ML20151V014
| ML20151V014 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/31/1982 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-FP-027-5, TASK-FP-27-5, TASK-OS REGGD-03.001, REGGD-3.001, NUDOCS 8808220040 | |
| Download: ML20151V014 (3) | |
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Revision 1
./P%4 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION January 1982 '
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! REGULATORY OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH GU DE REGULATORY GUIDd 3.1 (Task FP 027-5)
USE OF BOROSILICATE-GLASS RASCHIG RINGS AS A NEUTRON ABSOR8ER IN SOLUTIONS OF FlSSILE MATERIAL A. INTRO 9UCTION inspection procedures, and criticality operating limits are specified in the standard.
Section 70.22, "Contents of Applications," of 10 CFR Part 70, "Domestic Ucensing of Special Nucleai Material," Maximum permissible concentrations of homogeneous requires that applications for a specific license to own, solutions of plutonium or of uranium in sessels of unlimited acquire, deliver, receive, possess, use, or transfer special size packed with borosilicate-glass raschig rings are specified nuclear matenal contain proposed procedures to avoid in the standard. TW concentration of these solutions is accidental conditions of criticality. Procedures for this expressed as the mass of plutonium or of uranium per unit purpose include incorporating neutron-absorbing material volume. The density of hydrogen in any solution cannot be such as boron in process equipment. This regulat >ry guide less than 75 g/ liter not greater than ll5 g/ liter. Limitations provides guidance for complying with this portion of the on tha relative abundance of the various isotopes of pluto-Commissiofs regulations by describing procedures accept- nium are imposed in the specifications applicable to pluto-able to the NRC staff for the prevention of criticality r.ium solutions. The concentrations specified for uranium accidents by use of borosilicate-glass raschig rings as a enriched in 235 U apply regardless of the 235 U enrichment neutron absorber in solutions of fissile material, but with a limitation on the 233 U content. For solutions of uranium containing up to 5.0 wt4 23s U and no 233 U, B. DISCUSSION the limitations are expressed as mass of 235 U per unit volume.
The concentrations specified for solutions of 233 U also e ANSI /ANS 8.5-1979, "Use of Borosilicate-Glass Raschi apply to mixtures of 233 U and other uranium isotopes Rings as a Neutron Absorberin Solutions of Fissile mterial?p provided the 233 U content is greater than I wt-% of all the
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is a revision of ANSI N16A-1971 and was prepared by uranium.
Subcommittee 8, Fissionable Materials Outside Reactors, of the Standards Committee of the American Nuclear Society. C. REGULATORY POSITION ANSI /A NS 8.51979 was approved by the American National Standards Committee N16, Mclear Criticality phe guidance contained in ANSI /ANS 8.51979 for the Safety,in early 1979 and by the American National Stand- use of borosilicate-glass raschig rings as a neutron absorber ards Institute (ANSI) on October 9,1979, in solutions of fissile materialprovides a procedure generally acceptable to the NRC staff for the prevention of accidental ANSI /ANS 8.51979 provides guidance on the use of conditions of criticality.
borosilicate-glass raschig rings as a neutron absorber in solutions of finile material. The standard applies to the use - Section 8.0 of ANSI /ANS 8.51979 lists additional docu.
of borosilicate-glass raschig rings for primary and for ments referred to in the standard. The specific applicability secondary criticality control in solutions containing 238 U, or acceptability of these listed documents will be covered 2"Pu, and 233 U. De chemical and physical ensironment, separately in other regulatory guides, where appropriate.
properties of the rings and packed vessels, maintenance D. IMPLEMENTATION Lines i.ijicate substanthe changes from previous issue.
The purpose of this section is to provide information to
- Copies may be obtained from the American Nuclear Socie t y. applicants regarding the NRC staff's plan for using this 5 5 5 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park. lilmots 605 2 5. regulatory guide.
USNRC REGULATORY GUIDES Comments should be sent to the Secretary of the Commission, Resulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available tc the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, wasnington, D.C. 20 5 5 5 Attentioni Doc ketmg and Serv 6ce Branch.
pu blic me t h ods ac c eptable to the NRC staff of tmolementing suscanc parts of the commission's regulations, to defineate tech- The guides are issued in the following ten broad divisions:
nsoues used by the staf f in evaluating specific problems of postu-s fated accidents, or to provide gu6 dance to acolicants. Requf atory j Guices are not substitutes for replations, and comohance with 1. Powtf Reactors 6. Products (fy (.
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f twem is not required. Methods and solutions dif ferent from those set 2. ResearcM and Test Reactors 7. Transoortation v
,\ a. Fuets and Materials Facdities j out m the evides wiu be accootable tf they psovide a baus for the a. Occupational Health v findmes requisite to the issuance of contmuence o* a permit or 4. E nvironmental and Ltmt 9. Antitrust and F mancial Review hcense by the comm:ssion. 5. Materials and Racin Protection t o. General Copies of issued guides enay be purchased at the current Government This eulde was issued af ter consideration of comments recewed feom smntme othce page. A subscription service for futute 9uides im spe-the pubhc eundes areComme,nts encou,a edand suegestions at an times, andfo,r improvements umes wai be remin.these
- d. as divisions is avadabie tneougn the Ofhce cif info+c,mahon on the nuescriotion s.rvic. andGovernment current GPO Printinfc.s pr may.
appropriate, t to accommodate oiore.pe<ience. comments and to rehect new enforma-' be obtained by welong the U.S. Nuclear Re 8800220040 020131 '"'"" *"' ' C ' " ' ^ " '" " " ' "" *""gu la t"*"'or commission, PDR REGGD
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I The methods described in this guide were applied in a in which the applicant proposes an acceptable alternative number of specific cases during resiews and selected licensing method for complying with specified portions of the actions. These methods reflect the latest general NRC Commission's regulations, the methods described herein approach to enticality safety in operations involving use will be used after the issuance of this guide in the evaluation of borosilicate-glass raschig rings as a neutron absorber in of submittals in connection with license applications solutions of fissile material. Therefore, except in those cases submitted under 10 CFR Part 70.
VALUE/lMPACT STATEMEM The NRC staff performed a value/ impact assessment to endorse, with possible supplemental provisions, ANSI /
determine the proper r rocedural approach for updating ANS 8.51979. The results of this assessment were included Regulatory Guide 3.1, "Use of BorosilicatuGlass Raschig in a draft regulatory guide on this subject that was issued Rings as a Neutron Absorberin Solutions of Fissde Material," for public comment in May 1981. Since no comments have dated January 1973, which erW orsed ANSI Standard been received from the public, there has been no need to N16.41971. The NRC staff hu been involved in the change the regulatory position of the proposed revision to development, review, and approval of a revision to ANSI Regulatory Guide 3.1. A copy of the draft regulatory guide N16.41971 (designated ANSI /ANS R.5-1979), which was and the associated value/ impact statement (identified by its a;, proved by the American National Standards Institute on task number, FP 027 5) is available for inspection and October 9,1979. The assessment resulted it a decision to copying for a fee at the Commission's Public Document deselop a revision to h cculatory Guide 31 that would Roorn at 1717 11 Street NW., Washington, D.C.
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WASHINGTON O. C. 20355 POST AGE ANo rats pato OFFICI AL SUSINES$ U.S. NUCLE A R m ggyLAyon y PEN ALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 C O M M e s sio N k
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