ML21274A024
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| ML21274A024 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 09/21/2021 |
| From: | Newton T US Dept of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML21274A018 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML21274A024 (1) | |
Text
Memorandum on Recovery Items September 21, 2021 From: Tom Newton, Chief, Reactor Operations and Engineering To: Event Recovery File In addition to the corrective actions listed in the Root Cause Response, there are several items in progress to return the reactor to an operational state. These are listed below, along with their status as of 21 September 2021.
- 1. Cleanup of the primary system. A Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC) has been awarded to a contractor experienced in decontamination and recovery work. Work under this contract includes cleanup of the reactor upper and lower grid plates. Filters for cleanup of the primary system have been acquired and filtering will commence once the grid plates are cleaned up of debris. Special Filters have been designed to sit in each fuel element position.
- 2. Fuel reuse evaluation. A number of studies were made to determine the conditions under which the existing (undamaged) fuel elements can be reused, including analysis of foreign particle size and the effect of reactor coolant flow on the remaining elements with one element dislodged. Fuel elements will be flushed and then inspected to verify the absence of foreign particles. This work will be performed under the SATOC.
- 3. Disposition of the damaged element. The damaged element has been removed from the core and placed in a storage location, separate from other fuel storage. Ultimate disposition of the element is currently under evaluation.
- 4. Fuel head design considerations. An evaluation of the fuel head design has concluded that, given the corrective actions planned, the current configuration may be safely used without modification. An engineering study of future redesign of the head is underway.
- 5. Operational surety of balance of plant. An action items list is being continually updated and items, including technical specification surveillances, are being performed as conditions allow.
The reactor will not be restarted until all critical plant systems are evaluated and functional.