ML22150A006
| ML22150A006 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Missouri-Rolla |
| Issue date: | 03/31/2022 |
| From: | Univ of Missouri - Rolla |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22150A005 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML22150A006 (20) | |
Text
PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NUCLEAR REACTOR FACILITY April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 Submitted to The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission And Missouri University of Science and Technology
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 i TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
..........................................................................................................1 1.1 Background Information ...............................................................................................1 1.2 General Facility Status ..................................................................................................2 2.0 REACTOR STAFF AND PERSONNEL .......................................................................5 2.1 Reactor Staff .................................................................................................................5 2.2 Licensed Operators .......................................................................................................5 2.3 Radiation Safety Committee..........................................................................................6 2.4 Health Physics ..............................................................................................................7 3.0 REACTOR OPERATIONS ...........................................................................................8 4.0 EDUCATIONAL UTILIZATION ............................................................................... 15 5.0 REACTOR HEALTH PHYSICS ACTIVITIES ......................................................... 18 5.1 Routine Surveys .......................................................................................................... 18 5.2 By-Product Material Release Surveys ......................................................................... 18 5.3 Routine Monitoring ..................................................................................................... 18 5.4 Waste Disposal ........................................................................................................... 20 5.5 Instrument Calibration ................................................................................................ 20 6.0 PLANS .......................................................................................................................... 21 6.1 Wide Range Linear Channel ....................................................................................... 21 6.2 Digital Recorder Installation ....................................................................................... 21 6.3 Reactor Operator Training........................................................................................... 21 6.4 Hiring of New Full-Time Staff .................................................................................... 22
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 ii LIST OF TABLES Table 1-1 List of Revised MSTR SOPs .......................................................................................4 Table 1-2 List of MSTR Emergency Plan Chapters Revised ........................................................4 Table 2-1 MSTR Staff .................................................................................................................5 Table 2-2 MSTR Operators .........................................................................................................5 Table 2-3 Radiation Safety Committee Members ........................................................................6 Table 2-4 Health Physics and EHS Staff......................................................................................7 Table 3-1 MSTR Core Technical Data ........................................................................................8 Table 3-2 Reactor Utilization .................................................................................................... 11 Table 3-3 Experimental Facility Usage ...................................................................................... 11 Table 3-4 Unplanned Shutdowns (Rundowns) ........................................................................... 12 Table 3-5 Maintenance .............................................................................................................. 13 Table 4-1 S&T Classes at MSTR............................................................................................... 15 Table 4-2 Reactor Sharing Program and Tours .......................................................................... 16 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3-1 MSTR Core 128 Configuration ..................................................................................9 Figure 3-2 MSTR Core 129 Configuration ..................................................................................9 Figure 3-3 MSTR Core 130 Configuration ................................................................................ 10 Figure 3-4 MSTR Core 131 Configuration ................................................................................ 10
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 iii REVISION HISTORY Revision Date Notes 0 May 29, 2022 Initial issuance
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to recognize current members of the Missouri S&T Reactor staff who contributed heavily to the development of this document. Alice Skye, Narrie Loftus, Ethan Mullane, Colin Zerfass, and Nathan Jackson especially contributed to the areas of data collection, document generation, and document review. They have my sincerest thanks.
Ethan Taber Reactor Manager, MSTR
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 v
SUMMARY
During the 2021-2022 reporting period, the Missouri University of Science and Technology Reactor (MSTR) was in use for 1,122.4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br />, including 228.4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> while operating. The majority of this time was used for class instruction, research, and training purposes. The staff turnover and hindered operations as a result of COVID-19 have largely been overcome and the facility is set to make several significant upgrades over the next year.
The MSTR operated safely and efficiently over the past year. No significant safety-related incidents or personnel exposures occurred.
The reactor facility supported several Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) courses and operator training over the year for a total of 1,710 student-hours. The reactor was visited by 549 visitors during the past year.
