05000278/LER-1978-019, Forwards LER 78-019/01T-0

Forwards LER 78-019/01T-0

ML20064C857
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	10/16/1978
From:	Cooney M PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC
To:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML20064C860	List: 05000278/LER-1978-019, Forwards LER 78-019/01T-0
References
NUDOCS 7810270261
Download: ML20064C857 (2)

LER-2078-019, Forwards LER 78-019/01T-0

Event date:
Report date:
2782078019R00 - NRC Website

text

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PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY 2301 MARKEk STREET:

P.O. BOX 8699 F tOLADELPHI A. PA.19101 82151841 4000 October 16, 1978 Mr. Boyce H. Grier, Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement Region I united States. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue ~

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406

SUBJECT:

Licensee Event Report Narrativf Description

Reference:

Docket Number 50-278 Report No: LER 3-78-19/lT-0 .

Report Date: October 16, 1978

- Occurrence Date: September 29, 1978 Facility: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station ,

Unit 3 R.D. 1, Delta, PA 17314 Technical Specification

Reference:

Section 3.8.C.1 of the Technical Specification concerns the allowable gaseous activity release rate.

Description of the Event:

On September 29, 1978, off gas samples were taken from the -

Recombiner Mechanical Compressor discharge (not a normal sample point) as part of an investigation into the cause of an increase in Unit 3 off-gas activity at the Steam Jet Air Ejector. Off-gas f rom the sample line was purged'directly into the Unit 3 Building Ventilation System. The entire release covered a period of time less than 15 minutes, during which 3 peaks occurred, which were ,

in excess of Technical Specification Limits. _

Consequences of Event:

The maximum gaseous release rate was approximately 150% of the Tech. Spec. (3. 8. C .1) limit for less than 6 minutes. During}g0 ?

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ar. Boyce a. Grier L6h 70-19/11 s October 16, 1973 this time, the I-lain stack and Unit 2 Building'The

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ventilation releace total activity rate was less than 1% of Tech. Spec. Limit.

released due to this occurrence was 4.5 Ci of noble gases ano activation gasen. Analysis of the roof vent Iodine and Air particulate samples indicated no significant increase.

samples taken during the off-gas sampling process indicated the area was free of airborne contamination. .

Analysis of the off-gas vials taken from the Mechanical Compressor indicated the activity measured would have produced a r

release rate less than 20% of the Tech. Spec. limit. The off-site consequences were minimal, due to the snort release time and since the contents of the releases were acble gases and activation gases with short half lives.

Cause of Event:

The chemist under estimated the amount of activity contained in the purge stream of the sample. It was believed that this stream could have been safely vented without' exceeding the Tech.

j Spec. limit.

Corrective Action:

The off-gas sampling method for the Recombiner Mechanical Compressor which allowed purge gas to be released directly to the Unit 3 Building Ventilation System has been discontinued.

Action to Prevent Recurrence:

If of f gas samples are taken f rom the Recombiner Mechanical Compressor again a sampling method will ce used which will return the purge gas to the off-gas system to prevent the release of Noble and Activation Gases directly to the ventilation system.

Yours truly,

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/M $J Co ney Sup intendent~

j Ge ration Division-Nuclear Attachment

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Director, NRC - Office of Inspection and Enforcement Mr. Norman M. heller, NRC - Office of Management &

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