N U C L 6 0 6 0 : R E A C T O R O P E R A T I O N A N D R E G U L A T O R Y P O L I C Y

Spring 2020

INSTRUCTOR: Matthew Lund

LECTURES: Monday and Wednesday 3:00 PM – 4:20 PM MEB 1206 LABORATORIES: (As agreed upon by class.)

OFFICE HOURS: Monday and Wednesday 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM MEB 1206

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N U C L 6 0 6 0 : R E A C T O R O P E R A T I O N A N D R E G U L A T O R Y P O L I C Y

Spring 2019

INSTRUCTOR: Matthew LECTURES: MONDAY and WEDNESDAY 3:00 PM – 4:20 PM MEB 1206 LABORATORIES: (As agreed upon by class.) OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY and WEDNESDAY 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM MEB1206 TEXTBOOK: “Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Operations”, Reed Robert Burn, 1982 REFERENCES: “Code of Federal Regulations – 10 CFR20 -75”

“UNEP Technical Specifications” “UNEP SAR” “UNEP Description of Operations” UNEP Procedures “DOE Fundamentals – Nuclear Physics & Reactor Theory”

Additional materials will be provided when required. Course Objectives: It is the Instructor’s intention… 1. Teach the students basic nuclear reactor principles and theory, including nuclear regulation, general

operating characteristics, and radiation protections principles, in US research reactor operation. 2. Teach UNEP systems, reactor design, operation, instrumentation, controls, safety features, procedures,

technical specifications, and applicable regulations. 3. Give students practical operational experience and familiarization with research reactor operation with every

student operate the UNEP TRIGA research reactor. 4. Teach the students radiation safety policy and regulations, emergency response policy and rules, and other

regulations of importance to radiation safety and research reactor operation 5. Prepare all students to complete the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Operator licenses for the

UNEP TRIGA. Reactor Operation and Regulatory Policy course will provide students: fundamental understanding of operation and associated theory of TRIGA reactors, understanding of the 10CFR code and other associated regulatory policies and rules, and practical experience through the experimental procedures for the University of Utah TRIGA Reactor (UUTR). Course Outcomes: Students must be able to … 1. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of TRIGA operation and associated theory of TRIGA reactors. 2. Learn the 10CFR code, ANSI standards, UUTR SAR, Technical Specification, radiation safety regulations,

and other related policies and regulations. 3. Demonstrate steps required for safe operation of UUTR. 4. Describe TRIGA reactor components operation and function and theoretical principles of equipment such as

ionization chambers, fission chambers, thermocouples, CAM, and ARM systems.

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5. Perform applicable surveillance procedures applicable to UUTR. 6. Demonstrate understanding and application of emergency response steps. 7. Demonstrate understanding of reactor behavior, reactor poisoning from fission products, reactor kinetics,

steady-state operation, transients, and accidents. Prerequisites NUCL3000/5030 (Nuclear Principles in Science and Engineering), NUCL3100/5031 (Neutron-Based Engineering), or instructor’s consent. Homework Most of the homework will be completing reading assignments, which students are expected to complete before class. Each homework assignment will consist of completing a reading assignment, a short series of questions, and a written response, one-page written report about equipment, reactor electronics, or a scenario. All homework will be posted and submitted through Canvas and will be due at the beginning of class. Each student will get one late assignment, but the instructor must be notified by email ahead of time. Labs Students are required to attend at least five reactor runs to complete required reactivity manipulations. Reactor runs will be scheduled once a week depending on students’ availability. All students will complete at least one startup, shutdown, and assist in required surveillances. Assessment of Student Progress Toward Course Objectives

• Tests: 3 Midterms [each 10%], Final [30%] • Homework with quiz: 20% • Labs- 5 Reactivity Manipulations 20% • Reading Materials: Every student must show up once a month to read the unredacted UUTR SAR,

UUTR Technical Specifications, and safeguard related documents at MEB 1206 (details will be announced in class)

Requirement Every student needs to take “radiation safety training” at the “Radiological Health Department”. Details will be provided in the class. http://www.rso.utah.edu/ Attendance, Drop Policy, and Department Guidelines:

• Attendance at each class is fully expected in order to achieve satisfactory and timely progress. • Students can miss the class only once. • The drop policy for this course is in accordance with University and Department rules and regulations. It

is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with these policies. • Please see the College of Engineering Guidelines at https://www.coe.utah.edu/students/current/semester-

guidelines/

Academic Misconduct: Academicmisconduct,whichincludescheating,plagiarism,orfalsifyinginformation,will not betoleratedintheclassandwillresultinanautomaticEforthecourseandreferraltotheUniversityStudentBehaviorCommittee.Eachlaboratoryfinalwrite-upshouldbetheuniqueworkofeachstudentandmustcontainreferencestoanycitations.Pleasecontacttheinstructorwithanyquestionson

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academicmisconductorseetheUniversityofUtahStudentCodeat https://regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.php. University Policies: 1. The Americans with Disabilities Act: The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to

its programs, services, and activities for people with If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, (801) 581-5020. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

2. Addressing Sexual Misconduct: Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status or genetic If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 135 Park Building, 801-581-8365, or the Office of the Dean of Students, 270 Union Building, 801-581-7066. For support and confidential consultation, contact the Center for Student Wellness, 426 SSB, 801-581-7776. To report to the police, contact the Department of Public Safety, 801-585-2677(COPS).

3. Safety Statement: The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

4. Wellness Statement: Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural differences can interfere with a student’s ability to succeed and thrive at the University of Utah. For helpful resources contact the Center for Student Wellness -www.wellness.utah.edu; 801-581-7776.

5. Veterans Center: If you are a student veteran, we want you to know that the U of Utah has a Veterans Support Center on They are located in Room 161 in the Olpin Union Building. Hours: M-F 8-5 pm. Please visit their website for more information about what support they offer, a list of ongoing events and links to outside resources: http://veteranscenter.utah.edu/. Please also let me know if you need any additional support in this class for any reason.

6. Learners of English as an Additional/Second Language: If you are an English language learner, please be aware of several resources on campus that will support you with your language development and writing. These resources include the Department of Linguistics ESL Program (http://linguistics.utah.edu/esl-program/); the Writing Center (http://writingcenter.utah.edu/); the Writing Program (http://writing-program.utah.edu/); the English Language Institute (http://continue.utah.edu/eli/). Please let me know if there is any additional support you would like to discuss for this class.

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Syllabus NUCL6060

Reactor Operation and Regulatory Policy, Spring 2019 Date Class Lab/Facility/Procedure Reading Due HW Due

1/6/20

Ch. 1 Introduction Review of basic mathematics for the reactor operation, general rules and regulations in the reactor room, Safety Culture

Chapter 1, Safety Culture

1/8/20

Ch. 2 Basic Nuclear Reactor Physics Fundamental particles, atom and atomic nucleus, interactions of radiation with matter, cross sections, reaction rate, properties of elements and reactor materials

Nuclear Safety Culture Dynamic Learning Activity Chapter 2

1/13/20

Ch. 3. Nuclear Fission and Neutron Multiplication Nuclear fission, Chain reaction, neutron multiplication, reactivity, and six-factor formula

UNEP-001 TRIGA Prestart Checklist

Chapter 3, UNEP-001 TRIGA Prestart Checklist

1/15/20 No Class

1/20/20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday

1/22/20

Ch. 4. Reactor Kinetics Prompt critical reactor, reactor period and reactor power, delayed critical reactor, reactor shutdown, limits on negative and positive periods, prompt jump and drop, source criticality, decay heat power

Ventilation System Chapter 4 HW 1

1/27/20

Ch. 5. Subcritical Multiplication Neutron source, neutron multiplication in a subcritical reactor, inverse multiplication, critical loading experiment, neutron source addition to a reactor

Surveillances

1/29/20 Midterm 1 - NRC Section A Monthly Inspection UNEP-020 Monthly Inspection/Surveillance Procedure

HW 2

2/3/20

Ch. 6. Reactivity Control, Kinetics, and Coefficients Reactivity control and kinetics, Introduction to 10 CFR regulations, reactivity coefficients

Control Rod Drive System and Safety System Chapter 6

2/5/20

Ch. 7. Control Rods Differential rod worth, integral rod worth, Rod worth limits and reactivity insertion rate, rod shadow, factors affecting rod shadow