The reactor produced 13,563.19 kilowatt-hours of thermal energy using approximately 0.701 grams of uranium. A total of 75 samples were neutron irradiated in the reactor with the majority being analyzed in the reactor counting laboratory.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This progress report covers activities at the Missouri University of Science and Technology Reactor (MSTR) Facility for the period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
The reactor operates as a Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) facility.
It is available to the faculty and students from various departments of the University for their educational and research programs. Several other college and pre-college institutions also make use of the facility. The reactor is also available for the training of personnel from commercial concerns with legitimate interest in our facility use.
1.1 Background Information The MSTR attained initial criticality on December 9, 1961 and was the first operating nuclear reactor in the State of Missouri. The Bulk Shielding Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the basis for the reactors design, as the MSTR is a light water, open pool reactor cooled by natural convective flow. The initial licensed power was 10 kW, which was up-rated to 200 kW in 1966. The MSTR utilizes Materials Testing Reactor (MTR) plate-type fuel and was converted from an original high-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium fuel loading during the summer of 1992. The MSTR license was renewed for another 20 years in March of 2009.
The facility is equipped with several experimental facilities including a beam port, thermal column, three pneumatic transfer (rabbit) systems, and several manual sample irradiation containers and systems. The facility also contains a counting laboratory that has gamma spectroscopy capabilities. The gamma spectroscopy systems include germanium and sodium-iodide detectors, associated electronics, and state-of-the-art data acquisition and spectrum analysis equipment. Additionally, there is a liquid scintillation counter, thermoluminescent dosimeter reader, and x-ray and neutron imaging equipment for student and faculty use.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 2 1.2 General Facility Status The MSTR operated safely and efficiently over the past year. No significant safety related incidents or personnel exposures occurred.
During the reporting period, several major changes were made to the reactor facility. On 6/15/2021 an AMS-4 Continuous Air Monitor (CAM) and AMS-4 Noble Gas Monitor were installed to replace the old CAM system. In June 2021 a crane was installed in the facility. In February 2022, the old Leeds & Northrup Speedomax-H strip chart recorder used for the startup channel was replaced with a Yokogawa DX-2000 digital recorder.
From May 17-19, 2021, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted a routine, announced inspection of MSTR. The inspection included review of the following areas:
organization and staffing; procedures; experiments; health physics; committees, audits, and reviews; and transportation of radioactive materials since the last NRC inspection. A severity level IV violation was noted in the experimental verification of calculated releases of Argon-41.
Due to errors in the performance of this verification, no valid tests had been performed since 2007; recorded values were found to have significantly underestimated the amount of released radioactivity. Despite these inaccuracies, corrections to the data make it reasonable to assume that effluents for that period were within release limits. Otherwise, MSTR was found to be compliant with current NRC requirements and MSTR Technical Specifications.
From March 28-30, 2022, the NRC conducted a routine, announced inspection of MSTR.
The inspection included a review of the MSTRs physical security program implementation, material control and accounting for special nuclear material, and site-specfic security measures.
NRC staff determined that the [sic, MSTRs] programs were in compliance with NRC requirements.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 3 Independent auditors from the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) audited the reactor facility on November 30, 2021. The auditors recommended replacing instances of should or must in old procedures with shall to denote required actions more consistently.
It was also suggested that quarterly statuses under the requalification program be updated as early as possible in order to aid in compliance tracking.
In July 2021, five personnel (including four students) who underwent their licensing examinations (RO-instant) in March 2021 received their licenses. In December 2021, three students underwent their licensing examinations (One SRO-upgrade, two RO-instant) and were licensed as of February 2022.
