ML22118B146

GEH Annual Nuclear Test Reactor (Ntr) Operating Report No. 62 for the Year 2021 (Rev 1)

ML22118B146
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos Nuclear Center
Issue date:	04/28/2022
From:	Martinez C GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
M220070
Download: ML22118B146 (10)

Text















M220070 April 28, 2022 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555-001

Subject:

GEH Annual Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) Operating Report for the Year 2021 (Rev 1)

Reference:

NRC License R-33, Docket 50-73 (NTR)

Enclosed is Rev 1 of the Annual Operating Report No. 62 for the GE Hitachi Nuclear Test Reactor (NTR) located at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California. This revision corrects a typographical error in the time and date for Scram Report 21-02.

If there are any questions regarding this report or additional information required, please contact me at the number above.

Sincerely, Carlos Martinez Site Manager Vallecitos Nuclear Center

Enclosure:

1) NTR Annual Operating Report Number 62 (Rev 1) for the year 2021 cc: D. Hardesty, NRC NRR CM 22-002 GEHitachiNuclearEnergy



CarlosMartinez

SiteManager,VallecitosNuclearCenter

6705VallecitosRoad

Sunol,CA94586

USA



T9254959173

Carlos1.Martinez@ge.com

Digitally signed by Carlos Martinez Reason: Approved Date: 2022-04-28 14:31-07:00

GEHitachi

NuclearEnergy



VallecitosNuclearCenter

6705VallecitosRd

Sunol,CA94586

USA















NUCLEARTESTREACTOR

















ANNUALREPORTNO.62Rev.1

FORTHEYEAR2021











LICENSER33

DOCKET5073











APRIL28,2022







Page 1 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022







GEHitachiNuclearTestReactor

AnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

Thisreportsummarizestheoperations,changes,tests,experiments,andmajormaintenanceat

theGEHitachi(GEH)NuclearTestReactor(NTR),whichwereauthorizedpursuanttoLicenseR 33,Docket5073,and10CFR50,Section50.59,fortheperiodofJanuary1,2021through

December31,2021.



I.General

SpecificinformationabouttheoperationoftheNTRduringthereportingperiodispresentedas

follows:

1. In2021therewere201reactorstartupswiththereactoroperatingatorabovecritical

for618.62hours.Totalpowergenerationequaled603.85EFPH;equivalentto2.516

MWdays.Themajorityofthistimewasspentintheperformanceofapproved

experiments,eitherneutronradiographyorsmallsampleirradiations.

2. ThehighestradiationexposuretoanyworkeratNTRwas0.718Rem.

3. Therewerefiveunscheduledshutdownsofthereactorin2021andfiveunscheduled

shutdownspriortocriticality.SeesectionVfordetails.

4. One2020technicalspecificationviolationwascitedinNRCInspectionReport2021201

whentheoperatorrequalificationprogramactivitieswerenotcompletedbythe

requiredduedate.SeesectionVfordetails



II.Organization

Thedetailsofchangesinthestatusofpersonnelandoperatorlicenses,whichoccurredduring

thereportingperiod,aredescribedasfollows:

Page 2 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

A.

Personnel

TheLevel1&2,Level3,andVNCsiteRegulatoryCompliancemanagerswere

unchangedin2021.

B.

OperatorLicenses

TherewerenochangestothestatusofoperatorlicensesundertheVallecitosNuclear

TestReactor,FacilityLicenseNo.R33in2021.



III.FacilityChanges,Tests,Experiments,andProcedureChangesApprovedbytheFacility

Manager

Inaccordancewithwrittenprocedures,facilitymanagerapprovalisrequiredforchangestothe

facility,procedures,tests,andexperiments.Specificinformationaboutthereportingperiodis

presentedasfollows:

A.

FacilityChanges

Thereweretwofacilitychangesimplementedin2021requiringFacilityManagerand

RegulatoryComplianceapproval.

