Reed College, Submittal of Reactor's Annual Report for ... · Reed College operates a 250 kW...

REED COLLEGE Portland, Oregon 97202

REACTOR FACILITY

August 23,2010

Document Control DeskUS Nuclear Regulatory CommissionWashington, DC 20555

Docket 50-288

Enclosed is Reed College Reactor's Annual Report.

Please feel free to contact me for additional information.

Regards,

S t *r, R oFranteDirector, Reed College Reactor

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3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.. Portland. OR 97202-8199 503-777-7222 Fax: 503-777-7274 reactor(týreedxdu

REED RESEARCH REACTOR

ANNUAL REPORT

<2M.September 1, 2009 -- June 30, 2010

REED RESEARCH REACTOR

ANNUAL REPORTSeptember 1, 2009 -- June 30, 2010

3203 Southeast Woodstock Blvd.Portland, Oregon 97202-8199

503-777-7222Fax: 503-777-7274

http://[email protected]

This page is intentionally blank.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................. 1

PEOPLE .......................................................................................................................... 3

Reactor Staff ..................................................................................................... 3

Reactor Review Committee ................................................................................... 2

FACILITIES ..................................................................................................................... 3

Reactor Facility .................................................................................................... 3Rotating Specimen Rack Facility .......................................................................... 3Pneumatic Transfer System .................................................................................. 3In-Core Facilities .................................................................................................. 3In-Pool Facilities .................................................................................................. 4Beam Facilities .................................................................................................... 4

USERS ............................................................................................................................. 5

Reactor Operations Seminar ................................................................................ 5Outside Users ................................................................................................... 6Colleges and Universities ..................................................................................... 6High Schools and M iddle Schools ........................................................................ 6Special Groups .................................................................................................... 6High School Student Project ................................................................................ 7Concordia University ............................................................................................ 7Scaler Kits ........................................................................................................ 8Reed Classes ..................................................................................................... 8Industrial and Commercial Applications ............................................................... 8

REACTOR OPERATIONS ............................................................................................. 9

Operations ........................................................................................................ 9Unplanned Reactor Shutdowns .......................................................................... 10

REACTOR M AINTENANCE ......................................................................................... 11

Significant M aintenance ......................................................................................... 1110 CFR 50.59 Evaluations ...................................................................................... 11

RADIATION PROTECTION ......................................................................................... 13

Personnel Dosimetry ........................................................................................... 13Fixed Area Dosimetry ......................................................................................... 13Gaseous Releases ................................................................................................ 14Liquid W aste Releases ........................................................................................ 14Solid W aste Disposal .......................................................................................... 14Environmental Sampling ..................................................................................... 14

OVERVIEW

This report covers the period from September 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, and is intended tofulfill the reporting requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission LicenseNo. R-1 12, Docket 50-288, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Oregon Departmentof Energy Rule No. 345-030-010.

We specifically wish to thank Portland General Electric and Concordia University fortheir financial aid.

Reed College operates a 250 kW TRIGA® Mark I reactor. The Reed College ResearchReactor has been a resource for research and educational projects in the Portland areasince 1968. The main uses of the Reed Research Reactor are instruction and research,especially in the field of trace-element analysis.

During the year there were 1028 visitors from schools, colleges, universities, and specialgroups. Additionally, there were 406 visitors as part of Reed College activities(prospective students, family of students, Reed classes, etc.). 124 members of emergencyresponse organizations came for training. Finally, there were four entries by inspectorsand regulators from state and federal agencies.

Including tours and research conducted at the facility, the Reed Research Reactorcontributed to the educational programs of 14 colleges and universities in addition to 11pre-college groups. During the year the reactor was taken critical 432 times on 111 days.The total energy produced was approximately 25 megawatt-hours.

The reactor staff consists of a Director, an Associate Director, a Health Physicist, andReed College undergraduate students who are licensed by the Nuclear RegulatoryCommission as reactor operators or senior reactor operators. As this report is beingwritten the licensed operating staff consists of 18 women and 24 men. During thereporting period, all 15 Reactor Operator candidates passed their NRC exams and all nineSenior Reactor Operator candidates passed their NRC exams.

