In 2018 and 2021, fuel failure events occurred in research reactors at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Reactor, respectively. While neither event resulted in significant radiological exposure, each of the affected reactor facilities paused operations to review fuel fabrication, training, operations, quality assurance, conduct causal analyses and other activities before returning to normal operations. Earlier panel sessions at the 2021 and 2023 ANS Winter Conferences provided initial and follow-up looks on where the two reactor facilities stood in their recovery efforts. This session will be provide a update with key representatives from ORNL, NIST, and NRC staff to discuss the events, the associated causal analyses, corrective actions, lessons learned and progress toward normal operations at both HFIR and NCNR.

Panelists

  • David H. Cook (Nuclear Safety and Experiment Analysis Section Head, ORNL)
  • Thomas H. Newton (Deputy Director at NIST)
  • Tony Brown (Chief, Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Oversight Branch, NRC)
  • Jeff Rady (Chief, Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Licensing Branch, NRC)

Papers

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Research Reactor Fuel Failure Events in HFIR and NCNR: Progress on the Road to Normal Operations

10:15AM–12:00PM EST

Kevin R. O'Kula (Retired)

Discussion

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