ML20245D361

Forwards Rept Re Component Failure on Triga Mk II for Comments as to Whether Problem Generic in Nature & If Advisory Should Be Issued

ML20245D361
Person / Time
Site:	Kansas State University
Issue date:	04/21/1989
From:	Michaels T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Whittemore W GENERAL ATOMICS (FORMERLY GA TECHNOLOGIES, INC./GENER
References
NUDOCS 8904280264
Download: ML20245D361 (2)

Text

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! ' Docket No. 50-188 Dr. W. L.'Whittemore, Director' Irradiation Services TRIGA Group General Atomics, Building 21 P. 0. ' Box 85608 San Diego, California 92138-5608

SUBJECT:

COMPONENT FAILURES ON TRIGA MK II Enclosed for your information is a report from Kansas State University regarding_ component failures they experienced with their TRIGA MK'II Nuclear Reactor Facility. Please comnent on whether this is a~ generic problem and, if so, whether it would be useful to issue an advisory'to'all such reactor, c

facilities.

Sincerely,

/s/

Theodore S. Michaels, Project Manager Standardization and Non-Power Reactor Project Directorate Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, Y and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

As stated i

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Docket No. 50-188 s

Dr. W. L. Whittemore, Director Irradiation Services TRIGA Group General Atomics, Building 21 P. O. Box 85608 San Diego, California 92138-5608

SUBJECT:

COMPONENT FAILURES ON TRIGA MK II Enclosed for your. information is a report from Kansas State University.

-regarding component failures they experienced with their TRIGA MK II Nuclear Reactor Facility. Please conenent on whether this is a generic problem and, if so, whether it would be useful to issue an advisory to all such reactor facilities.

Sincerely, S '

Theodore S. Michaels, Project fianager Standardization and Non-Power Reactor Project Directorate Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, V and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

As stated 1

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3CANSAS Ward Hall Manhattan, Kansas 66506 l g 913-532 5624 2 March 1989 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, TX 76011 4 Re: License R-88 Docket 50-188

Dear firs:

This is to report a malfunction of the drive for a standard control rod which took place on 1 Mar 1989 at the KSU TRIGA Mkil Nuclear Reactor Facility. Reactor startup was in prwress aftr:r previous operation earlier in the day. The safety rod was witharawn fully and one standard rod, the shim rod, was parti l ally withdrawn. As the second of two standard rods,

• the reg rod, was being withdrawn, the other two rods were automatically

" scrammed." At that point, the reg rod was manually driven into the core.

Then, with the safety and shim rods fully inserted, an attempt was made to withdraw the reg rod. The reg, rod could only be partially wir + awn and

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automatically was " scrammed" at approximately the same rod pi , n that the prior shim and safety rod insertion had been triggered. A see test revealed that the manual scram capability was not impaired and at nc me .

was a safety system presented from performing its function. The reactor was then secured and an investigation undertaken.

Inspection of the reg rod drive mechanism revealed frayed wires and an ,

apparent short circuit in the magnet-power supply line. It is our intention to remove, disassemble, inspect, and test the control-rod drive mechanism and, as necessary, to replace the electromagnet supply line or the entire electromagnet assembly. To prevent re-occurence, we plan to modify our procedure for biennial control rod inspection to include inspection of the entire roddrive mechanism and, as well, the console's rod-drive switch assembly. .

Sincerely,

8. h Richard E. Faw, Director KSU Nuclear Reactor Facility ec: Reactor Safeguards Committee .

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