ML23090A201
| ML23090A201 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Purdue University |
| Issue date: | 03/31/2023 |
| From: | Miller T Purdue University Research Reactor |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk |
| References | |
| Download: ML23090A201 (1) | |
Text
March 31, 2023
Cindy Montgomery U.S. NRC One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852
RE: Submission of 2022 Annual Report for PUR-1, Docket Number 50-182
Dear Ms. Montgomery:
Enclosed please find one copy of the Annual Report for the Purdue University Research Reactor, PUR-1, for the operating year 2022.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact me at 765.494.5764, or by e-mail at mill1833@purdue.edu.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on March 31, 2023.
- Regards,
True Miller
PUR-1, Reactor Supervisor
School of Nuclear Engineering l 516 Northwestern Ave l West Lafayette, IN, 47906 l 765-494-5739 l ne@purdue.edu l www.purdue.edu/NE REPORT ON REACTOR OPERATIONS
For the Period January 1, 202 2 to December 31, 202 2
PURDUE UNIVERSITY REACTOR -1 (PUR -1)
Facility Docket No. 50 -182 PURDUE UNIVERSITY West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
March 202 3
Prepared by True Miller, Reactor Supervisor
Page 2 of 7
- 1. INTRODUCTION
This report is submitted to meet the requirements set forth in the Technical Specifications of the Purdue University Reactor (PUR -1) and 10 CFR 50.59 for the period January 1, 202 2 to December 31, 202 2.
During the reporting period of 202 2, multiple experim ents and projects were performed, and a moderate level of teaching activity was performed. T wo individuals obtained their RO licenses, and a third individual obtained their SRO license. 2022 represents a return to pre -pandemic operating l e vels.
There were 1642 visitors across 355 groups to the facility including Purdue facilities staff, students, general tours, and VIPs.
- 2. PLANT DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL CHANGES
2.1 Facility Design Changes
N o major facility design changes were performed in 2022. The pool top RAM suffered a memory card failure and was temp orarily replaced with a n appropriate gamma sensi tive detector while it was repaired. Additionall y, the LED lights, which are used to illuminate the pool and core for tours, burn ed out and was replaced by a comp a rable light.
2.2 Performance Characteristics
The overall status of the PUR -1 facility was sustained satisfactorily during the reporting period.
The facility maintained all required surveillance. Monthly surveillances of process water showed no fission product contamination, thereby verifying fuel integrity.
2.3 Changes in Operating Procedures Concerning Safety of Facility Operations
Following the completion of the pool heater experime nts, to de termine the c alorimetric prop erties of PUR -1 s cool ant pool, SOP -4 : Gold Foil Power Calibration, was amended wit h the results of the study and an empirical correlation between operating power, pool temperature and coolant temperature change rate. This change gives the operator additional methods of confirming the proper power in addition to the gold foil activation method. These changes were proposed after a series of in -depth studies and implemented after being reviewed by the NRC and approved by CORO.
Page 3 of 7 Additionally, a new method for determin ing the monthly Ar -41 efflue nt release, from the facilit y, was implemented. Historically the release of Ar-41 was monitored through d osimet ers m ounted at the top of the vent of the facilities air handling system. This method did not give us a quantitat ive measurement. The new procedure utilizes a n experimentally derived constant relating core burnup to Ar -41 rele ase and is utilized to calculate the monthly effluent release.
2.4 Results of Surveillance Tests and Inspections
2.4.1 Reactivity Limi ts
The reactivity worth measurements and visual inspection of the control rods were performed during February of 202 2. During this time control rod maintena nce and control rod worth measurements were performed. The rod worth s of both SS1 and SS2 matched previous historical data satisfactorily and ensures satisfactory shutdown and reactivity limits. T he rod drop times, measured after the inspection of the control rods, were both well under the required 1 second time limit.
2.4.2 Reactor Safety Systems
The reactor safety systems were checked prior to every startup as is required by the prestart procedure.
2.4.3 Primary Coolant System
During the checks the conductivity of the primary coolant was measured, and the values never exceeded 3 micromhos/cm.
