ML21175A335

University of California, Davis, MNRC 2020 Annual Report

ML21175A335
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Site:	University of California-Davis
Issue date:	12/31/2020
From:	McClellan Nuclear Research Center
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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2020 ANNUAL REPORT Docket Number 50-607 License Number R-130

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020

1. Introduction The University of California, Davis, McClellan Nuclear Research Center (MNRC) consists of a research reactor, associated radiography and positioning equipment, and a wide variety of equipment to support broad-based research activities. This MNRC Annual Report is published each year in support of the license provided by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The aforementioned license is for the operation of a steady-state TRIGA' reactor with pulsing and square wave capability.

It is the primary intent of this document to provide information relevant to the safe operation of the UCD/MNRC. A brief description of the MNRC facility and administration is followed by operational events and health physics information concerning this facility during CY 2020.

2. UCD/MNRC Facility Description The UCD/MNRC is located on the McClellan Industrial Park site; the reactor is housed in Building 258. The McClellan Industrial Park site is approximately 2600 acres, located eight miles northeast of Sacramento, California.

The UCD/MNRC facility is a three level 14,720 sq. ft. rectangular-shaped enclosure that surrounds a 2 MW research reactor. The UCD/MNRC provides four neutron beams to four bays for radiography and other research and commercial activities. All four bays are capable of using radiography film techniques.

Space, shielding and environmental controls are provided by the enclosure for neutron radiography operations performed on a variety of samples. Adequate room has been provided to handle the components in a safe manner.

In addition to the radiography bays, the UCD/MNRC reactor also has several in-core facilities ranging from a pneumatic tube system to a central irradiation facility.

For more detailed information on the UCD/MNRC project, the reader is referred to the UCD/MNRC Safety Analysis Report.

3.0 UCD/MNRC Administration UCD/MNRC Organization. The UCD/MNRC is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory commission (NRC) to operate under the provisions of operating license R-130.

The University of California Regents have designated the Chancellor at UC Davis to be the license holder. The UCD Chancellor has in-turn delegated the Vice Chancellor for Research to be the licensee of record.

The UCD/MNRC is under the direction of the UCD/MNRC Director.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 4.0 Facility Modifications (Section 50.59 of 10CFR Part 50), and experiments.

1. K-4-53 (Sb source production in the Central Irradiation Facility (CIF)).

2. K-4-54 (P-32 source production in the CIF).

5.0 Approved Changes to Experiments None 6.0 Licensing and Regulatory Activities 6.1 NRC Items

a. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted a semi-annual inspection the week of 6 January 2020. No significant findings reported.

b. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted an inspection the week of 15 June 2020. No significant findings reported.

c. One Senior Reactor Operator retired and his license was terminated.

d. Licensing Renewal documentation was transmitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 10 July 2020 for 2 Senior Reactor Operators. They are currently in Timely Renewal.

6.2 Nuclear Safety Committee (UCD/NSC)

a. The Nuclear Safety Committee held its semi-annual meetings on 6 March and 23 September 2020.

b. The Nuclear Safety Committee performed an Operations audit for 2020 on 14 January 2021.

c. The Nuclear Safety Committee performed an audit of the Radiation Safety Program on 9 November 2020.

d. The Nuclear Safety Committee performed a Security audit on 23 October 2020.

7.0 OPERATIONS OPERATING HISTORY:

TOTAL OPERATING HOURS THIS YEAR: 1638.47 TOTAL OPERATING HOURS: 56186.73 TOTAL MEGAWATT HOURS THIS YEAR: 1549.28 TOTAL MEGAWATT HOURS: 70483.99 TOTAL NUMBER OF PULSES PERFORMED THIS YEAR: 0 TOTAL NUMBER OF PULSES PERFORMED: 484 3

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 7.1 UNSCHEDULED REACTOR SHUTDOWNS and NOTED PROBLEM AREAS:

In 2020, there was one (1) unscheduled reactor shutdown at the MNRC reactor facility. The following is a list of the unscheduled shutdowns:

2020 UNSCHEDULED REACTOR SHUTDOWNS Type of Failures Total Number CSC 0 Other 1 TOTAL NUMBER OF UNSCHEDULED SHUTDOWNS IN 2020 1 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec CSC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Notes 1 Notes:

1: Scram Database Timeout - Cleared on Rebooting the Control System Console (CSC) computer January

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of January.

2. There were no callbacks to the facility in January.

February

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of February.

2. There were no callbacks to the facility in February.

March

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of March.

2. There was one callback to the facility in March.

a. The Stack Continuous Air Monitor (CAM) experienced a momentary fault (Derivative Alarm) that cleared on acknowledgement.

April

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of April.

2. There were no callbacks to the facility in the month of April.

May

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of May.

2. There were no callbacks to the facility in the month of May.

June

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of June.