There were no radiation exposures to individuals in excess of two percent of the limitduring the year. There were no releases of liquid radioactive material from the facilityand airborne releases were well within regulatory limits. There were no shipments ofradioactive waste.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted their annual inspection duringNovember 30 through December 3, 2009. No deficiencies were noted.

Note that this annual report will covers September 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 tosynchronize the report with our other requirements. Hence this report only coversten month.

Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 1Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page I


Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2 010 Page 2Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 2

IPEOPLE

Reactor Staff

During the period September 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, the staff consisted of:

Reactor Director:Associate Director:Reactor Supervisor:

Training Supervisor:

Assistant TrainingSupervisor:RequalificationSupervisor:Radiation Safety Officer:Health Physicist:

Stephen FrantzRobin BjorkquistCelia OneyReuven LazarusMary SolbrigRosie CottinghamKathleen ConahanMary SolbrigJeremy SilverCelia OneyKathleen FisherRupinder Kaur

(4/94 - Present)(7/09 - Present)(5/10 - Present)(5/09 - 5/10)(5/10 - Present)(5/09 - 5/10)(5/10 - Present)(5/09 - 5/10)(5/10 - Present)(5/09 - 5/10)(1/03 - Present)(1/10 - Present)

Senior Reactor Operators (SRO):SophieRobinMatthewFluffyKathleenRosieWesleyStephenAngelaAlinaBenjaminReuvenEllenCeliaJosephNealCarlLauraAhmadJeremyErinMaryMaceErikMoriahStephen

BerkmanBjorkquistCarlsonCassConahanCottinghamEricksonFrantzFreyKassenbrockLarsonLazarusMcManisOneyParmaleeReynoldsRodriguezSardShabbarSilverSmithSolbrigSpiegelThomasTobinvon Kugelen

Reactor Operators (RO):Kaileigh AhlquistCaleb ArataGray DavidsonFrancis DieterleIan FlowerTodd GarronEvan GreenLuke HowardMay-Ling LiDaniel Lidral-PorterKathryn LinthicumCristi PandaBriana PattonEvan PikulskiNeha RaoMichael ReichertMarcus RobinsonBrandy RyanNick SalterJuliet ShaftoElisabeth ThomasHarry TraulsenMike VignalPatrick WijngaardFlorence Williams

Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 3

The list of operators includes everyone who held a license at any time during thereporting period. Reactor Operators who upgrade their licenses to Senior ReactorOperators during the reporting period are listed under Senior Reactor Operators, AIJ of.the licensed operators are Reed College undergraduate students with the exception of theDirector and Associate Director.

As this report is being written there are 9 women and 16 men with Reactor Operatorlicenses and 9 women and 8 men with Senior Reactor Operator licenses.

Reactor Review CommitteeThe Reed Research Reactor has two oversight committees: the Reactor Safety Committeeand the Reactor Operations Committee. Together they comprise the Reactor ReviewCommittee. The Reactor Safety Committee is concerned with emergency preparedness,health physics, radiation safety, physical security, environmental impact, and theinterface between the Reed Research Reactor, Reed College, and the surroundingcommunity. The Reactor Operations Committee deals with the day-to-day operations ofthe reactor, reactor maintenance, reactor safety, operator training, and operatorrequalification. The membership of the committees during the reporting period is shownbelow:

Reactor Safety CommitteeWayne Lei - Chair (Director of Research and Development, Portland General Electric)Norm Dyer (OAR Services)Daniel Gerrity (Chemistry Faculty, Reed College)Kathleen Fisher (Director, Reed Environmental Health and Safety)Robert McCullough (Community Member)Rupinder Kaur (Health Physicist, RRR)