1. Primarycoolantsystemconductivityprobeandreadoutwerereplacedasdescribedin

ChangeAuthorization(CA)317.Theoriginalprobecouldnotsafelyberemovedfrom

thesystemforcalibrationagainstaknownstandardasdocumentedinConditionReport

(CR)37268.Thenewsystemallowseasyremovalandplannedmaintenanceprocedure

StandardOperatingProcedure(SOP)12.46describesthecalibrationprocess.

2. PrimarycoolantpumpfailedandwasreplacedunderEngineeringRelease(ER)2119.

Thepumpinletvalve(TV103),samplesinkreturnvalve(V121),andthesectionof

aluminumpipebetweenthepumpandTV103werealsoreplaced.NTRCA322

documentsthisvalveandpipingchangeandtheassociated50.59evaluation.

B.

Tests

Pursuantto10CFR50.59(a),nospecialtestswereperformedduring2021.

C.

Experiments

Pursuantto10CFR50.59(a),twopreviouslyapprovedexperimenttypeswereperformedin

2021.

Page 3 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

1. Experimenttypesdescribedasneutronradiographyandslidesampleirradiations,were

properlyauthorizedutilizingexperimentauthorizationformsthroughout2021.

D.

ProcedureChanges

Pursuantto10CFR50.59,theadministrativerevisionofallNTRStandardOperatingProcedures

thatwasbegunin2020anddocumentedinNTRCA318,wascompletedin2021.Additionally,

elevenproceduralchangeswereinitiatedduring2021toincorporateeditorialortypographical

corrections,technicaldata,andchangestorequirements,ortoprovidefortheadditionor

clarificationofinformationandreliabilityofperformance.ChangesweremadewithFacility

ManagerandRegulatoryCompliancereviewwhenrequired.Asummaryofthechangesis

presentedinthetablebelow.

Revision

Procedure

SummaryofChanges

1 SOP 2.7, Process Instrumentation Added description of recently installed conductivity probe and meter.

1 SOP 4.2, Safety Rod Repairs Added new section on adjusting the flexible coupling.

2 SOP 6.4, Daily Surveillance Check Sheet Added a check that the On-Duty Emergency Director is on site prior to operating NTR.

1 SOP 6.5, Monthly Surveillance Check Sheet Changes reflect simplified conductivity meter checks.

1 SOP 8.2, Non-Reactor Emergencies Updated references to SEP site emergency procedures to recently approved SEC procedures.

1 SOP 8.4, Off-Normal Alarm Response Rewritten to clarify the definition of a seismic occurrence, reference the VNC earthquake procedure, and simplify emergency response for different modes of reactor operation.

1 SOP 8.5, Seismic Activity Clarification of 1) actions to seismic events when the reactor is operating, and 2) definition of Modified Mercalli IV. Intent of procedure is not affected by this change.

1 SOP 9.14, Reactor Operator Requalification Program Added clarifications on 1) time interval between annual operating tests, 2) preserving exam integrity when multiple operators are taking the same test, and

3) using a calendar-based reminder system to track annual requalification requirements.

Page 4 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

1 SOP 10.6, Cable-Held Retractable Irradiation System Authorized SROs to sign the VNC 706 form when transferring irradiated samples on-site.

1 SOP 12.3, Safety Rod Drives Added annual visual checks of the anvil roll pin and flexible coupling.

1 SOP 12.31, Stack Gas Monitor Changed the stack gaseous activity alarm point to match the values in SOP 5.2 and SOP 8.4 Alarm #22.

IV.MajorPreventativeorCorrectiveMaintenance

Duringthisreportingperiod,allroutinepreventivemaintenanceandsurveillancecheckswere

completedasscheduledwiththeexceptionofthethirdquarter,semiannual,EmergencyDiesel

GeneratorLoadTest,PM00301SBN.Thesitegeneratorisbeingrepairedandarentalunithas

beenacquiredtofulfillthisemergencyfunction.

Thefollowingliststhenoteworthycorrectivemaintenanceactivitiesperformedin2021.

1. 1/8/21Replacedthestartupsourcedrivebelt

Duringmaintenance,thestartupsourcecouldnotbewithdrawnfromthereactorwithinthe

requiredtimeframe.ThedrivebeltwasreplacedandallretestsperSOP12.4completed

satisfactorily.