Several chapters of the SAR are currently under revision in accordance with amendment 23 to the technical specifications and changes to the facility Table 1-1 lists revised SOPs and Table 1-2 lists emergency plan chapters revised during the reporting period.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 4 Table 1-1 List of Revised MSTR SOPs SOP Title Date Notes Completely 102 Pre-Startup Checklist Procedure 02/22/2022 Revised 105 Reactor Shutdown and Shutdown Checklist 02/28/2022 Updated 106 Restart of Reactor 02/28/2022 Updated 108 Weekly Check 02/28/2022 Updated 150 Response to Alarms 02/28/2022 Updated Emergency Procedures - Administrative 507 03/08/2022 Updated Responsibilities Measurement of Ar-41 Concentration in the Completely 654 09/17/2021 Reactor Building Air Revised 806 Temperature Channel 11/05/2021 Updated 818 Function Test of the Building Security 03/29/2022 Updated System 819 Spectroscopy Detector Calibration 09/17/2021 Created Index (800) Index - Reactor Instrumentation 09/17/2021 Updated Table 1-2 List of MSTR Emergency Plan Chapters Revised Ch. Title Date Notes Table of Contents, List of Figures,
- 03/02/2022 Minor edits List of Tables 2 Definitions 03/02/2022 Minor edits Minor edits and updates to 3 Organization and Responsibilities 03/02/2022 organizational titles Updates to organizational 7 Emergency Response 03/02/2022 titles
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 5 2.0 REACTOR STAFF AND PERSONNEL 2.1 Reactor Staff Table 2-1 MSTR Staff Name Title Dr. Joseph Graham Reactor Director Mr. Ethan Taber Reactor Manager Mr. Cole Kostelac Senior Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Ms. Alice Skye Senior Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Mr. Eli Boland Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Mr. John Talley Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Ms. Narrie Loftus Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Mr. Nathan Jackson Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Mr. Caleb Porter Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Mr. Colin Zerfass Reactor Operator (Part-Time)
Mr. Ethan Mullane Student Assistant (Part-Time) 2.2 Licensed Operators Table 2-2 MSTR Operators Name License Type Ethan Taber Senior Reactor Operator Cole Kostelac Senior Reactor Operator Alice Skye Senior Reactor Operator Joseph Graham Reactor Operator Eli Boland Reactor Operator John Talley Reactor Operator Narrie Loftus Reactor Operator Alexandra Lindsay Reactor Operator Nathan Jackson Reactor Operator Kelsey Shannon Reactor Operator Colin Zerfass Reactor Operator
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 6 2.3 Radiation Safety Committee The Missouri S&T Radiation Safety Committee performs on-campus oversight of the MSTR operations and meets quarterly. The committee met on 05/12/2021, 09/16/2021, 12/14/2021, and 3/15/2022. The committee members are listed on Table 2-3.
Table 2-3 Radiation Safety Committee Members Name Department Dr. Mark Fitch Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Ms. Michelle Bresnahan Environment Health and Safety Dr. David Wronkiewicz Geosciences and Geological Engineering Dr. Shoaib Usman Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Dr. Yue-Wern Huang Biological Sciences Dr. Carlos Castano Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Dr. Amitava Choudhury Chemistry Mr. Tony Hunt Environmental Health and Safety Dr. Muthanna Al-Dahhan Chemical and Biological Engineering Dr. Joseph Graham Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Mr. Ethan Taber Missouri S&T Reactor Ms. Lisa Cerney Fiscal Services
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 7 2.4 Health Physics The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department provides the health physics support for the Missouri S&T Reactor. The EHS Department is organizationally independent of the Reactor Facility operations group. Health Physics personnel are listed in Table 2-4. It is noted that the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) continues to serve in a dual-capacity as the Health Physicist.
Table 2-4 Health Physics and EHS Staff Name Title Ms. Michelle Bresnahan Director of EHS, Radiation Safety Officer Mr. Tony Hunt Assistant Director of EHS Mr. Ryan Siggins Health Physics Technician (Part-time)
Ms. Kassandra Hayes Health Physics Technician (Part-time)
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 8 3.0 REACTOR OPERATIONS Core designation 130T is presently in use. The W mode core is completely water reflected and used for normal operations and beam port operations. The T mode (core positioned near graphite thermal column) may be used for various experiments and thermal column usage.