2. There was one callback to the facility in the month of June.

a. The Stack CAM was found to be in a fault, alert and alarm condition with all displayed indications normal. It appears that the Stack CAM rebooted itself.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 July

1. There was one unscheduled shutdown in July.

a. Reactor Scram, caused by Database Timeout. Cleared on reboot.

2. There was one callback to the facility in the month of July.

a. Callback due to loss of site power.

August

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of August.

2. There no callbacks to the facility in the month of August.

September

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of September.

2. There were two callbacks to the facility in the month of September.

a. Callback due to a flock of birds flying through sensors.

b. Callback due to momentary spike in Stack CAM indications October

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of October.

2. There were no callbacks to the facility in the month of October.

November

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in the month of November.

2. There were two callbacks to the facility in the month of November.

a. Fire Alarm caused by a failed smoke detector.

b. Callback due to a Scram Database Timeout message. Cleared on reboot.

December

1. There were no unscheduled shutdowns in December.

2. There was one callback to the facility in the month of December.

a. Scram Database Timeout. Cleared on reboot.

7.2 ANOMALIES

During 2020, there were no anomalies at the MNRC facility and no Radiological Incident Investigations.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 7.3 MAINTENANCE OTHER THAN PREVENTIVE:

January System # Description Work Performed 5490 Helium Supply Replace expended Helium Supply bottle March System # Description Work Performed 1800 Reactor Ventilation DOP test Reactor Room Exhaust HEPA filters 1803 Rad-Vac DOP test Radiological Vacuum Cleaner 5490 Helium Supply Replace expended Helium Supply bottle Stack CAM SCA Replaced Stack CAM SCA card. Recalibrated the 1001 card Argon Channel April System # Description Work Performed 5490 Helium Supply Replace expended Helium Supply bottle 5640 AC-9 Replaced AC-9 with new unit May System # Description Work Performed 5490 Helium Supply Replaced expended helium supply bottle NM-1000 Troubleshot and repaired NM-1000 Calibration Mode 5330 Calibration Mode 4 4 noise issue.

noise problem Reactor CAM fuse 1001 Replaced failed Rx CAM fuse holder holder Fire System air Replaced failed Fire system air compressor and the 5740 compressor leaking inlet manifold to the fire suppression system June System # Description Work Performed Demineralizer Replaced 2 depleted Demineralizer System resin 5120 system resin bottles bottles 5490 Helium Supply Replaced expended helium supply bottle 6

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 July System # Description Work Performed Pneumatic Transfer 5510 Replaced failed EF-3 Blower motor System 5310 CSC Status Monitor Replaced Failed CSC Status monitor 5490 Helium Supply Replaced expended helium supply bottle August

1. MNRC completed the annual reactor maintenance shutdown during the month of August.

Technical Specification required periodic maintenance as well as general maintenance was performed.

2. Parametric values noted during testing are as follows:

Control Rod Worth:

Transient Rod: $1.84 Shim 1: $2.50 Shim 2: $2.36 Shim 3: $2.46 Shim 4: $2.93 Regulating Rod: $2.69 Control Rod Scram Drop Times:

Transient Rod: 0.35 sec Shim 1: 0.40 sec Shim 2: 0.37 sec Shim 3: 0.42 sec Shim 4: 0.39 sec Regulating Rod: 0.41 sec Shutdown Margin: $6.38 The normal nuclear instrument calorimetric calibration was performed. Both the NPP channel and the NM-1000 channels of the Nuclear Instruments were satisfactory, and no adjustments were required.

At Power Scram values: NPP-1000: 107% indicated, NM-1000: 100% indicated.

September System # Description Work Performed 5490 Helium Supply Replaced expended helium supply bottle NM-1000 Replaced 2 IC sockets in the Cambelling Module.

5330 Cambelling Module Retests Sat.

5330 NM-1000 Replaced leaking capacitor. Retest Sat.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 October System # Description Work Performed CSC computer did not recover after UPS load test.

5330 CSC Computer Replaced CSC computer hard drive.

5490 Helium Supply Replaced expended helium supply bottle November System # Description Work Performed Reactor Room 5620 Replaced failed EF-1 fan motor.

