ML21210A326
| ML21210A326 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Idaho State University |
| Issue date: | 07/28/2021 |
| From: | Idaho State University |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML21210A328 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML21210A326 (8) | |
Text
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 1 of 7 Idaho State University AGN-201M Reactor Facility License R-110, Docket No. 50-284 Annual Operating Report for 2020 Calendar Year
- 1. Narrative Summary A. Changes in Facility Design, Performance Characteristics, and Operating Procedures:
The reactor console was changed from the old vacuum circuits to more modern solid state circuits. Performance characteristics stayed the same between consoles by design to allow for an easier transition for reactor operators, and operating procedures were updated to reflect the new console.
B. Results of major Surveillance Tests and Inspections:
- 1) The period, count rate, and power level measuring channels were calibrated and set points were verified. Channels 1, 2, & 3 were tested on 11/30/2020.
- 2) Power level (06/19/2020) and period check (06/19/2020) experiments were performed with satisfactory results.
- 3) The shield water tank was inspected (11/23/2020) and no leaks or excessive corrosion were observed. The water level interlock tested satisfactorily (11/23/2020).
- 4) The Seismic Displacement & temperature interlocks were tested and found satisfactory on 11/23/2020.
- 5) Inspections a) Control element capsules (cladding) were inspected (06/17/2020) and found to be in good condition with no evidence of deterioration since the previous inspection.
b) The control rod drive mechanisms were inspected (06/17/2020) and tested with satisfactory results.
c) Ejection times were measured (06/18/2020) for all SCRAM-able rods, SR-1, SR-2, and the CCR and were found to be 0.15, 0.15, and 0.2 seconds respectively. The requirement that ejection times be less then 1 second is satisfied.
d) The reactivity worth of the Fine Control Rod was measured on 3/4/2020, and of Safety Rods 1 and 2 and the Course Control Rod on 8/14/2020. The time to drive each rod fully into the core was measured on 6/18/2020 as part of performing Maintenance Procedure 1. The largest reactivity insertion rate is 0.0275 (% kk)/s, which is less than the tech spec limit of 0.065 (% kk)/s.
e) On 8/14/2020 the shutdown margin (SDM) with the most reactive SCRAM-able rod and the fine control rod fully inserted was determined to be 1.69 % kk (at
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 2 of 7 maximum allowable k excess 0.65 % k/k). This value meets the tech spec requirement that the SDM be greater than 1% kk.
f) All Surveillances were within the appropriate Technical Specification requirements.
C. NRC Inspections The annual inspection was conducted June 29 - July 3. One finding of significance was found. The rod worth calculation was not completed within the time period for CY 2019.
This was immediately corrected, and rod worth calculations have been incorporated into the annual surveillance procedures. No violations were found during the inspection.
- 2. Operating History and Energy Output The reactor was operated at power levels up to 4.8 Watts for a total of 45.1456 Watt-hours of thermal energy during this reporting period. A summary of monthly operations for 2020 is given in Table I.
Table I. Summary of Monthly Reactor Operations (1 January 2020 through 31 December 2020)
Year Totals January 5.8667 Watt-hr February 0.0390 Watt-hr March 0.4849 Watt-hr April 0.0000 Watt-hr May 0.0000 Watt-hr June 9.9038 Watt-hr July 8.0280 Watt-hr August 7.6842 Watt-hr September 0.0000 Watt-hr October 13.1247 Watt-hr November 0.0143 Watt-hr December 0.0000 Watt-hr 45.1456 Watt-hr Total 0.0451 kWatt-hr The 0.0451 kWatt-hr consumed 1.98 µgrams of U-235 using Equation (1)
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During the calendar year, several students went through reactor operator training. During the calendar year, no students took NRC licensing exams and no Reactor Operator (RO) or Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) licenses were awarded. The lack of exams was due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and the Channel 2 detector problems we experienced in the
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 3 of 7 latter half of the year. All students who were planning to take the 2020 NRC Licensing Exams will be able to take the 2021 NRC Licensing Exams if they are still interested and on campus.