2. 2/8/21ReplacedSR#4magnetS3withmagnetS13

AbrokenleadwirewasdiscoveredonmagnetS3duringtheinvestigationintoScram2102.

Themagnetwasreplaced.SeesectionVItemA.2belowfordetails.



3. 3/2/21Regluedstop(rubber)ontotheanvilofSafetyRod(SR)#4

Duringmaintenance,SR#4failedtomeettherequiredinflightscramtime.Thestop

(rubber)ontheanvilwasfoundtobedetached.ThepartwasreattachedperER2110and

retestedsatisfactorily.



4. 4/27/21thru6/15/21Onmultipleoccasions,SR#4exhibitedanabnormallyhigh

resistancetooutwardmovement

Adeliberateandcontrolledapproachwasusedtoaddressthisrecurringbutnonrepeatable

issueresultinginthefollowingactions:1)replacedtheanvilrollpinandoring,2)replaced

thedashpotbearing,3)replacedinnerbearingsurface(bushing),and4)disassembledand

Page 5 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

cleanedtheentiresafetyrodassembly.IssuedocumentedandaddressedbyCR36854and

ERs2113,2115,and2117.



5. Spurioushighstackparticulatealarms1/11/21thruearlyJune2021

Receivedfrequenthighstackparticulateactivityalarmsthatweredeterminedtobe

spuriousbetweenJanuaryandJune2021.EffortsdocumentedinCR36408totroubleshoot

andcorrectthiscondition.





V.UnscheduledShutdowns

Duringthereportingperiod,therewerefiveunscheduledreactorshutdownsafterreaching

criticalityandfiveunscheduledshutdownspriortoreachingcriticality.

A. UnscheduledShutdowns

1. ScramReport2101

Anunscheduledshutdownoccurredat11:45AMon2/3/2021withthereactoroperatingat

100%power.AReactorSafetySystemscramwasautomaticallyinserted.Therewereno

indicationsofthecauseofthescram.Avisualinspectionandoperationaltestsofallfour

safetyrodswerecompletedwithnoabnormalitiesobserved.ActionsdocumentedunderCR

36141.



2. ScramReport2102

Anunscheduledshutdownoccurredat11:08AMon2/5/2021withthereactoroperatingat

100%power.AReactorSafetySystemscramwasautomaticallyinsertedandtherewereno

indicationsofthecauseofthescram.ER2106wasgeneratedtoguidetroubleshootingon

all4safetyrods.Subsequently,issuesfoundandcorrectedincluded1)abareleadwireon

SR#2magnet,2)abrokenleadwireuponinspectingSR#4magnetrequiringreplacement,

and3)matingsurfacesbetweenthemagnetsandanvilsforsafetyrods2,3and4were

adjustedforamoreoptimalalignment.ThescramreportandCR36196documented

correctiveactions.



3. ScramReport2103

Anunscheduledshutdownoccurredat10:24AMon5/21/2021duringareactorstartup.A

ReactorSafetySystemscramwasautomaticallyinsertedastheoperatorstartedtomove

controlrodsoutwardafterestablishingcriticalrodheightwhilein1outof2safetysystem

coincidencelogic.Whileswitchingrangesononeofthetwoonlinepowerpicoammeter

Page 6 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

instruments,anoisespikeoccurredresultingintheautomaticscram.Thescramreport

andCR37060documentedcorrectiveactions.



4. ScramReport2104

Anunscheduledshutdownoccurredat9:16AMon7/23/2021justafterreaching100%

power.Theoperatorbecamedistractedwhilerestoringtheplanttonormalsafetysystem

coincidencelogicafterperformingatestunderER2109duringthestartup.AReactor

SafetySystemscramwasautomaticallyinsertedbasedonthehighpowersignalfromone

powerpicoammeterinstrument.ThescramreportandCR37413documentedcorrective

actions.



5. ScramReport2105

Theoperatorperformedanunscheduledshutdownat10:09AMon10/15/2021.Shortly

afterreaching100%power,theoperatorobservedunexpected,fluctuatinginstrument

indicationsforreactorcoolantflow,reactorpower,andstackgaseousandparticulate

activities.Aprecautionarymanualshutdownwasperformed.ThescramreportandCR

38121documentedcorrectiveactions.



