ML23095A081

NRR E-mail Capture - Abilene Christian University - Audit Questions Regarding Acu Construction Permit (CP) Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) Chapters 2 and 3 (Batch 2)

ML23095A081
Person / Time
Site:	05000610
Issue date:	04/05/2023
From:	Edward Helvenston NRC/NRR/DANU
To:	Towell R Abilene Christian University (ACU)
References
Download: ML23095A081 (3)

Text

From: Edward Helvenston Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 9:03 AM To: Rusty Towell; Lester Towell; Jordan Robison; Tim Head; Alexander Adams Cc: Richard Rivera; Zackary Stone; Michael Wentzel; Stephen Philpott; Greg Oberson (He/Him); Boyce Travis; Kyle Song; Andrew Prinaris

Subject:

Abilene Christian University - Audit Questions Regarding ACU CP PSAR Chapters 2 and 3 (Batch 2)

Attachments: ACU MSRR Chapter 2 and 3 Audit Questions (Batch 2).pdf

Dear Dr. Towell,

Attached is a list of questions the NRC staff has prepared for Abilene Christian University (ACU) related to the ACU Preliminary Safety Analysis Report, Chapter 3, Design of Structures, Systems, and Components, specifically, Section 3.1, Design Criteria. The NRC staff would like to discuss these questions within the scope of the ACU construction permit (CP) application review Audit Plan for Chapters 2 and 3 (see audit plan dated 3/2/2023, ML23065A048), and I am providing these in advance to facilitate discussion during an audit meeting. Once ACU is ready to discuss, please let us know and we can set up an audit meeting. We will add this e-mail, with questions, to public ADAMS. If you have any questions, please let Richard, Zackary, or I know.

Thank you, Ed Helvenston, U.S. NRC Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch (UNPL)

Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities (DANU)

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

O-6B22 (301) 415-4067

Hearing Identifier: NRR_DRMA Email Number: 2027 Mail Envelope Properties (BY5PR09MB595636152B7726270AAB9AD7E0909)

Subject:

Abilene Christian University - Audit Questions Regarding ACU CP PSAR Chapters 2 and 3 (Batch 2)

Sent Date: 4/5/2023 9:02:44 AM Received Date: 4/5/2023 9:02:00 AM From: Edward Helvenston Created By: Edward.Helvenston@nrc.gov Recipients:

"Richard Rivera" <richard.rivera@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Zackary Stone" <Zackary.Stone@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Michael Wentzel" <Michael.Wentzel@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Stephen Philpott" <Stephen.Philpott@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Greg Oberson (He/Him)" <Greg.Oberson@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Boyce Travis" <Boyce.Travis@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Kyle Song" <Kyle.Song@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Andrew Prinaris" <Andrew.Prinaris@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Rusty Towell" <rxt01a@acu.edu>

Tracking Status: None "Lester Towell" <ldt20a@acu.edu>

Tracking Status: None "Jordan Robison" <jcr20b@acu.edu>

Tracking Status: None "Tim Head" <tlh07b@acu.edu>

Tracking Status: None "Alexander Adams" <axa20j@acu.edu>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: BY5PR09MB5956.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 1058 4/5/2023 9:02:00 AM ACU MSRR Chapter 2 and 3 Audit Questions (Batch 2).pdf 87480 Options Priority: Normal Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

PSAR Review Audit Questions for Chapter 3, Design of Structures, Systems, and Components, Section 3.1, Design Criteria Item # Question 3.1-1 Principal design criterion (PDC) 32 uses the term important areas and features to describe the scope of functions covered by inspection.

Please provide additional context regarding what important means as applied here (e.g., important to safety or something else).

3.1-2 PSAR Section 3.1 does not appear to provide any PDC for fuel inventory maintenance. This function appears to be relevant to the design and fuel inventory and distributions throughout the reactor system are assumed quantities in Section 4.2.1.1 of the PSAR (though the PSAR states that values will be provided in further detail in an OL application). Please discuss whether an additional appropriate PDC should be implemented.

If such a PDC is not necessary (whether not needed at all or captured under a different PDC), provide a justification why a PDC is not implemented.

3.1-3 The staff notes that PSAR Section 3.1 does not appear to provide any PDC related to the MSRR graphite. It is not clear to the staff based on the content of the PSAR whether the graphite has functions important to safety in the design. Please provide context regarding the function(s) of the graphite and discuss why a PDC is not required or whether additional PDC(s) may be appropriate to cover any functions important to safety.

3.1-4 PDCs 71 and 73 use the language ability of the fuel salt to perform its safety functions and could prevent accomplishing a safety function.

Because these PDCs are novel, it is not entirely clear to the staff from the PSAR which safety functions are covered by these PDCs. The NRC staff requests that ACU provide additional context regarding what functions are expected to be covered by these PDCs. Additionally, PDC 73 lists a number of possible causes of cover gas line plugging; is this list meant to be exclusive?