tF sent of the Operating igent, followin receipt of adequate notice given by the Signatory requesting the visit.

Anicle 7 OECD NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY (a)

In accordance with its Statute, the OECD/NEA shall encourage the broadett possible participation in the Project b i its Member countries, and shall endeavour to co-ordinate the Project's work with its other activities in this field.

(b)

The Project Committee shall make an annual report to the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy on the progress <

the Project.

(c)

The OECD/NEA is invited to provide secretarial services and technical advice to the Project Committee.

(d)

The Secretariat of the OECD/NEA or, as appropriate, of the OECD, may be invited by the Project Committee to tak on some administrative, financial or technical responsibilities for the implementation of the Project.

Article 8 LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INSURANCE ',

(a)

The Operating Ager:t and its contractor shall use all reasonable skill and care in carrying out its duties under th Agreement and shall be responsible for ensuring that its work under the Project is carried out in accordance with all applicab laws and regulations.

(b)

The Operating Agent and its contractor shall propose to the Project Committee all necessary liability, fire and othi insurance for its work under the Project and, subject to availability, shall procure such insurance as the Project Committee mz direct.The cost of obtaining and maintaining such insurance shall be charged to the budget of the Project.

(c)

The Operating Agent shall, Miect to applicable federal law, be solely liable in respect of all actions, claims, cost expenses and damages whatsoever ar: sing out of the execution of the Project.

(d)

In so far as any work under the Pcopet is carried out by a Signatory itself, all legal liabilities and any related costs fi 9%

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. thit work rest with that Signatory.

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Article 9 LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS (a)

Activities under this Agreem. nt shall be subject to the laws and regulations applicable to the Signatories. Such law and regulations shall be those of the State on whose territory the activities in question are carried out.

(b)

It shall be the responsibility of each Signatory concerned to facilitate the accomplishment of the formalities involve.

in the movement of persons, the importation of materials and equipment and the transfer of currency which shall be required t.

operate the Project.

Anicle 10 SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES (a)

Any dispute among the Signatories concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement that is not settle by negotiation or other agreed mode of settlement shall be referred to a tribunal of three arbitrators to be chosen by th Signatories concerned, who shalf also choose the Chairman of the tribunal. Should the Signatories concerned fail to agree upo the composition of the tribunal or the selection of its Chairman, the President of the International Court of Justice shall, at th request of any of the Signatories concerned, exercise those responsibilities. The tribunal shall decide any such dispute b reference to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any applicable laws and regulations, and its decision shall be fin:

end binding on the Signatories concerned.

(b)

U.nless otherwise agreed by the disputing parties, this Agreement shall be governed by the law of the USA an arbitral proceedings initiated to settle any dispute shall take place in Washington DC and shall be conducted in the Englis language.

Article 11 ACCESSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF SIGNATORIES (a)

This Agreement shall be open to accession by Governments of other OECD Meinber countries or bodies designatt by such Governments with the unanimous assent of the Project Committee and provided that such Govemments or bodies sig the Agreement and assume the rights and obligations of a Signatory, including obligations regarding financial contributions the Project.

(b)

With the agreement of the Project Commitw, and upon the request of a Government, a Signatory proposed by th Government may be replaced by another party.The latter shall sign this Agreement and assume the rights and obligations of

Signator, (c)

A Signatory may withdraw from this Agreement upon written notice six months prior to the beginning of tl fmancial year. The withdrawal of a Signatory under this paragraph shall not affect the rights and obligations of the oth Signatories, including the amount which each of the other Signatories is required to commit to the Project, unless otherwi unanimously agreed by the Project Committee.

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i (d)

Any Signatory that fails to fulfil its uligations under this Agreement within sixty days after its receipt of notic invoking this paragraph and specifying the nature of those obligations shall be considered to have withdrawn from thi )

Agreement.

I (e)

The Qperating Agent, with the approval of the Project Committee, may enter into agreements with non-Signator entities for collaboration in furtherance of the Project. Such entities shall be Associate Members. Such agreements may, i particular, cover exchange of information, patent rights, assignment of scientific and technical personnel and association wit the work of the Project. The provisions of such agreements shall be consistent with the requirements of this Agreement.

Anicle 12 i

FINAL PROVISIONS (a)

Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Operating Agent and the Proiect Committee, all assets acquired b the Operating Agent under the Project shall remain its property at the termination of this Agreement.

