ML20212J002

Requests Assessment of Controls Which Prevent or Detect Introduction of Hydrocarbons Into Cylinders & UF6 Sys During Processing & Transporting.If Controls Not at Facility,Assessment Should Be License Amend

ML20212J002
Person / Time
Site:	Westinghouse
Issue date:	03/02/1987
From:	Crow W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Nardi A WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP.
References
NUDOCS 8703060277
Download: ML20212J002 (4)

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Ws MAR 0 21987  !

FCUP:GHB 70-1151 Westinghouse Electric Corporation ATTN: Mr. A. J. Nardi, Manager NES License Administrator P. O. Box 355 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230 Gentlemen:

The presence of hydrocarbons in UF g cylinders and UF g process systems is of-serious concern to the U.S. Nucleaf Regulatory.Commi5sion (NRC) since the

. reaction of UFg with hydrocarbons, even in small quantities, may be quite

. vigorous and can result in serious explosions. The Department of Energy (DOE) is also concerned about the presence of hydrocarbons in licensee's cylinders because the cylinders may be emptied or filled at the DOE enrichment plants. i Because of these concerns, you are requested to provide an assessment of your '

controls which prevent or detect the introduction of hydrocarbons into the cylinders and the UFgsystems during processing and transport. The assessment should cover procurement, recertification, and maintenance of cylinders; the UF, process systems, including cold traps if used, for filling or emptying - ,'

cyTinders; and seals on either full or " empty" cylinders during transport and storage.

Unless the above identified controls exist in your license, the assessment should be presented in the form of a license amendment application. The application should be in two parts - proposed controls as license conditions, and a safety demonstration showing the adequacy of the controls. The proposed conditions should be formatted as revised pages for-insertion into the referenced section of license conditions in your current license. Your response is requested within 45 days from the date of this letter.

Enclosed is a 1983 DOE Safety Alert which provides some information and guidance on isolating hydrocarbons and UFg process systems. OR0-651, Revision 4, " Uranium Hexafluoride: HandlTng Procedures and Container ,

Criteria," U.S. ERDA, April 1977, is currently under revision by D0E. '

Revision 5 should be available soon. ,

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WestinghouseElectricCorp[. - 2,

.If you have questions, I can be contacted at (301) 427-4510.1 Sincerel ,

. Original S18ned Byt W. T. Crow, Acting Chief Uranium Fuel Licensing' Branch Division of. Fuel Cycle and Material Safety, NMSS'

Enclosure:

As stated-DISTRIBUTION w/ encl.

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DATE:02/96 /87 :02fM/87 :Q$/ W/87  :  :

0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

.. . : , , n . . .. ENuloONMENT, SmW & HEALTH .w sn. w . o c r .

Assistant Secretary. Environmental Protection, Safety & Emergency Preparedness Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety & Health l DOE /EP-00$C/3 .

Issue No. 3 February 1983 1

LIQUID UF 6EXPLODES WHEN i

IT CONTACTS HYDROCARBON OIL r ,

PhtOBLEM: Uquid UF6 cas explode if it comes in 7- . :---- m - p contact with hydrocarbon oil, even when the quantity of 3{.p--m--m- {jl  :- :- ..n *0 jii oil is quite small (i.e., a few hundred cc's). If a til . . . .

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== :. 30.m contamit.ated standm ed UF6 cylindcr rated at 100-150pti did explode, the force probably woa!d not be contained.

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, J. lowcred to the ped, an explosion occurred within the cylinder as 7 .i .

. cM by a loud report and the outward belging of both concaw 2 ' cads of the cyhadcr. la this inar , the explosion was contamed but

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[ o The vapor pressure of the ou is sufficiently low that the ou win not interfere with liquid UF6illaing the to the cylinder is insuf5cient to hold the displeosd ou, the ou win be forced into the cylinder.

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cylinder.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

, o Analysis of liquid UF6 samples from the cylinder cannot reliably detect seau quantities of oit 1. The inside of new UF6 cylinders should be thoroughly cleaned if the presence of aja Primaruy, the entry of oillate UF 6occurs as fouows: hydrocarboa ou is suspeceed. Ef5setive procedures forcasanias new cyundas and tinw -i- eia-Oil used during fabrication may remain oa theinside of large cylinders are incinded la the appendices of surface of the cyhader ifit is ' " , -

", elsened. ANSI N 14.1 - 1982, " Packaging of Ursaism This can be ali=i==*ad if the fabricator applies Hexafluoride for Treas#

appropriate quakty assurance procedures and the l ,- buyer thoroughly inspects a s'a'i=*ie=Hy significant 2. Only oilfree air should be used to pressurire

'l number of cylinders. cylinders. Consider air operated ejectors for

[, evacuation. They provide the most positive

'1 Oi! may be formd into the cyhnder during an,d after assurance that oil will not enter the cylinder during i evacuation through L rwr a operation of an oil- the evacuation operation.

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filled vacuum pump. Should the pump stop for any reason (i.e., power interruption, motor burn up, belt

3. An oil trap should be installed between an oil-fHied breaking, operator error, or =ar4ianie=1 faihus), the vacuum pump and any UF6 cylindir being atmospheric pressure on the pump dascharge can evacuated. The oil trap (shown below) should have a force the oil back through the pump to the auction volume greater than the oil capacity of the vacuum i l

side. If the volume of the pipe connecting the pump pump.

To Atmosphere -

Oil Free 30

• 30 peig '

Cylinder r

Valve 1 4-3 Q <

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&Motor Vacuum Trap i n Sight

, g, UF6 Mader Vt've lassaR en oil trap between as sel alled vesunsa puay and ear UF 6sybader beingsveemmead. Operating a *:- :1)trapvelemasmanbe l grosser than et velesse of pungs 2) trop aan be empty of oil as shown by sight Wass before uslag sysesas to evemenes UF4 syllader; and

! 3) valve I and sykeder valve must be onesed befen steales sa pump.

. For usere lafenaames, eestaat Wiulam A. Pryer, Safay and Eawheemsstal Centret Division. Oak Rides C, '

Odles, FT3: 650sS3; esammerdal: (415) 3 Moss 3.

Sgfrey Afsre is published for DOE propeat memesure and esseressors to share infenneteen about possatial . " safety problems reisvest to DOE opereness. Per addessualeepina, eestaa "Nena Oilbert Editor. EP.3e.l. Preyes Centrol StaK. Assistaat Seentary, Enviremansotal Prosessen, Safety and Emergener 7. . U.S. Department of Energy, Washiestem. D.C. 2sS45. e.a.ph FT5 233-295s; Casamarcial(301) 353-295s.

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