Reactor Operations CommitteeDarrell Schroeter - Chair (Physics Faculty, Reed College)Steve Reese (Radiation Center Director, Oregon State University)Juliet Brosing (Physics Faculty, Pacific University)Ron Ross (Portland General Electric)Steven Congdon (Community Member)Rupinder Kaur (Health Physicist, RRR)

Ex Officio without vote on both committees:

Peter Steinberger (Dean of the Faculty, Reed College)Stephen Frantz (Director, RRR)Robin Bjorkquist (Associate Director, RRR)Reuven Lazarus (Reactor Supervisor, RRR)


1FACILITIES

R."eac tor Facility

In addition to the reactor, Reed College has a radiochemistry lab. The equipmentavailable at the reactor facility includes high purity germanium gamma spectrometers,alphaspedtrometers, a whole body counter, gas flow proportional counters, ion chambers,beta counters, Geiger Muller tubes, neutron detectors, alpha detectors, and thermoluminescent dosimeter readers. These instruments are used for experiments and trainingin nuclear science and radiation detection. Two exit monitors are in the control room. Aliquid scintillation detector serves the campus radioisotope committee. The reactorfacility has several systems for performing irradiations, described below.

Rotating Specimen Rack Facility

The rotating specimen rack ("lazy susan") is located in a well on top of the graphitereflector surrounding the core. The rack consists of a circular array of 40 tubularreceptacles, each of which can accommodate two irradiation tubes. Vials holding up to17 ml (four drams) are used in this system. Samples are loaded in the specimen rack priorto the start-up of the reactor. The rack automatically rotates during irradiation to ensureeach sample receives the same neutron flux. Typically, researchers use. the rotating rackwhen long irradiation times (generally greater than five minutes) are required. Theapproximate thermal neutron flux in a rotating rack position at full power is1.7 xlO' 2 n/cm 2s with a cadmium ratio of 6. The specimen rack can be used for gammairradiations (approximately 8 Rad/min) when the reactor is shutdown.

Pneumatic Transfer System

The pneumatic transfer system ("rabbit") consists of an irradiation chamber in the outerF-ring of the core and its associated pump and piping. This allows samples to betransferred in and out of the reactor core very rapidly while the reactor is at power.

Routine use of the pneumatic transfer system involves placing samples into vials, whichin turn are placed in special capsules known as "rabbits," The capsule is loaded into thesystem in the laboratory next to the reactor and is then transferred pneumatically into thecore-irradiation position. At the end of a predetermined time the sample is transferredback to the receiving terminal, where it is removed reoriasutement. The transfer timefrom the core to the terminal is about seven. seconds,making:,this method of irradiatingsamples particularly useful for experiments involving radioisotopes with short half-lives.The flux in the core terminal is approximately 5x 10'1 n/cm 2s ,when the reactor is at fullpower.

In-Core Facilities

The central thimble is a water-filled irradiation chamber about 3 cm in diameter. Itprovides the highest available neutron flux, about l x 10 " n/cm 2s. Special sample holdersare used in the central thimble to provide maximum flexibility in experiment design.


A fuel replacement source holder assembly can also be used as an irradiation facility. Thechamber fits into a fuel-element position within the core itself. It holds only one speciallypositioned irradiation container 7.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter.

Foil-insertion holes, 0.8 cm in diameter, are drilled at various positions through the grid,plates. These holes allow inserting special holders containing flux wires into the core, toobtain neutron flux maps of the core.

In-Pool FacilitiesNear core, in-pool irradiation facilities can be arranged for larger samples. Neutron fluxeswill be lower than in the lazy susan and will depend on the sample location.

An iridium gamma irradiator is also in the reactor pool for gamma only irradiations.

Beam FacilitiesThe central thimble can be evacuated with gas, producing a vertical neutron beam. Thisbeam can be used to generate directional neutron flux, or for limited irradiations abovethe tank. Prompt gamma analysis and neutron radiography can be done. The flux abovethe beam exit is approximately lx106 n/cmas when the reactor is at full power.