(b)

His Agreement shall come into force as of 1 September 1998, and shall remain in force for 3 years. The Agreemes may thereafter be renewed or extended upon the written agreement of the Signatories that desire to do so.

(c)

This Agreement may be amended at any time by the agreement in writing of all the Signatories.

(d)

The original of this Agreement shall be deposited with the Director General of the OECD/NEA and a certified cor thereof shall be furnished to each Signatory.

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r UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l

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l AV NUCLEAR, BELGIUM l

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NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE REZ OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC l

l VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUS, FINLAND J

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GESELLSCHAFT FOR ANLAGEN-UND REAKTORSICHERHEIT(GRS) mbil, GERMANY l

CONSEJO DE SEGURIDAD NUCLEAR, SPAIN 1

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l STATENS K RNKRAFTINSPEKTION, SWEDEN I

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l APPENDIX A LOWER HEAD FAILURE PROGRAMME BACKGROUND The lower head of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) can be subjected to significant thermal and pressure loads in the event of severe accident. Therefore, the possibility exists that the lower head will fail releasing large amounts of molten corium ini containment. The TMI-II accident involved the relocation of about 20 tonnes of corium to the lower head of the RPV. Despi the presenae of water, the lower head reached temperatures of ~1300 K for 30 minutes in an area with an equivalent diameti of im at the time when the RCS was at 10 MPa. Although the TMI vessel did not fail, code analyses in support of an OECI NEA TMI-II Vessel Investigation Project (VIP) predicted creep rupture at the prevailing conditions. This implies that the thc state-of-the art modelling of the lower head failure was not mature due to incomplete understanding of the thermal loadin_

3 Since TMI-VIP, these methodologies have been further developed to analyse existing and next generation reactors from tl I perspective of accident assessment, management, and mitigation. However, there still exists a need for experimental data c lower head deformation and failure phenomena. Ongoing intemational programs, i.e., French RUIFTHER experiments and tl Japanese WIND experiments address deformation in a heated pressurised pipe section, which provides fundamental creep da but does not simulate the lower head geometry. Results from these experiments have been used to partially validate ti structura! analysis codes. Recently SNL ( USNRC sponsored) successfully completed eight large-scale (-1/5 scale) Low-Head Failure (LHF) tests. These tests specifically designed to address lower head failure issues with prototypic material ar grometry. The present OECD project extends the USNRC supported SNULHF program to address additional issues such ;

lower RCS pressures (representative of depressurised or partially depressurised conditions) and pressure transients. These tes also represent an improvement over previous tests by simulating a large temperature gradient across RP" of lower head wa The temperature gradient to be addressed in these tests are representative of conditions without ex-vessel cooling (flooding).

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this project are to characterise the timing, and characteristic sizes of lower head failure for conditions of lo reactor coolant system pressure with large differenCal temperatures across the lower head wall, and for pressure transien without external cooling of the lower head of R_PV. These experiments will be carried out in a appropriately scaled model i the lower head.

WORK REQUIREMENTS The set of tests will be decided by the Project Committee, taking into account the preliminary proposal attached here.

Task 1 Design and comtruction of experimental apparatus (la)

Prepare detailed project plan for the entire project to aide in co-ordinating the experiment and analysis efforts as tracking progress. Prepare and approve a Preliminary Hazard screen and other required safety authorisation bas documents. Prepare and submit for review a US. DOE Environmental Checklist / Action Description Memorandu i

(ECUADM). A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determination is required prior to beginning the facili l

modification for this work.

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(Ib)

Based on the scaling analysis and insights gairied in the USNRC supponed SNULHF program the shall design the experimental test set-up. Provide a preliminary letter repon describing the design o (Ic)

Fabricate the experimental test set-up. Provide a letter report upon completion of the experimental tes Task 2 Perform a total of five experiments at high temperature differential across the wall. The preliminary experimental test matrix is as follows:

OLHF-1 OLHF-1 test should be conducted at 5 MPa RCS pressure at uniform heai %

OLHF-2 OLHF-2 test should be conducted at 2 MPa RCS pr.:ssure to complement existing tests.

OLHF-3 OLHF-3 test should address repressurisation scenarios where the RCS is initially depressurised (-2 MPa) and sudden repressurisation event (e.g., operator adds water to the vessel) occurs when the vessel is approac rupture conditions.

