ML21118A023

Purdue University - Report on Reactor Operations for the Period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020

ML21118A023
Person / Time
Site:	Purdue University
Issue date:	03/31/2021
From:	Townsend C Purdue University
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML21118A023 (4)

Text

REPORT ON REACTOR OPERATIONS For the Period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 PURDUE UNIVERSITY REACTOR-1 (PUR-1)

Facility Docket No. 50-182 PURDUE UNIVERSITY West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 March 2021 Prepared by Clive Townsend, Reactor Supervisor

1. INTRODUCTION This report is submitted to meet the requirements set forth in the Technical Specifications of the Purdue University Reactor (PUR-1) and 10 CFR 50.59 for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

During the reporting period of 2020, the reactor operated very little due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderate teaching activity was perfonned in the early portion of the year and the facility spent much of 4th quarter resolved power calibration issues.

There were 235 visitors across 70 groups to the facility including Purdue facilities staff, students, general tours, and VIPs.

2. PLANT DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL CHANGES 2.1 Facility Design Changes There were no facility design changes in the operations year.

2.2 Perfonnance Characteristics The overall status of the PUR-1 facility was sustained satisfactorily during the reporting period. The facility maintained all required surveillances except as noted below. Monthly surveillances of process water showed no fission product contamination, thereby verifying fuel integrity.

2.3 Changes in Operating Procedures Concerning Safety of Facility Operations Following significant review, changes were identified to be necessary in the power calibration procedure to reduce "skill of the craft" on the part of operators.

These changes were proposed in 2020 and would be further approved in 2021.

2.4 Results of Surveillance Tests and Inspections 2.4.1" Reactivity Limits The reactivity worth measurements and visual inspection of the control rods was not perfonned during 2020. The rods were last calibrated in August 2019 and are due for inspection and calibration again in 2021.

2.4.2 Reactor Safety Systems

Purdue was given notice of a probable violation for not performing appropriate surveillance testing before considering the nuclear instrument system operable following the replacement of the NI system and detectors. Staff incorrectly considered the system operable through the currently calibrated range when the entire system's calibration should have been completed first All other surveillances regarding the Reactor_ Safety ~m-were completed-~ * -

• 2.4.3 P~rriarv *coolant System  :

• During the checks the* conductivity of the primary ~lant was *measured ..

3 a*nd the values never exceeded micromhos/crri.

• Monthly samples of the primary-coolant were col_lected.and analyzed by*

. personnel from_ Radiological _and Environmental Management for gross *

-* alpha and beta activity.. No activity which W()Uld in_dicate ~ilure of tile.:

fuel plates wa~*idijntified in the samples.* **

• 2.4.4 Corifinerrient _*

• No qperation or fuel.handling was performed while the air p~ure was*

• bek>w -0.05 inches' of water. .

The air system isolation was tested and correct operation of 1he louvres wa~ observed; The Condensate Valve was. also.Inspected at this time.

. . 2.4-:s Experiments Or:ie irradiation experiment was began in 2020 but was-terminated early-due to power calibratl9n issues. *

• Inspections . _ .

.: A special inspection was perf'.oimed October 27 - Novetn~r 6 foilowing a; -

notification to_ the Headquait~rs- Operations Officer of an overpower in reactor

. power due to an incorrect calibration~* Th~ results :*of that inspectioh are available as ML21035A348~ * *

• 2.5 .Changes. Tests and Experiments Requiring Commission Authorization On~ change was made: to the' ~c;:ility Technical Specification in 2020 which clarified when *certain surv~illances must be performed .following change or .

modification to equipment the cilange allows for reactor operation to perform * -

the.requisite work when applicable..

• 2.6 Changes* in *Facility St.aff

There were no changes in facility staff in 2020.

3. POWER GENERATION There were 20 total runs in 2020 which generated an indicated value of 27 .9 kWh of thermal heat. The total operations time was *38.2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> giving ari average indicated power level of 730 Watts. Due to potential issues in the power calibration, this varue is most likely an average of 2.2 kW and a total power generation of not more than 83.7 kWh.

The total core energy. produced is approximately 83 kWh since installation in 2007.

4. UNSCHEDULED SHUTDOWNS There were one

. . unscheduled

. shutdown in 2020 due to a high radiation level reading on the Pool Top Scram monitorof43 mRem/hour. Corrective actions were reviewed and set for implementation in 2021 following restart after errors in power calibration.

5. MAINTENANCE' The HEPA filter for the room supply and exhaust air was checked upon during normal maintenance checks quarterly. Filters were replaced as needed. *

6. RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENT RELEASES No measurable amount of radioactive effluent was _released to the environs beyond our-effective.control, as measured at_or prior to the point of such release.

7. OCCU~ATIONAL PERSONNEL RADIATIO.N EXPOSURE .

No radiation exposures greater than 25% of the appropria_ te *limits of 10 CFR 20 .

were received dJring the reporting period.

• 8.. EN\/IRONMENTALSUR VEYS :PERFORMED OUTSIDE THE FACILITY

.There were additional envi~onmental.surveys performed outside the facility beyond. .

license *and regulatory requfrements. * . . . .