- 3. Unscheduled Events and Inadvertent SCRAMS A. Unscheduled Shutdowns and Corrective Actions Taken - None B. Inadvertent SCRAMS and Actions Taken There were 3 inadvertent scrams during this reporting period. Table II summarizes the inadvertent scrams, known or suspected cause, actions taken and resolution.
Table II. Summary of Inadvertent Scrams (1 January 2020 through 31 December 2020)
Inadvertent scrams Date Time Scram Type Cause Resolution Action Ensured console Electrical Console Power was securely 2/7/20 11:00 Restart Failure Turned Off plugged into wall outlet Channel 3 Possible Shutdown &
3/4/20 18:57 Low Electrical Noise Investigate Removed Course Control Course Control Shutdown &
8/21/20 16:09 Manual Rod Stuck Rod and Investigate Inspected ISU is in the process of updating our procedures to modernize the logging process to ensure we have all necessary details for each SCRAM in the future.
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 4 of 7
- 4. Safety Related Corrective Maintenance Table III. Summary of Safety Related Maintenance (1 January 2020 through 31 December 2020)
Safety related Corrective Maintenance Date Performed Description Safety Rod 1 (SR1) removed from reactor due to slow insertion times during 3/12/20 tests with the new console. Insertion times were 8-10 seconds slower than in 2019 but consistent with SR2.
Course Conrol Rod (CCR) removed from reactor due to binding at top of 8/25/20 travel and below 7cm insertion. Adjustment to CCR drive was made and tested until acceptable results achieved.
Channel 2 detector removed from water shield tank for inspection due to reading off scale low during operations on 08/28/2020. Detector can was 9/4/20 disassembled under fume hood in counting lab and inspected for corrosion and BF3 gas leaks.
Channel 2 detector was returned to water tank in a temporary waterproof 9/18/20 container to compare with Channel 3 detector readings. No difference in Channel 2 reading was noticed. Channel 2 detector was removed.
Channel 2 cables were cleaned and inspected by Craig Shull and then tested 10/2/20 with the Channel 2 detector. The signal returned to levels similar to those measured on 08/28/20 before the original problem.
Channel 2 detector returned to reactor vessel in new detector can made of PVC instead of the original aluminum can per 50.59 Screen ISU-50.59-2020-1.
10/2/20 The original aluminum can was pitted and prone to leaking. The outside of the can was previously coated in FlexSeal to ensure a watertight seal, but it should not be used for a permanent solution.
Channel 2 low level trip setpoint was changed from 2E-13 amps to 3E-13 10/23/20 amps to ensure compliance with Technical Specifications.
A 35 µF capacitor was added to Channel 2 to eliminate low level noise 10/23/20 scram issues due to a short Time Constant. This capacitor increases the Time Constant of the circuit closer to the vacuum tube circuit.
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 5 of 7 Table IV. Summary of New Console Work (1 January 2020 through 31 December 2020)
New Console Work Date Performed Description 3/13/20 Console validated for control rod installation process.
Channel 2 noise was investigated. A temporary fix of using the Cf-252 3/19/20 source was implemented to prevent low level trip.
New console powered through isolation transformer to test if noise is a 3/24/20 grounding issue.
3/25/20 New console testing of control rod manipulation on test stand.
5/30/20 Work on new console relay chassis 6/6/20 Continued work on new console relay chassis 6/12/20 Continued work on new console 6/19/20 New Console Initial Startup
- 5. Modifications A. Changes in Facility Design - Reactor console was changed from vacuum tube circuitry to solid state circuitry and went critical on June 19th, 2020 following the Preparation Procedure for Restart Testing of Idaho State Universitys AGN-201 Solid-State Control System.
B. Changes to Procedures - Operating Procedure #1 was updated to reflect the new console.
C. Changes to Experiments - None D. Reactor Safety Committee As the end of the reporting period, membership of the Reactor Safety Committee (RSC) consisted of the following individuals:
Kermit Bunde - Chair (DOE-ID)
Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, PhD - Reactor Administrator (Assoc. Dean, ISU)
George Imel, PhD - Assistant Reactor Administrator (Prof., ISU)
Jonathan Scott - Reactor Supervisor John Longley - Radiation Safety Officer Robert Boston, PE, CHP (DOE-ID Manager)
Jay F. Kunze, PhD, PE, CHP (Emeritus Prof., ISU)
Benjamin Baker, PhD (INL)
Mark Cox (INL)
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 6 of 7
- 6. Summary of Changes Subject to 10 CFR 50.59 Analyses - Modified the detector can from the original aluminum can design to a PVC design. ISU-50.59-2020-1 screening was completed and determined that no evaluation was needed.