Three new core configurations were used in the past year: core designation 129, 130, and 131. Additionally, the 128 configuration was utilized. Table 3-1 presents pertinent core data for these three designations, both in W mode and T mode. The excess reactivity, shutdown margins, and rod worths were measured as required by TS 4.1.1 and under reference core conditions.
Figures 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 depict the core maps for designations 129, 130, and 131 respectively.
Table 3-1 MSTR Core Technical Data Rod Worth (%k/k) Shutdown Excess Core Mode Margin Reactivity Rod #1 Rod #2 Rod #3 Reg. Rod (%k/k) (%k/k)
W 2.614 2.209 2.144 0.469 3.820 0.532 128 T 2.649 2.151 2.144 0.520 3.656 0.638 W 2.361 2.383 2.272 0.513 3.953 0.711 129 T 2.264 2.457 2.310 0.495 3.904 0.863 W 2.280 2.567 2.139 0.544 4.521 0.184 130 T 2.237 2.586 2.164 0.528 4.408 0.342 W 2.507 2.453 2.173 0.508 3.871 0.755 131 T 2.443 2.459 2.098 0.506 3.699 0.858
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 9 Key to Prefixes for Core Configuration F Full Element C Control Element HF Half Front Element HR Half Rear Element IF Irradiation Fuel Element BRT Bare Rabbit CRT Cadmium Rabbit HC Hot Cell Rabbit S Source A
B HR1 F2 C F4 C4 F17 C1 F5 D F16 F13 F11 F14 F18 E F8 C5 F15 C2 F9 F CRT HF1 HC HF2 BRT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Figure 3-1 MSTR Core 128 Configuration A
B S F1 F9 C F2 C5 F18 C3 F13 D F14 F16 IF1 F11 F15 E F8 C2 F17 C1 F12 F CRT F7 HC F10 BRT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Figure 3-2 MSTR Core 129 Configuration
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 10 A
B S HR1 CA F9 C F2 C5 F18 C3 F13 D F14 F16 IF1 F11 F15 E F8 C2 F17 C1 F12 F CRT F7 HC F10 BRT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Figure 3-3 MSTR Core 130 Configuration A
B S HR1 CA F9 HR2 C F2 C5 F18 C3 F13 D F14 F16 IF1 F11 F15 E F8 C2 F17 C1 F12 F CRT F7 HC F10 BRT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Figure 3-4 MSTR Core 131 Configuration
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 11 Table 3-2 shows reactor utilization, while Table 3-3 shows specific irradiation facility usage.
Table 3-2 Reactor Utilization Reactor Use 362.6 hr.
Time at Power 228.4 hr.
Energy Generated 13563.2 kW-hr.
Total Number of Samples, Neutron Irradiated 75 U-235 Burned 0.593 g U-235 Burned and Converted 0.701 g Table 3-3 Experimental Facility Usage Facility Minutes Neutron Irradiation Bare Rabbit Tube 380.5 Cadmium Rabbit Tube 10.0 Beam Port 662.0 Thermal Column 0.0 Core Access Element 0.0 Isotope Production Element 25.0 Irradiation Fuel Element 20.0 Hot Cell 0.0 Other Facility 0.0 Total 1089.5 Gamma Irradiation Void Tube 70.0 Total 70.0
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 12 Two unscheduled shutdowns (scrams, rundowns, and unplanned normal shutdowns) occurred during the reporting period, which are documented in Table 3-4. Maintenance activities are listed in Table 3-5.