Semi-Annual Thermal Power Calibration

Ch. 7, UNEP-012 Semi-Annual Thermal Power Calibration, HW 3

2/10/20 Control Rod Drop Experiment, Semi-Annual Control Rod Calibrations

UNEP-003 Semi-Annual Control Rod Calibrations

UNEP-003 Semi-Annual Control Rod Calibrations, UNEP-013 Adjustment of Power Monitoring Channels

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2/12/20 Ch. 8. Fission Product Poisons Xenon balance in the reactor, Xenon equilibrium

Calibration of Temperature Monitoring Channels

Ch. 8, Chapter 5, UNEP -011 Calibration of Temperature Monitoring Channels

HW 4

2/17/20 Presidents Day

2/19/20

Ch. 8. Fission Product Poisons Xenon transient behavior, Samarium balance in the reactor, samarium equilibrium, samarium transient behavior

UNEP-015 Emergency Kit Check

HW 5

2/24/20 Midterm 2 - NRC Section A

Reactor Coolant System & Make Up Water System, UNEP-006 Water Filter Change, UNEP-008 Adding Water to Rx Tank, UNEP-024 Replacement of IX Resin

UNEP-006 Water Filter Change, UNEP-008 Adding Water to Rx Tank, UNEP-024 Replacement of IX Resin

2/26/20 10 CFR Code of Federal Regulations Experiment Ports, Pneumatic Transfer System, Emergency Power Supply

10CFR-20, 10CFR-50, 10CFR-55 HW 6

3/2/20 Intro to UNEP Technical Specifications

UNEP-027 TRIGA Reactor Irradiation Request and Performance, UNEP-028 Experimental Facility Reactivity Worth Determination

Technical Specification (TS), UNEP-027 TRIGA Reactor Irradiation Request and Performance, UNEP-028 Experimental Facility Reactivity Worth Determination

3/4/20 Radiation Protection Radiation Detection Systems (CAM/ARM)

UNEP-023 Annual Maintenance and Calibration of the Area Radiation Monitors (ARMs) and Continuous Air Monitor (CAM)

HW 7

3/9/20 Spring break

3/11/20 Spring break

3/16/20 Radiation Detection UNEP-023 Annual CAM/ARM Calibration

UNEP-023 Annual CAM/ARM Calibration

3/18/20 Fission chambers and Ion Chambers Neutron Power Monitoring Channels

HW 8

3/23/20 Safety Analysis Report (SAR) UNEP-036 Calibration of pH Meter

Safety Analysis Report (SAR), UNEP-036 Calibration of pH Meter

3/25/20 Description of Operations Description of Operation (DO) HW 9

3/30/20 Midterm 3 - NRC Section B & C UNEP-032 Liquid Effluent Discharge Authorization

UNEP-032 Liquid Effluent Discharge Authorization

4/1/20 Fuel Loading, Biennial Fuel Inspection

UNEP-002 Biennial Fuel Inspection, UNEP-005 Core Change and Critical Fuel Loading, UNEP-007 Change Central Irradiator, UNEP-018 Fuel Element Inventory Sheet

UNEP-002 Biennial Fuel Inspection, UNEP-005 Core Change and Critical Fuel Loading, UNEP-007 Change Central Irradiator, UNEP-018 Fuel Element Inventory Sheet

HW 10

4/6/20 Nuclear Reactor Accidents and Lessons Learned

UNEP-016 Agreement for Off Hours Access, UNEP-017 Familiarization Checklist

4/8/20 Intro to Emergency Plan and Emergency Procedures

UNEP-015 Emergency Kit Check, UNEP-021 Emergency Call List, UNEP-031 Safeguard Event Log, UNEP-033 UNEP Security Alarms,

UNEP Emergency Plan

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UNEP-037 Radiological Emergency Classification

4/13/20 Maintenance, 50.59 Process, Requalification, Audit and Reviews

UNEP-022 Maintenance Log, UNEP-025 Requalification, UNEP-035 Audit and Review Program Checklist

UNEP-022 Maintenance Log, UNEP-025 Requalification, UNEP-035 Audit and Review Program Checklist

4/15/20 Emergency Drill

4/20/20 Practice Exam / Review

4/24/20 Thursday 3:30 – 5:30 pm

Final