IUSERS

Reactor Operations Seminar

The ReedResearch Reactor conducts an annual seminar series. This non-credit courseserves as an introduction to nuclear reactor theory, health physics, and reactor operation.Some of the students continue with in-depth reactor operator training and subsequentlyapply for a Reactor Operator (RO) license. If successful, the individual may be hired tooperate the reactor. In addition, existing ROs may take the NRC Senior Reactor Operator(SRO) exam to upgrade their licenses.

During the reporting period, 15 out of 15 RO candidates and 9 out of 9 SRO candidatespassed their NRC exams.

Historically students who fail the NRC exam only fail one section and they are allowed toretake that section later. Figure 2 is a graph of the number of license application eachyear showing how many new RO and SRO licenses were awarded at Reed and how manyfailed to obtain a license. Following the large class in 2005 we began limiting the numberof license candidates to 15 ROs per year.

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0(j fn IT Lfl ' N 00 O0 0 - (Nj fn (n 0 r, 00 a,a, a, a, 0 MS a,0 0 03 0D 0D 0D 0D 0 0ý 0 0 0CD

CA 0)O S OS O S 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Figure 2 Reed Research Reactor License Exam Results


Outside UsersDuring the year there were 1028 visitors from schools, colleges, universities, and specialgroups. Additionally, there were 406 visitors as part of Reed College activities(prospective students, family of students, Reed classes, etc.). 124 members of emergencyresponse organizations came for training. Finally, there were four entries by inspectorsand regulators from state and federal agencies.

The following institutions have participated in facility tours, experiments, and researchprojects in the reporting period.

Collep-es and UniversitiesClark CollegeConcordia UniversityHood River Community CollegeLinn Benton CollegeMarylhurst UniversityOregon Health Science UniversityOregon Institute of TechnologyOregon State UniversityPacific UniversityPortland Community CollegePortland State UniversitySaint Martin's UniversitySchool of Science & TechnologyUniversity of Oregon

High Schools and Middle SchoolsCleveland High SchoolJason Lee Middle SchoolNorthwest AcademyPacific Crest Middle SchoolSunset High SchoolTrillium SchoolWaldorf School

Special GroupsAnyone Can JoinAtlas ObscuraBoy ScoutsMath, Engineering, Science AcademyMeek Professional TechnicalModel EngineeringnConnect NWSaturday AcademySummer Institute for Intercultural Communication

Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 6Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 6

Figure 3 is a graph showing the history of visiting groups.

40

/• ~ -"-*-Colleges and Universities

35 35 - -*--High Schools and Middle Schools

/ 11 -- -Special Groups

30

25A

81 1

20 4

'IL

I I

2s ;

I, ' I ',

15 -z- I

10

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Figure 3 Visiting Groups

Many reactor tours include hands-on use of facility equipment to conduct experiments inradiation science, health physics, and nuclear physics. A typical lab involves determiningthe background of a Geiger Muller scalar system and then determining the half-life of asample of radioactive material. College classes are generally more closely tailored to theindividual interests and needs of the Consortium faculty member involved. Experimentsinclude more direct use of the reactor itself by the students, more detailed analysis ofmaterials, and emphasize the incorporation of other classroom activities as much aspossible.

Several special programs for gifted children use the reactor foi projects. These aredesigned to enrich their educational program and prepare them for college. Some of thegroups who use the reactor target minority and disadvantaged youth who are historicallyunder-represented in science professions.

High School Student Project

The Reed Research Reactor continues to be used in independent science projects initiatedby students from several Oregon and Washington State high schools.

Concordia UniversityThe reactor provides training and experiments involving radiation, radioactive material,and trace element analysis for Concordia University classes.


Scaler KitsThrough the generosity of Portland General Electric, the reactor lends out kits containinga Geiger counter, a scaler, and some small exempt sources to local high schools.

Reed Classes

* Chemistry 271 students used neutron activation analysis to determine chemicalcomposition of an unknown compound.