6. PriortoCriticality

On5occasionsduring2021,issueswithsafetyrodsoccurreduponinitialmovement

precludingareactorstartup.Threehadtodowithresistancetomovementofsafetyrod#4

(seeSectionIVItem4above)andtheothertwoinvolved1)theflexiblecoupling

disengagingonSR#4,and2)asafetyrodmagnetwirenutcominglooseonSR#2.All

occurrenceswereinvestigated,repairedandtheaffectedcomponentsretested

satisfactorily.TheFacilityManagerauthorizedreactorrestarts.

B. 2020TechnicalSpecificationViolationCited

NRCInspectionReport2021201citedaseverityLevelIVviolationpursuantto10CFR

55.59(a)(2)foralapsein2020oflicensedoperatorqualificationsresultingfromfailuretopass

anannualoperatingtestwithinthetimeconstraintsoftheapprovedrequalificationprogramas

per10CFR55.59(c).ThiswasreportedasEventNotification55113onFebruary24,2021and

furtherdescribedinthewrittenfollowupreportcontainedinGEHletterM210030dated

March10,2021.ThiseventisalsodescribedinNTRAnnualReportNo.61fortheYear2020.



Page 7 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

VI.RadiationLevelsandSampleResultsatOnSiteandOffSiteMonitoringStations

Thedatabelowarefromsampleanddosimeterresultsaccumulatedduringthe2021reporting

period.ExceptfortheNTRstackdata,thedatabelowcoverstheentireVNCsiteandinclude

theeffectsofoperationsotherthantheNTR.

A.

NTRStack

Totalairbornereleases(stackemissions)for2021areasfollows:

AlphaParticulate:1.11E08Ci(predominantlyradonthoriumdaughterproducts)

BetaGammaParticulate:4.93E07Ci

Iodine131:1.15E05Ci

NobleGases:1.30E+02Ci

NoblegasactivitiesrecordedfromtheNTRstackintegratebothbackgroundreadingsandthe

actualreleases.Backgroundreadingsmayaccountforasmuchas50%oftheindicatedrelease.

B.

GammaRadiation

Theyearlydoseresultsfortheyear2021asdeterminedfromevaluationofsiteperimeter

environmentalmonitoringdosimetersshowednodeparturefromnormalstablebackgrounds.

C.

Vegetation

Noalpha,beta,orgammaactivityattributabletoactivitiesattheNTRfacilitywasfoundonorin

vegetationinthevicinityofthesite.

D.

Water

Therewasnoreleaseofradioactivityinwaterortogroundwatergreaterthanthelimits

specifiedin10CFR20,AppendixB,Table2,andColumn2.

E.

OffSite

Theresultsofsamplescollectedfromoffsitelocationsindicatenormalbackgroundforthe

regionalarea.



Page 8 of 8 NTRAnnualReportNo.62Rev.1

April28,2022

VII.RadiationExposure

In2021,thehighestannualexposuretoanyfulltimeradiationworkerwhileworkingatNTRwas

0.718Remandthelowestexposureforthiscategoryofworkerwas0.019Rem.Theaverage

radiationexposureforthetenworkersinvolvedwas0.401Remperperson.

The2021totalradiationexposureforallworkerswhileperformingworkatNTRwas4.010Rem.



VIII.Conclusion

GEHitachiconcludesthattheNTRisstaffedandorganizedforefficientoperations.Extensive

useofourCorrectiveActionProgramwillcontinuecontributingtomakingusamoresafeand

compliantoperation.



GEHitachiNuclearEnergyAmericasLLC

VallecitosOperations











ThomasJ.McConnell,Manager

NuclearTestReactor



Thomas McConnell Digitally signed by Thomas McConnell DN: cn=Thomas McConnell, o=GE Hitachi, ou=NTR, email=thomas.mcconnell@ge.com, c=US Date: 2022.04.28 10:31:10 -07'00'