ML20210G520

Annual Rept for Cornell Triga Reactor & Cornell Zero Power Reactor for 980701-990630

ML20210G520
Person / Time
Site:	05000157, 05000097
Issue date:	07/28/1999
From:	Lassell S CORNELL UNIV., ITHACA, NY
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9908030116
Download: ML20210G520 (4)

Text

!

l.

? ?

/

C.,O, R,,N. E. L,,L, u

Ward Center for Nuclear Sciences Tel: (607)255-3480 Ward Laborato'ry,Ithaca, New York 14853 Fax:(607)255-9417 July 28th,1999 l

l US Nuclear Regulatory Commission l

Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 RE: Annual Report for Facility Licenses #R-80 (Docket #50-157), and #R-89 (Docket #50-97)

Dear Sir:

The purpose of this report is to satisfy the reporting requirements of Section 50.59 of 10 CFR, Part 50, in respect to activities carried out utilizing the Cornell TRIGA Reactor (facility license R-80) and the Cornell Zero Power Reactor (ZPR) (facility license R-89) during the period beginning July 1,1998 and ending June 30,1999.

TRIGA License R-80:

1. Operating Experience During the period reported herein, the TRIGA reactor was used primarily for the purpose of teaching and academic research, and for corporate testing, research and development. Please reference Table #1 (attached) entitled " Utilization of the WCNS TRIGA Reactor Facility".

Teaching programs included,

1) neutron radiography demonstrations,

2) use of reactor for nuclear measurement laboratory course sessions,

3) introduction to neutron activation analysis, and i

4) demonstration of reactor operation during steady-state and pulsed modes.

Research programsinclude,

1) trace analysis of geological samples by neutron activation analysis,

2) research and development of a neutron guide / cold source system, I

3) investigation of microcracking in concrete by neutron radiography using high resolution film,

4) imaging of fossilinternals through neutron radiography, and

5) visualizing wetting front instabilities of water in sand filter columns using real time neutron radiography.

Corporate Utilization is tabulated on Table #1.

2. Changes in Facility Design f

b None D

3. Changes in Procedures I

Standard Operating Procedures for the TRIGA reactor were changed to improve clarity and conform to a new format designed to facilitate checkout and calibration of the safety and controlinstrumentation. All changes have been reviewed and approved by the Ward Reactor Laboratory Safety Committee.

l l

WCNS, Cornell University 990 M W N a I

l PDR ADOCK 05000097 R

PDR L

E.

"FY'99 Utilintion Table #1 i Utilintion of the WCNS TRIG A Reactor Facility WCNS Fipca' Year 'p9: July 1,1998 June 30,1999 Report Date: 7/5/99 Aendernic Users:

enen.11 Academir Res.nech Groups:

Dtiti.

M EK0itIt

1. students e Civil Engineering Prof. Hover NRay of microcracking in concrete 2

a GeologicalSciences Prof.Kay.

NAA ofigneous rocks 2

• Nuclear Sci. & Eng.

Prof. Cady NRay of wetting front instabilities of water in sand filter columns.

1

+ Paleontology Dr. Chiment NRay of fossils enen.nl Acaa.mic cournes u in ine the heitie :

f.atudents s

v

• Art, Archeology & Analysis:

5 tours of the facility emphasizing applications (NAA, NIAR, NRay, etc..)

74

+ ENG 121 Introductory Nuclear Methods Laboratory 13

+ ENG 150 to facility orientation tours of Engineering freshmen 146

• Geology Prof. White. NAA Demonstration 15

• PlfYS208 18 NAA lab sessions 198

+ Physics 690 NAA Demonstration 7

External Academic Users.

1. students

• SUNYGeneseo NAA of Graphite for use as a fast neutron detector in the Univ. of Rochester INF Reactor 3

• Miner Irstitute:

NAA of Cattle Forage samples fo trace metals

• NYS 4-H Group workshop:

Summer workshop (- 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />) for 10 4-H Youth Group high school students.

11 Cornorate Usent; e Corning,Inc.

NAA of high purity glass (HPFS, SiO2 stock, r.irconium bricks) e GE/Reuter Stokes,Inc.

Nuclear power and Naval reactor detector development, testing and calibration.

• Greene, Tweed & Co.

NAA of O-Ring materials.

• Harris Semiconductor -

~ Fast neutron irradiation of silicon to enhance device switching speeds.

+ Imaging & Sensing Tech. Corp.

Nuclear power and Naval reactor detector development, testing and calibration.

• Kodak Corp.

NAA of industrial and environmental samples, NAA of 6" Silicon wafers.

• United Technologies Corp.

NRay for quality assurance - space station and astronaut life support hardware (heat exchangers) a WDP Assoc.

NRay of microcracking in concrete as indicator of structural integrity.

+ WestinghouseCorp.

. Naval reactor instrumentation testing, and testing of prototype sic based neutron detectors.

j i

NE hternal Arndemic Institutions:

1. of tour croung total # oersons

• Colgate College -

1 12 e Corning Community College 4

43

• Newfield High School 1

40

• Tompkins Cortland Comm. Coll.

1 10 1

Other Tour Grouns:

• CU Society of Women Engineers 1

11

• CU MS&E Student Group 1

9

+ NYS Spectroscopy Group 1

32 Prepared by Sectt Lassell 7/28/99

4. Surveillance Tests and Inspections All' parameters and systems undergoing surveillance tests and inspections are determining to be within the specified limits.

5. Power Generation 78.8 Megawatt hours

6. Emergency Shutdowns None

7. Unintentional Scrams None

8. Maior Maintenance None

9. Radioactive Waste Release

1) Liquid waste - g,582 pCi (gross activity)

2) Gaseous waste -- 129.5 mci (argon-41)

10. Personnel Exposure

' No significant radiation exposure to personnel was experienced.

ZPR - License No. R-89:

1. Operating Experience On 2/12/97, the NRC issued Amendment No. 4 which removes the authority from the license to operate the reactor and authorizes possession - only of the reactor. The ZPR fuel had been removed from the reactor gridplate :>rior to that date, and the reactor has been in a shutdown / safe-storage condition since taat time.

2. Change in Facility Design None

3. Changes in Procedures None

4. Surveillance Tests and Inspections i

All parameters and systems undergoing surveillance tests and inspections were 1

determined to be within the specified limits.

5. Maior Maintenance None

6. Radioactive Waste Release No measurable amount WCNS, Cornell University 2

E

y i

. l..

7. Personnel Exposure No'significant radiation exposure to personnel was experienced.

\\

r

- If any additional information is requi:ed concerning this report, please don't hesitate to contact this office, Sincerely Yours, Mr. Scott Lassell Reactor Supervisor xc: Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement e.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region I 475 Allendale Rd.

King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415

.q I./

s i

I i.

WCNS, Cornell University 0

(

(

]

m