• Chemistry 101 students determined the half-lives of chemical forms of vanadium.* Four Reed students used the reactor as part of their senior thesis.

Industrial and Commercial Applications

The Reed Research Reactor is available for industrial or commercial concerns when itdoes not conflict with our educational goals. As in the past, the primary operationsinvolved neutron activation analysis of materials or environmental samples. The facilityalso provides radiation protection training to interested parties and schools in the area.

Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 8Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 8

I REACTOR OPERATIONS

Operations

During the year the reactor was taken critical 432 times on 111 days. The total energyproduced was approximately 25 megawatt-hours. Operating history by month appears intable 1. A'history of the data is shown in figure 4. Note that the 2010 data is only for tenmonths due to changing the reporting date.

Times Critical Days Operated MW-hoursSeptember 2009 82 15 1.85

October 2009 52 16 2.37November 2009 72 16 3.99December 2009 21 4 1.93

January 2010 12 8 1.66February 2010 61 11 1.77March 2010 24 8 2.53April 2010 57 13 3.53May 2010 40 14 4.19June 2010 11 6 1.43

Total 432 111 25.25

Table 1 Operating History 2009-2010

500

450 -

--4-Times Critical

-- Days Operated

-- Irradiations

- -MW-hrs

/400 -

I,r'350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

................ Jil

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Figure 4 Operations


Unplanned Reactor Shutdowns

There were three inadvertent reactor shutdowns (scrams) as shown in table 2. There were nounexplained scrams that required ROC permission to restart. The number of unplannedreactor shutdowns is consistent with the past as shown in figure 5. Note that the 20010 data isonly for ten months due to changing the reporting date. Note that followingthe over powerevent of 2009, we have lowered the scram setpoints from approximately 109% toapproximately 101%, thus there is more likely to be a scram from overshooting the targetpower.

Date Scram Type Cause Of Scram11 / 18/09 Linear Power _ Operator overshoot target power11/21/09 Linear Power . . Operator overshot target-power02/10/10. Linear Power Operator overshoot target power

Table 2 Unplanned Reactor Shutdowns

25

20

15

10

5

01992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Figure 5 Unplanned Shutdowns

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010



REACTOR MAINTENANCE

Significint Maintenance

Reactor,staff performs routine equipment checks on a daily, weekly, bimonthly,semiannual (January and July) and annual (January) basis as required by facilityprocedures.: Reed College maintenance personnel assist with routine preventativemaintenance to auxiliary equipment. Significant maintenance operations that were notpart of a regular schedule are listed in table 3.

Date Maintenance10/2/09 Installed temperature control for secondary cooling system. Removed

. .... secondar 1ow pressure alarm.10/26/09 Replaced mounting for pool level detector....

- 11/23/09 Replaced primary-secondary heat exchanger with one rated for 500 kW.01 / 19/10 Repaired potentiometer on linear channel.05/21/10 Replaced vacuum _pump on Continuous Air Monitor.06/23/10 Replaced vacuum pump on Continuous Air Monitor with new model.

Table 3 Significant Maintenance Operations

10 CFR 50.59 Evaluations

Screen Number: 09-09

Revision to the RRR Emergency Plan. Most of the changes are clarifications orstylistic. The only changes of interest are:

1.3, 1.4 Eliminated maps and floor plan for security reasons.

3.1.1 Changed from Agreement Letters to Arrangement Letters since someoffsite agencies are no longer willing to sign an agreement. 1OCFR50.59only requires arrangements.

3.1.2 Stated that the Emergency Coordinator (EC);may classify the event andnotify offsite agencies even if no one on the Emergency Notification CallList (ENCL) is present.

3.1.2 Specified that the Health Physicist will act as EC only for health physicsevents. The Health Physicist really shouldn't take charge of other reactorrelated events.

3.1.2 Specifically added Reactor Operators and other staff to the EC hierarchyrather than being implicit in the text.

3.1.3 Included the reactor director under RRR Management, since that isnormally the person who performs those functions.

Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page ll

4. L.b Specified that injuries must be '"significant" to be classified as a Non-Reactor Safety Related Event. We don't classify events when someonegets a paper cut.

