05000382/LER-2009-002, Regarding Voluntary Report: Shortened Service Life of Station Battery B Due to Manufacturing Impurities
| ML092120236 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 07/29/2009 |
| From: | Murillo R Entergy Nuclear South, Entergy Operations |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| W3F1-2009-0036 LER 09-002-00 | |
| Download: ML092120236 (8) | |
| Event date: | |
|---|---|
| Report date: | |
| Reporting criterion: | 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(vii), Common Cause Inoperability 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(A), Seriously Degraded 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(A) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(B), Unanalyzed Condition 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(B) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iii) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(ix)(A) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A), System Actuation 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(x) 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(v)(A), Loss of Safety Function - Shutdown the Reactor 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(v)(B), Loss of Safety Function - Remove Residual Heat 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i)(A), Completion of TS Shutdown 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(v), Loss of Safety Function 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B), Prohibited by Technical Specifications |
| 3822009002R00 - NRC Website | |
text
a-En t egy Entergy Nuclear South Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Tel 504 739 6715 Fax 504 739 6698 rmurilesentergy.com Robert J. Murillo Licensing Manager Waterford 3 W3F1`-2009-0036 July 29, 2009 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001
Subject:
Licensee Event Report 09-002-00 Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 (Waterford 3)
Docket No. 50-382 License No. NPF-38
Dear Sir or Madam:
Entergy is hereby submitting voluntary Licensee Event Report (LER) 09-002-00 for Waterford Steam Electric Station Unit 3. This report provides details~associated with a shortened service life of Station Battery 'B' due to apparent manufacturing impurities. The condition is reported herein as a voluntary report because the issue is of generic interest.
This report contains no new commitments. Please contact Robert J. Murillo at (504) 739-6715 if you have questions regarding this information.
S't e Pre y, RJM/RJP
Attachment:
Licensee Event Report 09-002-00
W3F1-2009-0036 Page 2
/
(w/Attachment) cc:
Mr. Elmo E. Collins, Jr.
Regional Administrator U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 NRC Senior Resident Inspector Waterford Steam Electric Station Unit 3 P.O. Box 822 Killona, LA 70066-0751 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Mr. N. Kalyanam Mail Stop O-07D1 Washington, DC 20555-0001 Wise, Carter, Child & Caraway ATTN: J. Smith P.O. Box 651 Jackson, MS 39205 Winston & Strawn ATTN: N.S. Reynolds 1700 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3817 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP ATTN: T.C. Poindexter 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Compliance Surveillance Division P. O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312 R.K. West, lerevents@inpo.org - INPO Records Center
W3F1-2009-0036 Page 3 e-mail:
(w/Attachment)
J.A. Kowalewski C.F. Arnone K. Christian K.D. Nichols K.S. Cook J.F. McCann B. Ford B.R. Lanka M. Schaible D.R. Morris R.J. Murillo S.L. Anders W.E. McKinney J.A. Ridgel B.A. Lindsey C. Fugate R.G. Putnam C.L. Alday J.J. Lewis A.B. Pilutti J.L. Hornsby (W-GSB-300)
(W-MSB4-300)
(W-GSB-318)
(W-GSB-315)
(W-MSB4-336)
(K-WPO-12C)
(M-ECH-42)
(W-GSB-315)
(W-EEC-650)
(W-GSB-350)
(W-GSB-318)
(W-ADM-500)
(W-GSB-102)
(W-GSB-260)
(W-MSB4-325)
(W-MSB4-217)
(W-MSB4-220)
(W-GSB-201)
(W-GSB-365)
(W-MSB4-244)
(W-MSB4-238)
(W-GSB-100) bcc:
(w/Attachment)
Waterford 3 Records Center Licensing Green Folder File
Attachment W3FI-2009-0036 Licensee Event Report 2009-002-00
NRC FORM 366 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY APPROVED BY OMB NO. 3150-0104 EXPIRES 8/31/2010 COMMISSION (9-2007)
Estimated burden per response to comply with this mandatory information collection request:
80 hours9.259259e-4 days <br />0.0222 hours <br />1.322751e-4 weeks <br />3.044e-5 months <br />. Reported lessons learned are incorporated into the licensing process and fed back to industry. Send comments regarding burden estimate to the Records Management Branch (LER)
(T-6 E6), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by internet e-mail to bjsl@nrc.gov, and to the Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB-10202 (3150-0104), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. If a means used to impose information collection does not display a currently valid OMB control number, the NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, the (See reverse for required number of digits/characters for each block) information collection.