Ventilation December System # Description Work Performed 5740 Smoke Detector Replaced failed below deck smoke detector 5490 Helium Supply Replaced expended helium supply bottle 7.4 Training January

1. Two Senior Reactor Operators completed training on Administrative Controls and Procedures.

2. Three Facility personnel received training on Emergency Drills and Basic Emergency Response.

3. Five Senior Reactor Operators participated in a Security Drill.

February

1. One Senior Reactor Operator completed training on Administrative Controls and Procedures March

1. One Senior Reactor Operator completed training on Administrative Controls and Procedures.

2. Five Senior Reactor Operators completed training on Facility Design and Operating Characteristics.

April

1. Facility personnel completed Annual ALARA and annual Safety/Security training.

2. One Senior Reactor Operator completed training on Administrative Controls and Procedures.

3. Four Senior Reactor Operators completed and passed the Biennial Requalification Exam.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 May

1. Facility personnel attended training for Document Changes.

June

1. Two Senior Reactor Operators completed their Biennial Medical exams.

2. One trainee received training on Building Cranes and rigging.

July

1. Facility personnel received training on changes to the Neutron Radiography training program.

August

1. All Senior Reactor Operators and one trainee completed Fuel and Fuel Handling training.

2. One trainee received training on Building Cranes and rigging.

September

1. No training was held in September.

October

1. All Senior Reactor Operators completed the Annual Operators Examination.

November

1. No training was held in November.

December

1. No training was held in December.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 Operating Hours 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 Unscheduled Reactor Shutdowns 2020 5

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec CSC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2020 Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2019 Total 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 Months 11

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 Reactor Hours (2020)

Reactor Hours 2020 180 160 140 Monthly Operating and Megawatt Hours 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2019 Op-Hrs 136.35 107.13 98.09 148.2 139.93 95.73 91.86 136.62 145.18 171.39 134.22 113.1 2019 Mw-Hrs 129.6 103.14 90.88 141.55 129.14 92.27 88.86 109.48 138.19 166.47 131.01 105.47 2020 Op-Hrs 141.13 139.59 143.91 162.94 126.65 164.58 134.47 126.58 145.45 156.43 123.64 73.1 2020 Mw-Hrs 137.89 128.17 138.42 158.99 122.86 150.92 131.01 105.7 135.8 149.36 120.04 70.12 12

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 Reactor Tank Irradiation Facilities 2020 17 16 15 14 Number of Irradiations 13 12 11 10 9

8 7

6 5

4 3

2 1

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Pneumatic 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Silicon Fixture 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 Central Facility 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 Argon 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Neutron Irradiator 0 3 4 0 1 16 0 0 0 5 1 3 Months 13

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 Bay Utilization (Shutter Operations) 2020 500 450 400 Number of Irradiations 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bay 1 306 318 337 437 301 349 379 256 278 364 277 277 Bay 2 403 340 285 429 246 286 306 155 207 342 220 95 Bay 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 7 5 2 0 0 1 Bay 4 0 0 0 62 59 55 51 39 35 23 32 1 Months 14

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 Bay Irradiation Requests Completed 2020 200 175 150 Number of Irradiation Requests 125 100 75 50 25 0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bay 1 144 166 179 169 135 134 129 92 102 130 129 87 Bay 2 104 114 101 102 84 110 75 73 90 113 90 57 Bay 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 Bay 4 0 0 6 36 18 14 25 11 5 6 9 1 Months 15

UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 8.0 Radioactive Effluents A summary of the nature and amount of radioactive effluents released or discharged to the environment beyond the effective control of the MNRC, as measured at or prior to the point of such release or discharge, include the following:

8.1 Liquid Effluents No liquid effluents were released during 2020.

8.2 Airborne Effluents Airborne radioactivity discharged during 2020 is tabulated in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 2020

SUMMARY

OF AIRBORNE EFFLUENTS MONTH TOTAL EST.MAX AVG. FRACTION OF EST. DOSE (2) FRACTION OF TOT. EST. AVERAGE EST. CONC. OF APPLICABLE FROM Ar-41 APPLICABLE QUANTITY CONC. OF QUAN. Ar-41 IN 10CFR20 Ar-41 FOR 10CFR20 OF ACT. PART. ACT.

Ar-41 UNRESTRICTED CONC. LIMIT FOR UNRESTRICTED DOSE IN RELEASED RELEASED AREA (1)(3) UNRESTRICTED AREA (1) CONSTRAINT PART. WITH AREA (1) FOR FORM HALF-LIFE UNRESTRICTED WITH > 8 DAYS AREA (1)(4) HALF-LIFE

>8 DAYS (Ci) (uCi/ml) (%) (mrem) (%) (Ci) (uCi/ml)

JAN 3.04 4.01E-07 1.8% 1.08E+00 10.75% NONE NONE FEB 3.02 4.27E-07 1.9% 1.14E+00 11.44% NONE NONE MAR 3.17 4.19E-07 1.8% 1.12E+00 11.23% NONE NONE APR 4.72 6.23E-07 2.7% 1.67E+00 16.69% NONE NONE MAY 2.14 2.83E-07 1.2% 7.58E-01 7.58% NONE NONE JUN 3.99 5.28E-07 2.3% 1.42E+00 14.15% NONE NONE JUL 3.24 4.30E-07 1.9% 1.15E+00 11.51% NONE NONE AUG 2.35 3.11E-07 1.4% 8.34E-01 8.34% NONE NONE SEP 3.30 4.38E-07 1.9% 1.17E+00 11.72% NONE NONE OCT 3.35 4.44E-07 2.0% 1.19E+00 11.89% NONE NONE NOV 2.36 3.12E-07 1.4% 8.37E-01 8.37% NONE NONE DEC 1.22 1.62E-07 0.7% 4.33E-01 4.33% NONE NONE TOT 35.91 4.78E-06 12.80 NONE NONE AVG 2.99 3.98E-07 1.8% 1.07 10.67%

(1) This location is 240 meters downwind which is the point of maximum expected concentration based on the worst case atmospheric conditions (see MNRC SAR Chapter 11).

