ML20069G377

Informs of Upcoming Planned Actions.Major Renovation of Mechanical & Electrical Sys & Replacement of Cooling Tower Among Activities Planned for FY84-85

ML20069G377
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	03/24/1983
From:	Adcock B DEFENSE, DEPT. OF, DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
000265, 265, NUDOCS 8303250129
Download: ML20069G377 (2)

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4 DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY .

ARM 2D FORCES RAD &olOLOG,Y RESEARCH INsTITJTE -

, DONS; BFTHEsD A, M AkiLAND 20814, ,s

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'U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -

Washington, DC 20555

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Dear Sir:

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N i This 1Eto inform you of actions which irvolve the 1.0 Megawatt TRIGA Research Reactor

operated by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) under U.S. '

Nuclear Regulatory -

Commission License R-84. - x

' AFRRI is plannih3 a major rencyation oi the mechanical and electricil' systems of its' physical plant during FY s 84-85.1 This project will include replacement of the existing.

AFRRI cooling tower, widch presently serves both the AFRRI Reactor and Lineae -

Accelerator (LINAC) facilities, with rarger and more efficient dedicated units for each of these facilities. This letter provides information about the planndd cooling tower. -

replacement and includes the results of a recent review by AFRRI's Reactor and '

Itadiation Facility Safety Committee.

he cooling tower replacement will be accomplished in three steps: -

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1. Isolate and disconnect the existing cooling tower from the AFRRI Reactor and LINAC facilities. . .

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2. Tie the AFRRI Reactor and LINAC to separate facility-based cooling towers for a period of time until the new cooling towers are installed.

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3. Ultimately reconnect the AFRRI Reactor, and LINAC to the two separate newly-installed and dedicated cooling towers.

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As 'you are well aware, the cooling Icmer leserved bf an i$ dependent secUndary water loop which transfers heat from t6e rsactor primary coolant at thd heat exchanger.

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Therefore there is no potential impact on safety if the cooling tower is lost or unavailable. Additional!y, the cooling tower is rarely required since operations at 1.0 Megawatt for periods longer thin'one hour are almost never'perfdrmed; the heat capacity of the reactor poolis%r,shan sufficient for cooling the readto'r for these tyoicallesser

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DIR During the course of the replacement effort, when the AFRRI Reactor is tied to a separate facility-based cooling tower, isolation capability for service and maintenance will be provided and the secondary reactor coolant loop will. operate at a pressure greater than_that of the primary reactor coolant loop.

This action was discussed at the last AFRRI Reactor and Radiation Facility Safety Committee meeting on 24 February 1983. At that time, it was unanimously determined that no safety-related issues remain unresolved and that this proposed action can be accomplished under the provisions of 10 CFR 50.59 without the need for an amendment to License R-84.

Should you have any questions or comments on this matter, please feel free to contact Major Joseph A. Sholtis,3r., Chief, Radiation Sources Division and Reactor Physicist-in-Charge, at (301) 295-1096/1048.

Sincerely,

//O R. DCOCK Colo el, MSC, USA ,

Director

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission s Region I, Office of Inspection & Enforcement -

• 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 a

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