- 3. PAGE Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station 05000382 1 OF 4
- 4. TITLE Voluntary Report: Shortened Service Life of Station Battery 'B' due to Manufacturing Impurities
- 5. EVENT DATE
- 6. LER NUMBER
- 7. REPORT DATE
- 8. OTHER FACILITIES INVOLVED SFCLITYNM DOKTNME MONTH DAY YEAR YEAR I SEQUENTIALNM REV MONTH DAY YEAR NA 05000 NUMR NO NA 05000 ITY DOCKET NUMBER 05 22 2008 2009 - 002 -
00 07 29 2009 NA 05000
- 9. OPERATING MODE
- 11. THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR §: (Check all that apply)
[1 20.2201(b)
LI 20.2203(a)(3)(i)
El 50.73(a)(2)(i)(C)
El 50.73(a)(2)(vii) 6 El 20.2201(d)
LI 20.2203(a)(3)(ii)
[] 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(A)
El 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(A)
El 20.2203(a)(1)
LI 20.2203(a)(4)
El 50.73(a)(2)(ii)(B)
[E 50.73(a)(2)(viii)(B)
El 20.2203(a)(2)(i)
LI 50.36(c)(1)(i)(A)
LI 50.73(a)(2)(iii)
LI 50.73(a)(2)(ix)(A)
- 10. POWER LEVEL L] 20.2203(a)(2)(ii)
LI 50.36(c)(1)(ii)(A)
LI 50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A)
LI 50.73(a)(2)(x)
L-20.2203(a)(2)(iii)
EL 50.36(c)(2)
EL 50.73(a)(2)(v)(A)
LI 73.71(a)(4) 00 LI 20.2203(a)(2)(iv)
EL 50.46(a)(3)(ii)
EL 50.73(a)(2)(v)(B)
LI 73.71(a)(5)
EL 20.2203(a)(2)(v)
EL 50.73(a)(2)(i)(A)
EL 50.73(a)(2)(v)(C)
Sp OTHER Voluntary Report Specify in Abstract below or in
]L 20.2203(a)(2)(vi)
[: 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B)
EL 50.73(a)(2)(v)(D)
REPORTABLE OCCURRENCE There is no reportable occurrence per the reporting requirements outlined in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The condition is a voluntary LER to report an issue of generic interest.
INITIAL CONDITIONS The plant was in Mode 6 conducting refueling operations during Refuel 15 when this apparent condition occurred. This plant condition did not contribute to this event. There were no other structures, systems, or components inoperable at the start of the event or that contributed to the event. Performance testing on Station Batteries 'A' and 'AB' demonstrated acceptable performance.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
During Refuel 15, Station Battery 'B' [EJ] was disconnected from the bus to perform testing. On 5/16/2008 at approximately 20:00 hours, Waterford 3 conducted a performance test of Station Battery 'B'. The results of the performance test showed that the battery capacity had degraded to 86.25% of the manufacturer's rating.
Since the average of previous performance tests was 103.7%, a degraded battery was indicated based on the measured battery capacity dropping more than 10% of the rated capacity from its average on previous performance tests. Although not applicable in modes 5 or 6, Technical Specification Surveillance Requirement (SR) 4.8.2.:1.f requires annual performance discharge tests for any battery that shows signs of degradation.
The station battery 'B' is made up of 60 individual LCUN-33 cells that were manufactured by C&D Battery and installed in October 1992. The rated service life of the battery is 20 years. The battery had been in-service for 15.6 years prior to the performance test on 5/16/08. A confirmatory performance discharge test on 5/22/2008 revealed the battery had prematurely aged and required replacement. Measured capacity on 5/22/2008 was 71.67%. Although not applicable in modes 5 or 6, Technical Specification Surveillance Requirement (SR) 4.8.2.1.e requires battery capacity be at least 80% of the manufacturer's rating.
The plant was in Mode 6 with the Station Battery 'B' disconnected from the plant from 5/1 6/2008 until replaced with new LCR-33 cells manufactured by C&D Battery on 5/24/2008. The Technical Specifications did not require this battery bank while the plant was in Mode 6 and disconnected from the bus.
i The report date for this LER exceeds 60 days from the event date because this condition is being reported as a voluntary LER to report an issue of generic interest and identification that this issue is of generic interest has recently been determined.
CAUSAL FACTORS A Root Cause Evaluation determined the most probable cause for the Station Battery 'B' premature aging was impurities introduced during the manufacturing process.
The cells used in the Station Battery 'B' were manufactured by C&D Batteries in October 1992, to the same specification as the cells used in Station Batteries 'A' and 'AB'. Performance tests of Station Batteries 'A' and
'AB' also performed in Refuel 15 indicated no similar degradation had occurred..
Aging and Degradation Mechanisms identified in the EPRI Station Battery Guide for vented lead-acid batteries are reasonably well understood by the industry. The Aging and Degradation Mechanisms that will limit battery life and performance that were evaluated were Temperature, Discharge Cycle Service, Overcharging, Undercharging and Impurities.
All aging and degradation mechanisms were eliminated except for 'impurities introduced by the manufacturer.' The battery maintenance performed at Waterford 3 is in accordance with industry standards and is performed on all three Station Batteries. Additional testing to validate the most probable cause was not possible because the degraded battery cells were removed from the site during Station Battery 'B' replacement and subsequently disposed of.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
The entire Station Battery 'B' bank was replaced with LCR-33 cells manufactured by C&D Battery. The new Station Battery 'B' successfully passed post installation testing and met all operability requirements.
SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE
The Station Batteries are sized in accordance with IEEE Std 485, IEEE Recommended Practice for Sizing Large Lead Storage Batteries for Generating Stations and Substations. The sizing of the Station Batteries allows for compensation of age when actual capacity drops to 80% of manufacturers rating with an additional design margin of 10%. Based on the 'as-found' results of the initial Refuel 15 Station Battery 'B' performance test, the battery was capable of meeting the requirements of the service test that meets the design basis for operability. The Station Battery 'B' was disconnected from the bus for planned maintenance at the time of the 5/26/2008 performance test. The Station Battery 'B' was replaced prior to returning it to service.
Technical Specification limiting conditions for operation were satisfied for Mode 6 with an operable Station Battery Bank 'A' and its associated full capacity charger. There was no negative impact on the availability of systems or components needed to maintain safe shutdown conditions, remove residual heat, control the release of radioactive material, or mitigate the consequences of an accident.
Based on the above discussion, there was no increased challenge to nuclear, radiological or industrial safety.
SIMILAR EVENTS
There have been no previous, similar licensee events reported in the last three years.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Energy industry identification system (EIIS) codes are identified in the text within brackets [].