SL-1 Reactor Accident Timeline
Category: Other
Updated: 30 Nov 2018
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Created byDarran Jones
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SL-1 Shut Down for Planned MaintenanceWork on the Reactor Core is Completed, and the Accident OccursRequest for the Plant to be Built made by the AECConstruction was Started by the Fegles Construction CompanyDesign and Proposed Operation of the Reactor were ReviewedInitial Critical Operation Takes PlaceTest Operations Terminate After 500 Hour runCEI "Part-Time Project Manager" Writes letter to the AEC Contracting Officer's Representative Requesting that Shift Supervisors not be Required for Routine Supervision of Plant Operation During Night ShiftsComplete technical review of the reactor and its proposed operation was madeSL-1 Achieved its full power rating of electricity and space heat40-Hour Xenon run was MadeStrips of Cadmium were Inserted in two of the T-rod Control Shrouds due to Reduced shut-down margin resulting from the boron lossArmy Reactors Branch Stated that the Procedures and Manuals Turned over to CEI by ANL were not Satisfactory for use by CEITest Operation by CEI for the Windsor Nuclear Safety Committee takes placeCold Critical Experiments beginSL-1 turned over to CEI for Operation1000 Hour Sustained Power Run was concludedFuel Elements first Removed from the Core and Inspected by CEI and ANL PersonnelInitial Discovery of Bowing of Boron StripsLarge amounts of the boron strips were missing from some fuel elements and the fuel elements in the center of the core were extremely difficult to remove by hand. (Large loss of Boron attributed to larger rate of gain of reactivity)It was Noted During the Second Periodic Inspection, that Central Fuel Elements were Difficult to RemoveIt Appeared that the Core was Gaining Reactivity Faster that PredictedPlant Superintendent orders shifts to perform complete rod travel exercise 4 hours into the start of their shift.Operation Supervisor orders complete rod travel exercise on the graveyard and subsequent shiftsPlant Superintendent Orders not to perform control rod exercises during 2.56 MW power runPeriods
Two Remaining Bodies and Equipment and Records RecoveredArgonne National Laboratory Works on Designing, Testing, and Initial Operation of the Reactor PlantCombustion Engineering, Inc. gets a Contract to run the FacilityThe Reactor is Operated at a Power level of 3MWPlant Shut Down for Maintenance, Modification, and Inspection
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