ML16124A925

Response to NRC Generic Letter 2016-01: Monitoring of Neutron Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

ML16124A925
Person / Time
Site:	National Bureau of Standards Reactor
Issue date:	04/26/2016
From:	Dimeo R US Dept of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
GL-16-001
Download: ML16124A925 (2)

Text

April 26, 2016 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-

Subject:

NRC Generic Letter 2016-01: Monitoring of Neutron Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools ,, Ref: Docket 50-184

Dear Sirs/Madams:

.

In response to the above noted Generic Letter, the NIST Reactor (NBSR) offers the following information, as requested:

(1) Are neutron-absorbing materials used in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or other wet locations designed/or the storage of reactor or spent fuel? Answer: The NBSR fuel storage pool is designed with fuel storage racks which contain borated aluminum, used as a.neutron absorbing material.

(2) If neutron-absorbing materials are u;ed,. "their use credited in 'the licensing or design basis (i.e., criticality.

safety analysis)

/or the storage of reactor fuel or spent fuel in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or wet locations, 'as applicable?

Answer: . No credit is taken.for the neutron absorbing material .in the NCNR criticality safety analyses.

Analyses (NBSR ECN 553) have shown that an infinite plane of fully loaded containers with fresh NBSR fuel and no boron present would have a maximum koo,xy of 0.857. * (3) If neutron absorbing materials are credited in the facility licensing or design basis for the storage of reactor or spent faei in a reactor pool, fuel storqge pool, or other wet locations, as then prQvide a description of, andtechnic;;,l basis for,. any surveillance or monitoring progrqrns usedto confirm continued acceptable performance . of the neutron-absorbing materials time. .* *. . . . . . . . . Answer: As stated above, no taken for.the presence of absorbing Bowever, the NBSRdoes perform periodic visual surveillance of the fuel storage facility tQ check for *degradation.

.. NlSI

• -.,. r If you have any questions concerning this response, please contact Dr. Thomas Newton at (301) 975-6260 or at thomas.newton@llist.gov.

' Sincerely, Rob Dimeo, Director NIST Center for Neutron Research I certify under penalty of perjury that the following is true and correct.

• AUl\0 ....

on April 26, 2016 cc: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Xiaosong Yin, NRR/DPRIPRLB One White Flint North 11_555 Rockville Pike, MS 12 D3 Rockville, MD 20852. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission\

Attn: Craig Bassett 5523 Preserve Point Flowery Branch, GA 30542 April 26, 2016 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-

Subject:

NRC Generic Letter 2016-01: Monitoring of Neutron Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools ,, Ref: Docket 50-184

Dear Sirs/Madams:

.

In response to the above noted Generic Letter, the NIST Reactor (NBSR) offers the following information, as requested:

(1) Are neutron-absorbing materials used in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or other wet locations designed/or the storage of reactor or spent fuel? Answer: The NBSR fuel storage pool is designed with fuel storage racks which contain borated aluminum, used as a.neutron absorbing material.

(2) If neutron-absorbing materials are u;ed,. "their use credited in 'the licensing or design basis (i.e., criticality.

safety analysis)

/or the storage of reactor fuel or spent fuel in a reactor pool, fuel storage pool, or wet locations, 'as applicable?

Answer: . No credit is taken.for the neutron absorbing material .in the NCNR criticality safety analyses.

Analyses (NBSR ECN 553) have shown that an infinite plane of fully loaded containers with fresh NBSR fuel and no boron present would have a maximum koo,xy of 0.857. * (3) If neutron absorbing materials are credited in the facility licensing or design basis for the storage of reactor or spent faei in a reactor pool, fuel storqge pool, or other wet locations, as then prQvide a description of, andtechnic;;,l basis for,. any surveillance or monitoring progrqrns usedto confirm continued acceptable performance . of the neutron-absorbing materials time. .* *. . . . . . . . . Answer: As stated above, no taken for.the presence of absorbing Bowever, the NBSRdoes perform periodic visual surveillance of the fuel storage facility tQ check for *degradation.

.. NlSI

• -.,. r If you have any questions concerning this response, please contact Dr. Thomas Newton at (301) 975-6260 or at thomas.newton@llist.gov.

' Sincerely, Rob Dimeo, Director NIST Center for Neutron Research I certify under penalty of perjury that the following is true and correct.

• AUl\0 ....

on April 26, 2016 cc: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Xiaosong Yin, NRR/DPRIPRLB One White Flint North 11_555 Rockville Pike, MS 12 D3 Rockville, MD 20852. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission\

Attn: Craig Bassett 5523 Preserve Point Flowery Branch, GA 30542