Monthly samples of the primary coolant were collected and analyzed by personnel from Radiological and Environmental Management for gross alpha and beta activity. No activity which would indicate failure of the fuel plates was identified in the samples.
2.4.4 Confinement
Page 4 of 7 No operation or fuel handling was performed while the air pressure was below -
0.05 inches of water.
The air system isolation w as tested on both February 7 th and August 2 3 rd, 202 2,
correct operation of the louvres was observed for both inspections. The Condensate Valve was also inspected at this time and operated s a tisfactor ily.
2.4.5 Experiments
Three experiments were performed in 202 2. The first experiment was the irradiation of air samples to produce Ar -41 calibration sources to characterize our i n -house buil t Ar -
41 detection system. The second experiment was the irradiation of PLA plastic to determi ne the effects of combined gamma and neutron irradiation on its material properties. The third experiment performed in 2022 consisted of irradiation samples of cadaver bones to determine the Ca and M n concentrations in them.
2.5 Changes, Tests and Experiments Requiring Commission Authorization
No changes were made to the facility Technical Specification and no tests or experiments were performed in 202 2 which required commission authorization.
2.6 Changes in Facility Staff
PUR -1 L ev el -1: Dean of Engineering Mung Chang, stepped down from his role as Dean to se rve as President of Purdue Uni versity on June 30, 2022
Dr Ma rk Lundst rom is serving as inte rim dean as of July 1, 2022, and is the acting Level -1 of PU R -1
Brian Jowers joined the PUR -1 staff as electronics technician, replacing Dave Storz, on Jan uary 3, 2022, and obtained his RO license on December 20, 2022
Dr. Stylianos Chatzidakis obtained his SRO License on December 20, 2022
- 3. POWER GENERATION
Page 5 of 7 There were 125 total runs in 202 2 which generated an indicated value of 437.67 kWh of thermal heat. The total operations time was 210.3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> giving an average indicated po wer level of 2081.17 Watts.
The total core energy produced is approximately 757.94 kWh since current fuel loading installed in 2007.
- 4. UNSCHEDULED SHUTDOWNS
There was one unscheduled shutdown in 2022. This unscheduled shut down occurred w hile removing a n irradiated sample of human bones. The sampl e was removed from the water and was brought too close to the Pool RAM detector causing a reading in excess of the setpoint of 50 mRem/hr. This triggered an automatic SCRAM shutting down the reactor.
- 5. MAINTENANCE
The HEPA filter for the room supply and exhaust air was checked upon during normal maintenance checks quarterly. Filters were replaced as needed.
The Pool RAM was sen t in for main tenance and had its memory card replaced. Foll owing the reinstallation of the repaired P ool RAM the detector was calibrated by REM staff and its alarm set points tested.
- 6. RADIOACTIVE EFF LUENT RELEASES
a) Liquid Effluent No liquid radioactive effluent was released to the environs.
b) Airborne Waste Other than the Ar -41 amounts listed below, n o measurable amount of radioactive effluent was released to the environs beyond our effective control, as measured at or prior to the point of such release.
Month Ar -41 Released (uCi)
January 0.0 February 0.0 March 371.6 April 207.1 May 275.9 June 142.3 July 12.2
Page 6 of 7 August 50.2 September 73.3 October 309.1 November 20.6 December 173.5 Total 1635.8 c) Solid Waste On 4/14/2022 and 6/21/ 2 022, Purdues REM department picked up one 40 -gallon trash bag (5.35 cubic feet) of low -level solid waste from the designated blue waste barrel. This waste contained potentially contaminated gloves, paper, tape, and other d isposable lab materials.
Radiation measurements of the waste showed no discernable radiation levels above background. The total activity disposed of was determined to be 9.9 uCi Co -60 and 10 uCi of Co -60 respectively.
- 7. OCCUPATIONAL P ERSONNEL RADIATION EXPOSURE
No radiation exposures greater than 25% of the appropriate limits of 10 CFR 20 were received during the reporting period.
- 8. ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS PERFORMED OUTSIDE THE FACILITY
There were no additional environmental survey s performed outside the facility beyond license and regulatory requirements.
Page 7 of 7