ML24306A075
| ML24306A075 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pennsylvania State University |
| Issue date: | 11/04/2024 |
| From: | Penn State College of Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML24306A075 (22) | |
Text
Add photos Implementation of a New Digital Reactor Safety System at the PSU Breazeale Reactor Project Overview
PSU Breazeale Reactor
PSU Radiation Science and Engineering Center
- The PSU RSEC is a center in the College of Engineering with a mission to further nuclear education, research, service, and outreach.
- The RSEC includes the Breazeale TRIGA reactor, several strong gamma sources, and many radioactive materials laboratories.
PSU Reactor Origins 1954 Atoms for Peace Speech - President Eisenhower tried to redirect fear of nuclear weapons into optimism about the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, such as nuclear power.
Breazeale Reactor History
- Operating since 1955 (as an MTR)
- Well-maintained, with frequent upgrades to keep facility at the top of the university reactor fleet.
- Recent major upgrade projects:
- Beam port renovation ($1.3 M - completed in 2018)
- Beam lab expansion ($9 M - 2021 to 2022)
- Control console refurbishment ($1.1 M - 2017 to 2021)
- SANS installation ($10 M donation - 2023-2024)
Services Provided By RSEC Education and outreach: Support for dozens of classes each year, and 3000+ annual visitors Training ~3-4 new operators and SROs each year Gamma irradiation - up to 250 krads / hr In-and ex-core neutron irradiation, up to 3x1013 n cm-2 s-1 Fast neutron irradiation, up to 4x1011 n cm-2 s-1 1 MeV Si equiv.
Pneumatic transfer system (rabbit) with terminus in D2O reflector Hot cell facilities Radiography and transmission testing Capability to accommodate a variety of experiments Recent experiments have included heated devices and actively monitored detectors
RSEC Staff
PSBR New Core/Moderator Assembly and New Beam Port Installations
Digital Console Upgrade
RSEC Expansion (2022)
PSU College of Engineering and RSEC + DOE NEUP L. Weiss (SVPR), J. Schwartz & A. Atchley (Dean COE) - 2021
$9M COE, $1M RSEC, $306K DOE NEUP
HZB BER II VSANS Installation at PSU (2024)
Control Console and SAR Specifics
Introduction The replacement of the PSU analog/digital hybrid console was funded with a $1.1 M DOE NEUP grant in 2017 (DE-NE-0008658)
The replacement of the digital console was completed in 2021.
- Not credited in safety analysis or TS
- Replaced under 50.59 review (ref. PSBR AP-12 2020-05)
This portion of the console does not perform any of the safety functions (interlocks, SCRAMS) in the Tech Specs.
The planned LAR will cover the replacement of the credited analog reactor safety system (RSS) with a digital system.
Power Monitoring
- Reactor power is measured on two channels.
- Channel 1 - Log wide range
- Fission chamber preamplifier GammaMetrics wide range drawer
- Wide range power and period
- Drawer output used for RSS functions and as input to DCS
- Channel 2 - Power range
- GIC preamplifierGammaMetrics power range drawer
- Percent power and fuel temperature
- Drawer output used for RSS functions and as input to DCS
PSU Safety Analysis
- Like other TRIGA reactors, the Breazeale reactor is protected by the favorable physical properties of the fuel, which allow extreme power transients without fuel failure.
- The PSU Safety Analysis Report does not identify the reactor control console equipment as a safety-related SSC.
- Only the TRIGA fuel cladding is explicitly identified.
- However, the RSS performs functions which are specified in the Tech Specs and are related to safety, including:
- Fuel temperature scrams;
- Reactor power scrams;
- Multiple rod withdrawal interlocks;
- Pulse interlock.
Bench Testing Isolated test system for bench testing of all V & V.
Accept real and simulated inputs - testing system behavior and operational boundaries Also used for troubleshooting, improvement &
development of new console features.
LAR Process
Next Steps Triconex digital reactor safety system is planned for use in place of analog RSS The analog RSS performs all of the safety functions (scrams, interlocks, etc.) credited in the license and Tech Specs Triconex safety system electronics are certified by NRC for use in nuclear power plants RSEC engineers will program, document, and test the system software
Safety Evaluation The LAR will follow the NEI 20-06 guidelines The effect of precedent will be limited due to unique nature of the PSU RSS design The safety evaluation for the new console will consider the effect of the digital RSS upgrade on the FSAR:
Effects on safety analysis / Ch. 13 accidents; Frequency Consequence Change in FSAR evaluation methodology Possibility of an accident of a different type than any previously evaluated in the SAR.
The LAR will also discuss the software QA plan and commissioning test plan for the new RSS.
Projected Timeline The following is an estimate of the project timeline, subject to change.
- Q1 2024 Complete software design Begin safety evaluation of new RSS
- Q3 2024 License amendment request submission to NRC
Add photos Implementation of a New Digital Reactor Safety System at the PSU Breazeale Reactor Project Overview