Damaged fuel where the cladding is  breached won't have any noble gas to escape.

We've done many pool side exams of failed fuel.  We already have industry 
processes of surveying tools underwater, lancing underwater, and surveying as 
tools come to the surface.  We always apply the same survey standard, so I'm 
not really sure what actions would be diff.  I suppose you would have a 
specific RWP, but the survey actions are the same.

During inspection or disassembly of a compromised bundle, you should expect 
pellet fragments and cladding, so you'll want to have a bucket below.

Small high dose rate fragments from fuel/clad wouldn't be any different than 
that which occurs during cutting and processing activated metal underwater.

When you're unloading the core, you won't know the bundle is damaged, so the 
note about failed fuel won't be done during defueling and you won't be putting 
it back in.  The only time it would come into play is during damaged fuel exams.


Glen Vickers, CHP
Exelon Corp RP Technical Lead
815-216-2723 (work/cell)


From: Beth Heyeck [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2017 2:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [powernet] Damaged fuel risk level

D.C. Cook is reviewing our current radiological risk levels.  Looking at IER 
11-41, it states under PWRs that removing irradiated hardware from the 
water/shielding in the reactor vessel, cavity, or spent fuel pool should be 
considered a high risk task.  There is a note that states "This does not apply 
to moving fuel unless the fuel is damaged".


1.       Do you consider moving damaged fuel to be a high risk radiological 
task?

2.       How do you define damaged fuel (missing, leaks, etc)?

3.       Do you assign a risk level to moving fuel that is not damaged?

Elizabeth Heyeck
Health Physicist Sr
D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
269-466-2545


This Email message and any attachment may contain information that is 
proprietary, legally privileged, confidential and/or subject to copyright 
belonging to Exelon Corporation or its affiliates ("Exelon"). This Email is 
intended solely for the use of the person(s) to which it is addressed. If you 
are not an intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for 
delivery of this Email to the intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified 
that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this Email is strictly 
prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately 
notify the sender and permanently delete this Email and any copies. Exelon 
policies expressly prohibit employees from making defamatory or offensive 
statements and infringing any copyright or any other legal right by Email 
communication. Exelon will not accept any liability in respect of such 
communications. -EXCIP

Reply via email to