Lessons learned form high-flux isotope reactor restart efforts

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Supplement; (USA)

OSTI ID:5321155

Dahl, T L ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)

When the high-flux isotope reactor's (HFIR's) pressure vessel irradiation surveillance specimens were examined in December 1986, unexpected embrittlement was found. The resulting investigation disclosed widespread deficiencies in quality assurance and management practices. On March 24, 1987, the US Department of Energy (DOE) mandated a shutdown of all five Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) research reactors. Since the beginning of 1987, 18 different formal review groups have evaluated the management and operations of the HFIR. The root cause of the identified deficiencies in the HFIR program was defined as a lack of rigor in management practices and complacency built on twenty years of trouble-free operation. A number of lessons can be learned from the HFIR experience. Particular insight can be gained by comparing the HFIR organization prior to the shutdown with the organization that exists today. Key elements in such a comparison include staffing, funding, discipline, and formality in operations, maintenance, and management.

• OSTI ID: 5321155
• Report Number(s): CONF-890833--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Supplement; (USA) Journal Volume: 59
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220700 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Plutonium & Isotope Production Reactors
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
CONTAINERS
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
DESIGN
EMBRITTLEMENT
EMERGENCY PLANS
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FILTERS
HFIR REACTOR
IRRADIATION
IRRADIATION REACTORS
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION REACTORS
MAINTENANCE
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
OPERATION
ORNL
PRESSURE VESSELS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RADIATION PROTECTION
REACTOR MAINTENANCE
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR START-UP
REACTORS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SAFETY
START-UP
SURVEILLANCE
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TEST REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WORKING CONDITIONS