Table 3-4 Unplanned Shutdowns (Rundowns)
SRO on Duty Date/Time Type Cause Corrective Action Permission to Restart 08/25/21 - <15 sec Fuel element was Informed fuel Yes 1335 positioned too close to handler to be log and linear detector mindful of detector during fuel move position 12/03/21 - 120% Trainee adjustment of No corrective Yes 1346 Demand compensating voltage action
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 13 Table 3-5 Maintenance Date/Time Issue or Basis Action or Corrective Action Detector and housing High background noise. Low removed for troubleshooting.
4/6/21 1145-1606 resistance on detector signal Signal cable disconnected to 4/26/21 1012 terminal. and replaced. Detector replaced with WL-6937A.
4/6/21 1417-1437 Startup channel noise Startup channel HV to 4/26/21 1534 troubleshooting disconnected Vent fan 3 determined to be 4/30/21 1313 inoperable during Fan belt replaced confinement check OEM Actuator replaced with 6/11/21 0922 Vent fan 2 intake louvers universal mounting frame and to 7/02/21 1454 failed to close. Bellimo Model AFBUP Actuator CAM connected for air flow calibration, disconnected for 6/14/21 0950 CAM air flow calibration further calibration, and finally to 6/15/21 1114 returned to service following calibration 6/20/21 0952 CAM removed and Crane installation to 6/20/21 1118 reconnected Safety channel 1 calibrated, 6/21/21 1725-1735 New safety channel detector gain adjusted Rods disassembled and removed. Upon inspection, returned to control elements.
6/22/21 1002 Control rod inspections and Magnets, shrouds, and rods to 8/19/21 1938 fuel movement reassembled. Magnet 1 replaced. Rod drop times determined to be acceptable.
Safety channels annual Safety channels 1 and 2 8/20/21 1551 calibration calibrated Linear channel calibrated and 8/23/21 0854 Linear channel calibration reconnected Log & linear channel annual Log & linear channel 8/24/21 1443 calibration calibrated 8/24/21 1443 Startup channel calibration Startup channel calibrated TC 2 and core access element 6/21/2021 1800 removed. TC 2 reinstalled Core configuration change to 8/27/21 0856 upon completion of core change.
SC1 gain adjusted from 94.0 09/13/21 1049 SC1 reading lower than SC2 to 98.6
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 14 09/13/21 1144 Demineralizer reading Demineralizer removed from to 10/13/21 0926 <0.2M service; resins replaced.
Due to abnormal readings, reconnected and tested 10/19/2021 0831 Startup channel disconnected afterwards. Connections visually verified.
Signal wires from picoamp, Linear channel noise recorder, and detector 10/20/21 1509 troubleshooting and disconnected, tested, then to 10/22/21 1657 connection testing reconnected. Disconnected, tested, and reconnected again.
TC 3 >135F trip temporarily 10/28/21 0942 TC 3 housing broken upon deactivated until replacement.
to 12/07/21 0840 removal for calibration TC 3 replaced and calibrated.
Trip reactivated.
10/28/21 0942 TC 1 calibrated and TC 1 calibration to 11/05/21 1628 reinstalled.
11/02/21 1045 TC 2 calibrated and TC 2 calibration to 11/02/21 1211 reinstalled Sensor arm removed. Bridge 11/22/21 1257 Bridge motion sensor rail and rubber sensor tip 11/22/21 1350 reliability sanded.
Pipe thread sealant used to Demineralizer restored lubricate threads on coupling, 1/25/2022 1151 following leak repair allowing full seating. System returned to operability.
Strip-chart recorder was 2/14/2021 1606 Startup recorder replacement replaced with a digital to 2/22/2022 0028 recorder.
Rod height was measured Rod heights/drive speed with a tape measure and set 2/21/2022 2111 calibrated on PLC until the measured difference was minimal.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 15 4.0 EDUCATIONAL UTILIZATION The reactor facility supported 12 Nuclear Engineering courses in the past year for approximately 202 students and 630.8 student-hours. The reactor supported 3 graduate students for 19.7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> and Reactor Operator Training for 38 students (7 exam-track senior trainees and 31 junior trainees) for 732.85 student-hours. Approximately 490 hours0.00567 days <br />0.136 hours <br />8.101852e-4 weeks <br />1.86445e-4 months <br /> of supporting operations (including experiment preparation and spectroscopy) were involved for these educational (non-training) uses.