OLHF-4 OLHF-4 should be run at the same condition as OLH-2, but with penetrations or weldments.

OLHF-5 OLH-5 test, the vessel wall should be machined to have a thin section representing the result of wall ablation.

Before each test, an updated list of initial conditions shall be submitted prior to the conduct of the test.

Ttsk 3 Material Property testing For the steel used in fabrication of the scaled lower head test vessel the Operating Agent shall carry out material measurements for temperatures up to 1300K. Four (4) weeks after completion of property measurements for the given steel letter repon shall be submitted describing the test conditions and measured data and their comparison with available data in th literature.

Tcsk 4 Analysis, Interpretation, and reporting of the results A quick look report shall be issued within two (2) weeks after conduct of each OLHF test describing the test conditiom measurements taken, general observations, potential impact on the remaining tests. A test data report shall be issued withi eight (8) weeks after conduct of each OLHF test containing a detailed description of test conditions, qualified real-time datt pre-and post-test surface maps and vessel thickness data, and data reduction with emphasis on but not limited to th interpretation on the strain behaviour prior to rupture, tupture time, and the resulting supture, size.

in addition to data analysis _and interpretation of each experiment, the Operating Agent shall develop key constitutive relation

%r creep deformation with material propeny data obtained under task 3 and available data base in the literature. Thes constitutive relations will be incorporated into a suitable structural mechanics code and the Operating Agent shall perforr analysis and assessment of the modelling against OLHF experiments.

A final draft project repon consisting of a compilation and synthesis of the results and analysis of all of the OLHF tests wil: b submitted three (3) months after completion of all tests. The f' al project repon will be issued one month (1) after receipt of al m

comments on the draft repon.

Task 5 OECD Support OECD/NEA shall provide secretarial services to project committee.

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PIPORTING REQUIREMENTS Monthly or Quanerly progress repon Technical Reporting

1) Preliminary letter repon on design of experiment'al test set-up; (Task Ib)

2) Letter repon on design of experimental test set-up.

(Task Ic)

3) Lett-r report on test initial conditions.

(Task 2)

Before each test

4) Letter repon on material propenies.

(Task 3) 4 weeks after each measurement

5) Quick look repon on each test.

(Task 4) 2 weeks after test

6) Test data repon on each test.

(Task 4) 8 weeks after test

7) Draft project repon.

3 months after completion of all tests

8) Final project repon.

I month after' draft review l

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APPENDIX B TENTA'I1VE BREAKDOWN OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE AND OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LHF PROJECT l

B.I.

Funds Required to Execute the Project l

This Appendix sets the tentative breakdown of total expenditure for the execution of the programme of the Project, as shown i,

the table below, j

i Table 1. Estimated Costs (all amounts in United States dollars)

Task Description Estimated cost i

I Design and Construction of Experimental Apparatus 655 000 2

Experiments 708 000 3

Material Property testing 63 000 4

Analysis. Interpretation, and Reporting 414 000 5

OECD Secretarial Services 35 000 Total 1 875 000 l

Table 2. Funding Requirements (all amounts in United States dollars)

Date Funds Needed at SNL Cumulative Funds i" October 1998 200 000 200 000 1" January 1999 200 000 400 000 I" Mareh 1999 450 000 850 000 I

I" September 1999 400 000 1 250 000 1" March 2000 350 000 1 600 000 I" September 2000 275 000 1 875 000 j

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B.2.

Centributions from Signatories The Signatories agree to assign funds to the Project apportioned as follows (all amounts in United States dollars):

l Table 3. Proposed contributions by country Cost in USS AV Nuclear, Belgium 47 000 The Nuclear Research Institute Rez of the Czech Rep 6 000 The Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus. Finland 19 000 The Commissariat & l'$nergie Atomique/Institut de Protection et de Snrete 258 000 l

Nucl6 aire, France The Gesellschaft for Anlagen-und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) mbH., Germany 409 000 The Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, Spain 98 000 The Statens Kurnkraftinspektion, Sweden 38 000 The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1 000 000*

Total 1 875 000

• Part of this may be paid by the United States Department of Energy subject to funding approval.

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l The Head of Legal Affairs of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency i

hereby certifies that the present copy conforms to the original text deposited with the Director-General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

Paris, I

The HEAD OF LEGAL AFFAIRS PATRICK REYNERS d

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