- 7. Radioactive Effluents A. Liquid Waste - Total Activity Released - None B. Gaseous Waste - Total Estimated Activity Released The AGN-201 Reactor was operated for 45.1456 Watt-hours at power levels up to approximately 4.8 Watts. At this power level Ar-41 production is negligible and substantially below the effluent concentration limit given in 10 CFR 20 Appendix B, Table 2. The total activity of Ar-41 released to the environment was conservatively estimated at 0.9372 µCi using Equation (2). This activity corresponds to the total activity of all gaseous radioactive effluent from the facility. A monthly summary of calculated gaseous releases is given in Table IV.
Table IV. Summary of Monthly Gaseous Radioactive Effluent Releases (1 January 2020 through 31 December 2020)
Year Totals Ar-41 January 0.1218 µCi February 0.0008 µCi March 0.0101 µCi April 0.0000 µCi May 0.0000 µCi June 0.2056 µCi July 0.1667 µCi August 0.1595 µCi September 0.0000 µCi October 0.2725 µCi November 0.0003 µCi December 0.0000 µCi Total 0.9372 µCi Q Q Q (.)()Q - 5Q K () = (2)
Q Q Q (. )
C. Solid Waste - Total Activity - None
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 7 of 7
- 8. Environmental Radiation survey A environmental radiation survey was not completed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the reactor being inoperable. Reactor personnel are working with the Radiation Safety Office to schedule an environmental radiation survey once the reactor is operational again.
- 9. Radiation Exposure The Radiation Safety Officer reviews personnel Radiation exposure quarterly. Annual reports of ionizing radiation doses are provided by the Radiation Safety Officer to all monitored personnel as specified in Section 15.4 of the ISU Radiation Safety Manual. Personnel are issued dosimeters by the Radiation Safety Department if they meet the criteria of Section 15.1 of the ISU Radiation Safety Manual. All monitored personnel were below dose limits for calendar year 2020.
The 10 CFR 20.1201 occupational dose limits to adults are: total 5 rem, lens of eye 15 rem, shallow 50 rem, and deep 50 rem. The doses received for all reactor laboratory personnel during 2020 are well below the dose limits of 10 CFR 20.1201, and well below ISU ALARA limits (1 rem per year, 0.3 rem per quarter).
Table VI. Summary of Whole-Body Exposures to the Public (1 January 2020 through 31 December 2020)
Number of Estimated Whole-Body Exposure Individuals in Range (mrem):
Each Range:
No Observable Dose 188 1.0 mrem* 8 1.0 mrem < Dose < 5.0 mrem 0 5.0 mrem < Dose < 10.0 mrem 0 10.0 mrem < Dose < 15.0 mrem 0 Dropped Dosimeter** 0 Total Number of Individuals Reported: 196
- Below 1.0 mrem is considered un-measurable **When a dosimeter is dropped, the value indicated is altered from the true value. All individuals who dropped dosimeters are assumed to have no observable dose.
Idaho State University AGN-201m Reactor 2020 Annual Report Page 8 of 7 None of the 196 visitors to the facility during 2020 received a measurable dose that would exceed the annual 0.1 rem dose limit of 10 CFR 20.1301 for members of the public.
Therefore, the average and maximum doses received by the personnel and the public are within NRC guidelines.
Report Prepared by:
Jonathan Scott AGN-201m Reactor Supervisor Completed: February 5, 2021 Reviewed and Approved by:
Jonathan Scott Dr. Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar AGN-201m Reactor Supervisor AGN-201m Reactor Administrator Completed: February 10, 2021 Completed: Digitally signed by Mary Lou Dunzik-Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar Gougar Date: 2021.02.10 14:17:02 -07'00'