Table 4-1 lists Missouri S&T classes taught at the facility along with associated reactor usage for this reporting period.
Table 4-1 S&T Classes at MSTR
- of Time at Student Semester Class Number/Title Students Reactor (hrs.) Hours NE 1105: Nuclear Technology SP 2021 10 0.90 5.40 Applications SP 2021 NE 2406: Reactor Operations I 13 10.29 32.71 NE 4312: Nuclear Radiation Measurements SP 2021 18 7.60 51.32 and Spectroscopy SP 2021 NE 4428: Reactor Laboratory I 5 12.44 25.09 SP 2021 NE 4438: Reactor Laboratory II 25 29.88 67.06 NE 1105: Nuclear Technology FS 2021 38 7.90 77.95 Applications FS 2021 NE 2406: Reactor Operations I 16 59.54 165.75 FS 2021 NE 4428: Reactor Laboratory I 17 10.82 50.68 NE 1105: Nuclear Technology SP 2022 4 2.52 11.58 Applications SP 2022 NE 2406: Reactor Operations I 15 52.33 140.91 NE 4312: Nuclear Radiation Measurements SP 2022 30 0.00 0.00 and Spectroscopy SP 2022 NE 4438: Reactor Laboratory II 16 1.20 2.40 SP 2022 NE 4456: Reactor Operations II 1 5.00 5.00
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 16 The Reactor Sharing Program was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project intended to establish awareness and share education about the nuclear field beyond the campus. The MSTR established a corresponding program in 1990 and, while no longer DOE funded, is still active at the MSTR. As a related component, future nuclear engineering students are also brought to the facility for departmental tours.
MSTR still provides outreach opportunities for local schools. During the reporting period, 275 students, instructors, and public guests visited the MSTR facility for a total of 142.24 visitor-hours. Table 4-2 lists those individuals and groups that were involved that are not a part of the S&T Nuclear Engineering Department. MSTR serves as a strong campus-wide recruiting tool by attracting students to the university and generating interest in nuclear engineering, science, and technology.
Table 4-2 Reactor Sharing Program and Tours Time at Date Event/Group # of Visitors Visitor-Hours Reactor (hrs.)
4/8/2021 Tour 2 0.27 0.54 4/8/2021 Tour 3 0.98 2.94 4/12/2021 Tour 2 1.23 2.47 4/13/2021 Tour 1 1.33 1.33 5/4/2021 Tour 3 0.68 2.05 5/14/2021 Tour 2 0.50 1.00 5/21/2021 Tour 4 0.73 2.93 7/13/2021 Jackling Camp 6 0.32 1.90 7/13/2021 Jackling Camp 6 0.42 2.50 7/15/2021 Jackling Camp 8 0.47 3.74 7/15/2021 Jackling Camp 7 0.27 1.87 7/23/2021 Tour 2 1.07 2.13 7/31/2021 Tour 4 0.58 2.33 9/2/2021 Tour 2 0.43 0.87 9/13/2021 Tour 6 0.77 4.60 9/17/2021 Tour 3 0.85 2.55 9/24/2021 Tour 3 1.15 3.45 9/24/2021 Tour 3 0.33 0.99 9/24/2021 Tour 1 1.93 1.93 9/29/2021 Tour 1 0.12 0.12 10/15/2021 Tour 4 0.30 1.20 10/15/2021 Tour 3 0.53 1.60
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 17 10/18/2021 Tour 2 0.85 1.70 10/18/2021 Tour 4 0.48 1.93 10/19/2021 Tour 5 0.33 1.67 10/19/2021 Tour 8 0.25 2.00 10/19/2021 Tour 8 0.33 2.66 10/19/2021 Tour 12 0.33 3.96 10/19/2021 Tour 17 0.37 6.22 10/19/2021 Tour 6 0.25 1.50 10/19/2021 Tour 12 0.33 4.00 10/19/2021 Tour 8 0.25 2.00 11/4/2021 Tour 3 2.08 6.25 11/5/2021 Tour 4 0.40 1.60 11/9/2021 Tour 1 0.35 0.35 11/12/2021 Tour 2 0.33 0.67 12/3/2021 Tour 4 0.75 3.00 12/8/2021 Tour 4 0.33 1.33 12/10/2021 Tour 1 1.13 1.13 1/01/2022 Tour 4 1.23 4.92 1/11/2022 Tour 3 0.20 0.60 1/28/2022 Tour 4 0.32 1.27 2/10/2022 Tour 1 0.35 0.35 2/11/2022 Rolla MBU 18 0.70 12.60 2/11/2022 Rolla MBU 13 0.72 9.31 2/15/2022 Tour 2 0.87 1.73 2/18/2022 Tour 4 0.43 1.73 2/18/2022 Tour 1 0.57 0.57 2/19/2022 Tour 4 0.65 2.60 2/16/2022 Tour 2 0.63 1.27 2/28/2022 Tour 4 0.15 0.60 2/28/2022 Tour 2 0.33 0.67 3/04/2022 Tour 2 0.20 0.40 3/14/2022 Tour 12 0.52 6.20 3/16/2022 Tour 13 0.43 5.63 3/17/2022 Tour 5 0.83 4.17
