ML20245J427

Requests Date for Submittal of SAR for Conversion of Reactor from Use of High Enriched U to Low Enriched U Fuel Extended from 890301 to 890901

ML20245J427
Person / Time
Site:	Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission
Issue date:	02/22/1989
From:	Dimeglio A RHODE ISLAND, STATE OF
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 8903070136
Download: ML20245J427 (2)

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ATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS o ' Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission 3_ iNUCLEAR SCIENCE CENTER '

. South Ferry Road-

Narragansett, R.I. 02882-1197 February 22, 1989.

i U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk'

,, Washington, D.C. 20555  :

c License R-95 g

s Docket 50-193 Gentlemen: 4 .

'It'.~is hereby requested that the date for - submission' of. a- l safety. analysis report (SAR) . for E the conversion ' of ' this

.g reactor" from the use of high enriched uranium (HEU)1 to . low enriched uranium ' (LEU)E fuel be , extended' from March -1, 1989 to ,:

. September 1, 1989. While this additional time ~is.necessary -!

.for the ccmpletion of the SAR,, progress in several areas has- l 1 been.made:as follows. .

Jl v The DOE ' supported engineering ' studies and the modifications I to the.' reactor 4 building overhead' crane to increase its 1

' cap'acicy from~13' tons'to 15 tons have been completed.

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These modification . will permit the use of DOE owned shipping j containers'when shipping'our,HEU fuel to; reprocessing, j l Scoping studies on fuel plates and core configurations have {

been completed. These studies determined ' nuclear,- thermal. .l hydraulic - and , safety parameters not only at the curre'nt l reactor ~ power level . but also at the higher power levels 'j

included.in the original reactor design. These studies have. 'j lead:to the conclusion that the standard LEU plate' can be )

used. in this reactor in configurations which provide  ;

acceptable parameters with acceptable' core lifetime. Work is 'j now' concentrating only on the specific cores which will make  !

up'the conversion.

Work has begun on the final engineering design of the fuel' )

elements and reflectors which will be used in the LEU core.  !

While.we will proceed with the design and obtain preliminary quotations from vendors, DOE has indicated that fuel fabrication for this reactor will not occur until calendar-

' year'1990.

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Use of the standard plate may require some modifications to the reactor. While all modifications may not have been identified, we have been working on engineering solutions to some of these such as relocation of the regulating rod and installation of an auxiliary shut down cooling system.

Work towards the goal of conversion to LEU is proceeding as rapidly as possible consistent with the magnitude of the project, staff limitations, and the continued operation of the reactor for research.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours, 3 ]d4 A. rancis D eglio, /

Director AFD/jpc /

cc: RIAEC RUC Charles Miller, NRC T.S Michaels, NRC REGION I W.J. Raymond