4.1 .c Specified that contamination must be "significant" to be classified"as aNon-Reactor Safety Related Event. We don't classify events when thefloor gets contaminated.

4.2.b Specified that either an alarm or visual indication of abnormal loss of poollevel will be classified as a Notification of Unusual Event. As it waswritten, you needed both.

4.2.c Added classification for fire or explosion in the control room, reactor bay,mech room, or loft. Clarified Other fire and explosion requirements.

4.2, 4.3 Eliminated redundant footnotes about estimating offsite dose based on airmonitor readings.

7.2 Eliminated text about emergency dose limits that was redundant with 3.5.

10.4 Clarified that the Reactor Safety Committee approves changes to theEmergency Plan, but does not need to approve changes to the EmergencyImplementation Procedures (EIP).


RADIATION PROTECTION

Personnel Dosimetry

During'th6 period July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 personnel dosimeters were issued to 54Reed students and staff. Since dosimeters are changed on a calendar quarter schedule,this period is the closest to the reporting period. Individuals were issued beta-gammasensitive ring badges and whole-body badges. The Director and Associate Director wereissued beta-gamma-neutron sensitive dosimetry.

During the year the largest annual whole body dose was 4 mrem deep dose equivalent.The largest annual extremity dose was 40 mnrem shallow dose equivalent. No oneexceeded two percent of the federal limits.

Fixed Area Dosimetry

Radiation levels are continually monitored to provide an indication of the averageradiation levels in the reactor bay and dose outside the facility. All dosimeters monitorbeta and gamma radiation. Two locations also measure neutron dose.

The deep dose equivalent radiation measured by fixed dosimeters during the period July1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 are shown in table 4. M indicated less than 1 mrem during thequarter.

Location Height Radiation Jul 1 - Oct 1- Jan 1- Apr 1 Total(M) Detected Sep 30 Dec 31 Mar 31 Jun30

Reactor North Wall 1.6 3, Y 16 20 14 13 63

Reactor North Wall 2.3 b, g 14 17 25 8 64

Reactor East Wall 1.5 [3,y, n 10 12 6 6 34

Reactor West Wall 1.0 3, , n 19 18 12 15 64

Reactor South Wall 1.6 [3,Y 42 42 31 35 150

Control Room 1.5 Y3,3 26 28 17 26 97

Outside North 2.8 Y3,y 12 14 N/A 11 37

Outside Roof 0.4 Y3,, M I M M 1

Outside East 1.5 Y3,y M M M M M

Outside South 0.4 y3, 3 M M M M M

I Counting Room 1.5 y 3, ' M M M M M

Table 4 Area Radiation Dosimeters(doses are in mrem per calendar quarter)

Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2 010 Page 13Reed Research Reactor Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 13

Gaseous Releases

The only routine release of gaseous radioactivity is from 41Ar (1.83-hour half-life) and"6N (7.13-second half-life). These come from activation of pool water and air in the poolwater and in the irradiation facilities. For the reporting period, the average gaseousactivity at the site boundary was 1.36 x 10-`0 yCi/ml, which would deliver a dose to amember of the public of approximately 0.68 mrem, well below regulatory guidelines andconstraints. Figure 6 shows the gaseous releases for each year.

1.E-06

1.E-07

I.E-08

1.E-09

1.E-10

1.E-11

1.E-12

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Figure 6 Gaseous Releases Activity (/Ci/ml) at Site Boundary

Liouid Waste Releases

No liquid radioactive waste was released from the Reed Research Reactor during thisreport period.

Solid Waste Disnosal

There were no shipments of radioactive waste from the facility during this reportingperiod.

Environmental Sampling

Soil samples taken from the area surrounding the facility showed no activity abovebackground. Water from the facility's secondary cooling system and the nearby canyonwere sampled for activation products and tritium, but showed no activity above normalbackground.


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