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 18 5.0 REACTOR HEALTH PHYSICS ACTIVITIES The health physics activities at the Missouri S&T Reactor facility consist primarily of radiation and contamination surveys, monitoring of personnel exposures, airborne activity, pool water activity, and waste disposal. Releases of all by-product material to authorized, licensed recipients are surveyed and recorded. In addition, health physics activities include calibrations of portable and stationary radiation detection instruments, personnel training, special surveys and monitoring of non-routine procedures.
5.1 Routine Surveys Monthly radiation exposure surveys of the facility consist of direct gamma and neutron measurements. No unusual exposure rates were identified. Monthly surface contamination surveys consist of 20 to 40 swipes counted separately for alpha and beta/gamma activity. No significant contamination outside of contained work areas were found.
5.2 By-Product Material Release Surveys There were no shipments of by-product material released off campus under the MSTR license (R-79). A total of 3.94 nCi of by-product materials were transferred on-campus to S&Ts materials license in accordance with SOP 603, Release of By-Product Materials on Campus, and the Missouri S&Ts Handbook of Radiological Operations.
5.3 Routine Monitoring Approximately 30-50 reactor facility personnel and students involved with the operations or regular experiments in the reactor facility are assigned Landauer Luxel+ optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs). Previously, Mirion Technologies Genesis Ultra Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs) were used. The quantity of OSLDs issued varies throughout the year due to class enrolment and personnel turnover, with reactor staff and
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 19 operator trainees issued OSLDs as soon as practical after their start. The reactor staff have beta, gamma, and neutron whole-body dosimeters along with individual TLD rings and five area dosimeters. Staff dosimetry is read either semi-monthly for full time staff or monthly for part time staff. There have been no significant personnel exposures during this reporting period.
There are three environmental TLDs outside the reactor building which are read quarterly. There are also five other beta, gamma, neutron dosimeters used by the health physics personnel and four other area beta, gamma neutron dosimeters that are read monthly. All remaining dosimeters are also read monthly. In addition, 10 digital, direct-reading dosimeters are used for non-TLD-issued students and visitors. These digital dosimeters are also used for high radiation work along with audible dosimeters. No students or visitors received any reportable or significant exposure.
Airborne activity in the reactor bay is monitored by a fixed filter, particulate continuous air monitor (CAM), as well as a noble gas monitor. Low levels of Argon-41 are routinely produced during operations.