(2) Based on continuous occupancy and the calculation techniques used in Appendix A of the MNRC SAR (Ar-41 at 2.3E-10 uCi/ml continuous for one year equals 1.4 mrem).

(3) 10CFR20 Limit for concentration is 1E-8 (Appendix B, Table 2);

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 (4) Constraint for dose is 10 mrem/year [10CFR20.1101(d)]

8.3 Solid Waste No solid radioactive waste was shipped this year.

9.0 Radiation Exposure Radiation exposure received by facility operations personnel, facility users, and visitors during 2020 is summarized in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 2020

SUMMARY

OF PERSONNEL RADIATION EXPOSURES NUMBER OF AVERAGE GREATEST AVERAGE GREATEST INDIVIDUALS TEDE INDIVIDUAL EXTREMITY EXTREMITY PER TEDE (1)

INDIVIDUAL (mrem) (mrem) (mrem)

(mrem)

FACILITY 11 23 105 420 807 PERSONNEL FACILITY 173 <1.0 1.0 *

• USERS VISITORS 395 <1.0 1.0 * *

(1) Only 2 individuals received extremity exposure

• Extremity monitoring was not required.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 10.0 Radiation Levels and Levels of Contamination Radiation levels and levels of contamination observed during routine surveys performed at the MNRC during 2020 are summarized in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 2020

SUMMARY

OF RADIATION LEVELS AND CONTAMINATION LEVELS DURING ROUTINE SURVEYS AVERAGE HIGHEST AVERAGE HIGHEST (mrem/hr) (mrem/hr) (dpm/100cm2) (dpm/100cm2)

OFFICE SPACES <0.1 <0.1 <5000(1) <5000(1)

REACTOR CONTROL RM <0.1 <0.1 <5000(1) <5000(1)

RADIOGRAPHY CONTROL RM <0.1 <0.1 <5000(1) <5000(1)

COUNTING LAB <0.1 <0.1 <5000(1) <5000(1)

STAGING AREA <0.1 <0.1 <5000(1) <5000(1)

FACILITY (I/S Fence) <0.1 <0.1 <5000(1) <5000(1)

EQUIPMENT RM 0.75 (4) 98 (5) <800(2) <800(2)

DEMINERALIZER AREA 16(4) 300(5) <800(2) <800(2)

REACTOR RM 1.3(4) 710(5) <800(2) <800(2)

RADIOGRAPHY BAYS 0.5(3) 270 <800(2) <800(2)

(1) <5000 dpm/100 cm2 = Less than the lower limit of detection for a scanning survey.

(2) <800 dpm/100 cm2 = Less than the lower limit of detection for a swipe survey.

(3) Due to Bay 1 Storage Areas; all other areas and bays are significantly lower (typically <0.1 mrem/hr).

(4) General area dose rate.

(5) Maximum contact dose rate.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 11.0 Environmental Surveys Environmental surveys performed outside of the MNRC during 2020 are summarized in Tables 4

& 5 below. The environmental survey program is described in the MNRC Facility Safety Analysis Report.

TABLE 4 2020

SUMMARY

OF ENVIRONMENTAL TLD RESULTS (WITH NATURAL BACKGROUND(1) SUBTRACTED)

AVERAGE HIGHEST (mrem) (mrem)

ON BASE (OFF SITE 1-20 & 64) 3 10 ON SITE (SITES 50 - 61 & 65-71) 15 20 (1) Natural background assumed to be the off base (Sites 27-42) average of 42 mrem.

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UCD/MNRC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020 TABLE 5 2020

SUMMARY

OF RADIOACTIVITY IN WELL WATER ALPHA BETA TRITIUM Cs-137 (pCi/l) (pCi/l) (pCi/l) (pCi/l)

AVERAGE <MDA 1.37 <MDA <MDA HIGHEST <MDA 1.92 <MDA <MDA MDA is the minimum detectable activity at the 95% confidence level.

The MDA range for the analyzed radionuclides (pCi/L).

MIN MAX Alpha 2.94 3.2 Beta 1.7 1.92 Tritium 251 281 Cs-137 10.9 17.6 20