ML22252A175
| ML22252A175 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Texas at Austin |
| Issue date: | 09/12/2022 |
| From: | Geoffrey Wertz NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
| To: | University of Texas at Austin |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22252A158 | List: |
| References | |
| EPID L-2017-RNW-0032 | |
| Download: ML22252A175 (5) | |
Text
a September 12, 2022 LICENSEE: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - AUSTIN
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF AUGUST 10, 2022, MEETING WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS -
AUSTIN (EPID NO. L-2017-RNW-0032)
On August 10, 2022, a Category 1 public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of the University of Texas - Austin (UTA), Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory (NETL) research reactor. The meeting was conducted virtually to discuss the proposed changes to the NETL research reactor instrumentation and control systems. The meeting notice and agenda, dated July 1, 2022, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System at ML22182A410.
The UTA presentation used in the meeting is also available at ML22252A157. A list of meeting attendees is provided as an enclosure to this summary.
During the meeting, UTA staff discussed the planned upgrades to the control console, using the presentation provided above. UTA staff indicated the computer code for the reactor will change from QNX to LYNX (slide 7). UTA staff also discussed the planned upgrade of the new nuclear power monitoring detectors, NLW-1000, and noted some concerns with signal noise during operation at other facilities (slide 8). The vendor of the console replacement, Plantation Productions, LLC, attended the meeting, and provided reassurance that those instances isolated and not an endemic problem for the NLW-1000. The representative for Plantation Productions, LLC, indicated that the replacement software will most likely be very similar to the replacement performed at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (implemented via License Amendment No. 26 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. R-84, ML22131A373).
The UTA staff described a current issue dealing with time delays between the nuclear instrumentation and the console computer resulting in difficulties operating near full power in automatic mode (slide 11), which UTA plan to resolve with the console upgrade. UTA staff also discussed the proposed technical specification changes involving the number of nuclear channels, and plans on changing to a scram logic using 2 out of the 4 detectors, so that if one detector needs to be bypassed during operation, the reactor can continue to operate in a 2 out of 3 mode (slide 12). UTA staff also described the project phases (slide 14), which include removing the instrumented fuel element requirement and scram, and the need for traceability for the software. The NRC staff discussed the need for effective quality assurance testing.
Plantation Productions, LLC, indicated that the software would be similar to software already used in other domestic research reactors (slide 17). Finally, UTA staff discussed changes to the proposed technical specifications and the project timeline, estimated to be about 3 years.
Submittal of the license amendment is planned for April 2024.
No comments from the public were received. The meeting adjourned at 2:21 pm Eastern Daylight Time.
Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-0893, or Geoffrey.Wertz@nrc.gov.
Signed by Wertz, Geoffrey on 09/12/22 Geoffrey A. Wertz, Project Manager Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-602 License No. R-129
Enclosure:
As stated cc: w/enclosure
University of Texas - Austin Docket No. 50-602 cc:
Bureau of Radiation Control John G Ekerdt, PhD State of Texas The University of Texas at Austin 1100 West 49th Street Chemical Engineering Austin, TX 78756 200 E. Dean Keeton Street, Stop C0400 Austin, TX 78712-1589 Jay Hartzell, President The University of Texas at Austin Dr. Richard Neptune, Dept. Chair Office of the President Walker Department of Mechanical 110 Inner Campus Drive, G3400 Engineering Austin, TX 78712-3400 204 E. Dean Keeton Street, ETC 5.200 (C2200)
Sharon Wood, Executive Vice President Austin, TX 78712-1591 and Provost The University of Texas at Austin Roger T. Bonnecaze, Dean 110 Inner Campus Drive, G1400 The Cockrell School of Engineering Austin, TX 78712-3400 301 E. Dean Keeton Street, ECJ 10th Floor (C2100)
DeAnn Walker, Director Austin, TX 78712-2100 Office of the Governor Office of Budget and Policy Ashley Forbes, Director P.O. Box 12428 Radiation Materials Division, MC 233 Austin, TX 78711 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Paul Whaley, Associate Director P.O. Box 13087 Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory Austin, TX 78711-3087 The University of Texas at Austin 10100 Burnet Road, Building 159 Dr. William Charlton, Director Austin, TX 78758 Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory The University of Texas at Austin Larry Hall, Reactor Supervisor Pickle Research Campus, Building 159 Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory 10100 Burnet Road The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78758 10100 Burnet Road, Building 159 Austin, TX 78758 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter Attention: Amber Johnson Dept of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland 4418 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742-2115
ML22182A410 Public Meeting Notice ML22252A157 Public Meeting Presentation ML22252A175 Public Meeting Summary NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/PM NRR/DANU/LA NRR/DANU/BC NRR/DANU/PM NAME GWertz NParker JBorromeo GWertz DATE 9/9/2022 9/12/2022 9/12/2022 9/12/2022 LIST OF ATTENDEES AUGUST 10, 2022, MEETING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - AUSTIN 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Name Organization Geoffrey Wertz U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Justin Hudson U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Patrick Boyle U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Duane Hardesty U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joshua Borromeo U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Cindy Montgomery U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rossnyev Alvarado U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Joseph Ashcraft U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tracy Tipping University of Texas - Austin William Charlton University of Texas - Austin Paul Whaley University of Texas - Austin Derek Hass University of Texas - Austin Kevin Clarno University of Texas - Austin Randy Hyde Plantation Productions, LLC.
Ryan David Brownfield Public Steven Biegalski Public Pavel Tsvetkov Public Enclosure