Pool water activity is monitored monthly to ensure that no gross pool contamination or fuel cladding rupture has occurred. Gross counts and spectra of long-lived gamma activity are compared to previous monthly counts. From April 2021 through March 2022 monthly sample concentrations averaged 6.325x10-6 µCi/mL.
Release of gaseous Ar-41 activity through the building exhausts is determined by relating the operating times of the exhaust fans and reactor power during fan operation to previously measured air activity at maximum reactor power. During this period, an estimated 137 mCi of Ar-41 was released into the air.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 20 As a corrective action for Notice of Violation (NOV) 2021-201-01, an Argon-41 release verification was performed on 9/22/2021. This measurement established a calendar year threshold of 50 MW-hr of operation for requiring further evaluation of Ar-41 releases to ensure compliance with 10 CFR 20.1101 (d).
5.4 Waste Disposal Solid waste, including water filters, used resins, and contaminated paper/gloves is stored and/or transferred to the campus waste storage area for later shipment to a commercial burial site. No solid waste was transported offsite during the reporting period.
Liquid waste totaling an activity of 60.9 µCi was released to the sanitary sewer during this period.
5.5 Instrument Calibration Portable survey instruments and meters are calibrated annually. Four portable survey meters were calibrated on 9/23/2021 by Missouri S&T Environmental Health and Safety (EHS),
with the next calibration due in September 2021. For higher range instruments, four portable ion chambers and three 9DP detectors were calibrated by an offsite vendor (Ludlum Instruments) between 6/16/2021 and 3/9/2022. The Ludlum and PRESCILA portable neutron monitors were calibrated on 8/13/2021 and 6/21/2021 respectively. The Victoreen 488A was determined to be inoperable when sent out for calibration and has been removed from service.
The personal digital dosimeters are calibrated by Mirion Technologies. Five of the digital dosimeters were calibrated on 9/7/2021, with the remaining five due for calibration in April 2022.
The radiation area monitors (RAMs) were calibrated on 7/29/2021, with the next full calibration due July 2022.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 21 6.0 PLANS The reactor staff will continue to be involved in four major undertakings during the next reporting period: 1) installation of the wide range linear channel, 2) installation of digital recorders for the linear and period channels, 3) continuation of the reactor operator training program, and 4) hiring of new full-time staff.
6.1 Wide Range Linear Channel A Gamma-Metrics wide range linear channel acquired in 1992 is being prepared for installation in the MSTR console. This unit offers automatic scaling, a larger number of intermediate scales (base-2 and base-6), and integrated testing/calibration functions.
6.2 Digital Recorder Installation As part of an effort to modernize the MSTR console, the old Leeds & Northrup paper strip chart recorders are being replaced with newer Yokogawa DX2000 digital recorders. In addition to the increased flexibility of the new recorders, the facility will benefit from reduced operating costs and down time caused by the expensive paper rolls required by the old recorders.
Installation of one of these recorders has already been completed for the startup channel, and plans are in place to install the other two in the summer of 2022.
6.3 Reactor Operator Training In March 2021, four students and the Reactor Director underwent licensing as initial RO candidates. As of July 2021, all five of these individuals were licensed. In December 2021, three students underwent their licensing examinations (One SRO-upgrade, two RO-instant) and were licensed as of February 2022.
2021-2022 MSTR Annual Report, Revision 0 22 The new training program has proven to be effective in keeping the students that want the license and work with reactor staff. At the end of the reporting period, eight students were training to undergo operator licensing in April 2022, with approximately 15 candidatesa preparing for a later exam.
6.4 Hiring of New Full-Time Staff To correct the severe staffing shortage at the MSTR, a broad-responsibility position of Reactor Engineer has been reinstated, with interviews for the position underway. Student reactor operators and Federal Work-Study Program students were utilized where prudent to try and overcome the staffing shortage.