Regulatory Guide 3.17

Earthquake Instrumentation for Fuel Reprocessing Plants

ML003740294
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/28/1974
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
To:
References
RG-3.17, NUDOCS 7907120095
Download: ML003740294 (2)

February 1974

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1REGULATORY

U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

GUll DE

DIRECTORATE OF REGULATORY STANDARDS

REGULATORY GUIDE 3.17 EARTHQUAKE INSTRUMENTATION FOR FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS

A. INTRODUCTION

'these strong-motion accelerographs be located so as to facilitate the engineering analysis of the recorded traces On May 2, 1973, the Atomic Energy Commission following an earthquake.

published proposed amendments to its regulations in 10

Other instrumentation, such as triaxial peak CFR Part 50 "Licensing of Production and Utilization accelerographs, triaxial response spectrum recorders, and Facilities," which would require certain items to be peak deflection recorders could also be installed on included in the technical specifications for fuel reprocessing plants. Specifically, paragraph 50.36(cX3), other selected structures, systems, and components

"Surveillance Requirements," would require that the important to safety to verify the seismic response technical specifications include surveillance requirements determined analytically from the traces recorded by the strong-motion accelerographs. The extent to which this to assure that the necessary quality of systems and components is maintained, that facility operation will be other instrumentation need be installed depends on within safety limits, and that the limiting conditions of factors such as the maximum vibratory acceleration operation will be met. This regulatory guide describes a expected at a given site. Such other instrumentation could also provide additional data which would justify program which has been found to be acceptable to the the application of less conservatism in evaluating the Regulatory staff and which is considered to be generally possible effects on the plant caused by the earthquake acceptable with regard to instrumentation used to than might be needed in the absence of iuch measured promptly determine the seismic response of fuel data.

reprocessing plant features important to safety. The data obtained would permit a comparison of the actual Arrangements for promptly determining the response with that used as the design basis. Such a maximum vibratory acceleration experienced below comparison would aid in deciding whether the plant can grade level in the confinement structure are needed in continue to be operated safely. This guide will be order to permit a timely determination to be made of withdrawn or appropriately revised if the proposed rule the need for curtailing plant operation pending an is not adopted or if the effective rule substantially evaluation of the complete data.

differs from the proposed rule.

C. REGULATORY POSITION

When an earthquake occurs, it may not be known 1. At each fuel reprocessing plant site, two immediately how severe the effects of the earthquake strong-motion triaxial accelerographs should be installed, were at a given fuel reprocessing plant. It is advisable to one below grade level in the confinement structure and have strong-motion triaxial accelerographs installed at another at a higher elevation' of the confinement appropriate locations to provide data on the frequency, structure, to provide data on the frequency, amplitude, amplitude, and phase relationship of the seismic and phase relationship of the seismic response of the response of the confinement structures and to provide confinement structure and the seismic input for other data on the seismic input to other structures, systems, structures, systems, and components important to and components important to safety. It is desirable that safety.

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Attention: Director of Rulaoq ry standards. Comisnta and 4u.SItIO fo Regulatory Guides we issued to describe and mike available to the Public assthods aceptable to the AEC Regulatory taff of Implementing speciflc-parts of Ipovernents in these 1.aldn ors encouraged end should be senttoheacty to Commbsion's rmqiuteons. to delineate techniques used by the staff In of the Commission. US. Atomic Energ Commssion. W*shington. OZ. 2045.

"e*ntIng Secic problem or postulted accidents. or to provide guidance to Attention: Chief. Public Proteoap stff.

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guld* hfl1frgptable If they provide a basis for the fIndingp requisite to 6. Prodctsa of apermit or license by the Commission. 1. P*~R AMMt oM

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a. The accelerographs should be located one dynamic characteristics, instrumentation should also be directly above the other and separated by a vertical provided to determine the seismic response of such a distance which is a significant fraction of the structure and the systems and components within the confinement structure height, structure. The extent to which such other b. One horizontal axis of each accelerograph instrumentation need be installed will be evaluated on a should be parallel to the major horizontal axis assumed case-by-case basis.

in the seismic analysis, c. The accelerographs should be accessible for 4. Where more detailed knowledge of soil structure needed periodic servicing and recovery of the recorded interactions is important to an accurate assessment of traces following an earthquake, and potential damage to structures, systems, or components d. The accelerographs should be mounted rigidly important to safety, a free field accelerograph should to the confinement structure, or on a structure directly also be installed.

connected to the confinement structure, such that the accelerograph records can be related to confinement S. The value of the peak acceleration level experienced structure movement. below grade level in the confinement structure should be indicated in the control room or available to the control

2. Other instrumentation, such as triaxial peak room operator within a few minutes after the accelerographs, triaxial response spectrum recorders, and earthquake. Suitable indication of the peak acceleration peak deflection recorders should also be installed on level could include traces recorded by the accelerograph, other selected structures, systems; and components either by direct readout or by quick playback of the important to safety to verify the seismic response recorded signals, or a multilevel acceleration readout determined analytically from the traces recorded by the which indicates when predetermined values have been strong motion accelerographs. The extent to which such exceeded.

other instrumentation need be installed will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 6. The instrumentation should be designed to perform its function satisfactorily over the appropriate range of

3. If another structure important to safety, or a environmental conditions such as temperature, structure which contains systems or components humidity, pressure, vibration, and radiation.

important to safety has a foundation independent of the confinement structure and is expected to have a 7. The applicant should develop a plan for timely significantly different response to an earthquake due to utilization of the data to be obtained from the installed different underlying soil conditions or unique structural seismic instrumentation.

3.17-2