RCF 08-02, Operations Report for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility
| ML080660646 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Issue date: | 02/29/2008 |
| From: | Winters G Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| RCF 08-02 | |
| Download: ML080660646 (3) | |
Text
sAEROSPACE, r DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING RCF 08-02 February 29, 2008 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Re: Operations Report for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility NRC License CX-22 Docket Number 50-225 To Whom It May Concern:
This document constitutes the calendar year 2007 Operations Report of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility (RCF) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and to Rensselaer management.
The RCF operated successfully during calendar"year 20.07'-The RCF was used for one laboratory: course .and:.two;.introductbry, otufsis.-in tlhNUNcleai: Eiigineerihg and Engin-erfing Physics :curricula..:,T,he facilittyý staff traintedttw yoqew,.;$en'i-6tJ.R&ectb~ OpsratdOts"WliO-opzias*d;;
NRC licensingexams i?,n ebruariy2007. and.Jul,y_ 0.7.
Wrork the0:640,ptch ;l
, tproceededoncritic latticeqats.,. Critieal ',
measurements: were 'perform&d,.with. 3',2-,pi.nand,;3 .33.pirn conffi gur-atins 0 Sonme ubcritlal, measuren~ehts .were c0nducted- with fewerpifns{: *The SPERT('F.1')ifuel. is"4.81 w/denfiched high density U0 2 pelletffuel clad in-stainless: steel: so it is sililar'to pover plant reactor fuel.
The RCF is now the only facilityjin the U.S. carrying~out reactor physics critical experiments in support of the power reactor function-. These experiments are similar to power reactor startup measurements. ..
Additional measuirements were performed with thickZircalloy reflectors on two sides of the core. The material was given to RPI by the US Department of Energy. DOE personnel had expressed an inte~rest inithe results when the measurements were proposed. The measurements were performed in a 324-pin configuration.
A NRC inspection was. performed in July 2007. NRC. findings have been reported in other correspondence.
Funds were provided under the USDOE:URI and the USDOE INIE Programs to complete additional, upgrades. ýThe URI-fund's werOexpend6d as ofDede-fb&r 3J., 20,07. The INIE funds provided video~equipme.t..capabi~ty-.o :show:,eal tinle *eaotor operations to classes;o&er'an Interln~t,connection: -ThlIi!s:capability.,is'lpriimrarily-ýlnitendedifor Ue:WithigRPL'students'. Funding wasexten 2008dtogqomplete4instal-lation,of the system Tiiining.'and proficiency, Yre..quirem to f b ie edd.re current..One individual.:,is-cýurrently- in trai~ninfg*fO a".$enioOpýhf6rg Iildenfs'eT* TOtaltaffing>
on December 31:.,2007,is five:lic-ns~ed SenibotRRaetor; OpiratUrs.. * :.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic, Institute.
110 8th Street I Troy, NY 12180-3590 USA k.1 2 -t(
RCF 08-02 2 The Technical Specifications, App. A to USNRC License CX-22 requires reporting the following operational items:
- 1. Changes to facility design: None
- 2. Significant maintenance, repairs or other work performed on RCF systems:
- 1. In November 2007 one channel of the Area Monitoring System failed. Technical Specifications permit replacement with portable equipment. A replacement detector has been ordered.
- 2. One of two instrument channels that use BF3 detectors has failed and troubleshooting has identified the cable as the problem. Parts to replace the cable were ordered.
Technical Specifications permit operation with a single BF3 channel.
- 3. Changes in operating procedures which relate to the safety of RCF operations: None
- 4. Surveillance checks, tests, and calibrations were conducted and logged as required. Due to reactor defueling and partial disassembly of the reactor, support structure some surveillance tests were postponed due to an inability to perform the required operations.
The NSRB was informed and the overdue surveillances were performed as soon as the reactor was reassembled. The results were satisfactory. In November 2007 an emergency preparedness drill was conducted at the RCF.
- 5. Changes, tests or experiments requiring authorization from the USNRC under 10CFR50.59 a orb: None
- 6. Glenn Winters has been Facility Director through this period. Dr. Jeffery Geuther replaced Dr. Timothy Trumbull as Operations Supervisor on October 1, 2007. Dr. Geuther also replaces Dr. Trumbull on the NSRB. Dr. Trumbull remains at the facility as an Adjunct Professor.
- 7. Calculated integrated thermal power: Approximately 5 x 10-3 kwhr for all of 2007, far less than the Technical Specification 3.1.10 limit of 200 kwhr/yr.
- 8. There were no unplanned scrams in the report interval.
- 9. Maintenance operations were carried out and logged with satisfactory results.
- 10. No liquid discharges were performed ,in 2007.
- 11. Environmental monitors (exclusion area and site boundary) recorded exposures less than 40 millirem per year above background.
- 12. No personnel badges registered a dose above the minimum detectable (10 mrem) during 2007.
Sincerely; Glenn Winters, Director RPI Critical Experiments Facility
RCF 08-02 cc:
Dr. Michael Podowski, Chairman Dr. Jeffery Geuther RPI NSRB RCF Operations Supervisor Dr. Tim Wei, Chair Dr. Peter Caracappa MANE Radiation Safety Officer Peter Collopy, Director Environmental Health and Safety