05000395/LER-2005-002, Regarding Mode 3 Entry with an Inoperable Emergency Feedwater Pump
| ML052090167 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 07/25/2005 |
| From: | Archie J South Carolina Electric & Gas Co |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| RC-05-0114 LER 05-002-00 | |
| Download: ML052090167 (4) | |
| Event date: | |
|---|---|
| Report date: | |
| 3952005002R00 - NRC Website | |
text
4r Jeffrey B. Archie Vice President, Nuclear Operations 803.345.4214 SCE&GC July 25, 2005 Document Control Desk U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
Dear Sir or Madam:
Subject:
VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION DOCKET NO. 50-395 OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-12 LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER 2005-002-00)
MODE 3 ENTRY WITH AN INOPERABLE EMERGENCY FEEDWATER PUMP Attached is Licensee Event Report (LER) No. 2005-002-00, for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS). This report identifies a plant condition prohibited by VCSNS Technical Specifications and is being submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 73(a)(2)(i)(B).
Should you have any questions, please call Mr. Ronald B. Clary at (803) 345-4757.
Ve r
- yours, y B.
Arc e JT/JBA/dr Attachment c:
N. 0. Lorick S. A. Byrne N. S. Carns T. G. Eppink (w/o attachment)
R. J. White W. D. Travers R. E. Martin NRC Resident Inspector P. Ledbetter D. L. Abstance M. P. Findlay T. P. O'Kelley Morgan Lewis EPIX Coordinator INPO Records Center J&H Marsh & McLennan NSRC RTS (C-05-2300)
File (818.07)
DMS (RC-05-0114) 1
SCE&G I Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station
- P. 0. Box 88. Jenkinsville, South Carolina 29065.T (803) 345.5209.www.scanaso.om
Xi
Abstract
On May 28, 2005 at 2000 hours0.0231 days <br />0.556 hours <br />0.00331 weeks <br />7.61e-4 months <br /> during Operator walkdown of the main control board, the oncoming nightshift crew discovered the "A" Motor Driven Emergency Feedwater Pump (MDEFP) switch was in Pull-To-Lock (PTL) with the plant in Mode 3. South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) was performing start-up of V. C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS) following the recent refueling outage. The plant entered Mode 3 on 5/28/05 at 1545 hours0.0179 days <br />0.429 hours <br />0.00255 weeks <br />5.878725e-4 months <br />. In Mode 3 the Emergency Feedwater (EFW) pumps are required to be Operable. The 'A' MDEFP switch was apparently placed in Pull-To-Lock (PTL) following extensive retesting of the EFW pumps over the previous 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />. The last test occurred at approximately 1100 hours0.0127 days <br />0.306 hours <br />0.00182 weeks <br />4.1855e-4 months <br /> on 5/28/05. With the "A" MDEFP inoperable, the plant was in a condition prohibited by VCSNS Technical Specification (TS) 3.7.1.2.
Upon discovery, the "A" MDEFP switch was placed in Normal-After-Stop and the pump was declared Operable.
The cause of this event is attributed to procedural weaknesses for multiple tasks being conducted concurrently for plant startup. Also, an additional contributing factor was that the Bypass Inoperable Status Indication (BISI) program did not provide a back up indication that the EFW system was out of alignment due to the Integrated Plant Computer System (IPCS) computer being upgraded and not fully functional at the time of the event.
NRC FORM 366 (7-2001)
(If more space is required, use additional copies of (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A)
CAUSE OF EVENT
The cause of this event is attributed to procedural weaknesses for multiple tasks being conducted concurrently for plant startup.
ANALYSIS OF EVENT
The plant escalated to Mode 3 on 5/28/05 at 1545 hours0.0179 days <br />0.429 hours <br />0.00255 weeks <br />5.878725e-4 months <br />. In Mode 3 the EFW pumps are required to be Operable. The switch for "A" MDEFP was apparently placed in Pull-To-Lock (PTL) following extensive retesting of the EFW pumps over the previous 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />. The last test occurred at approximately 1100 hours0.0127 days <br />0.306 hours <br />0.00182 weeks <br />4.1855e-4 months <br /> on 5/28/05.
At 1545 hours0.0179 days <br />0.429 hours <br />0.00255 weeks <br />5.878725e-4 months <br />, entry into Mode 3 was declared. With the 'A" MDEFP inoperable, the plant was in a condition prohibited by VCSNS Technical Specification (TS) 3.7.1.2.
Upon discovery at 2000 hours0.0231 days <br />0.556 hours <br />0.00331 weeks <br />7.61e-4 months <br />, the 'A" MDEFP switch was placed in Normal-After-Stop and the pump was declared Operable. There was no adverse impact from this event. The system remained functional at all times.
Had the "A" MDEFP been required to start, numerous Main Control Board (MCB) alarms would have alerted the operators to the need for the pump and the fact that the pump was not in operation.
The "A" MDEFP had been tested many times over the previous 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> and left in PTL. Since testing occurred many times, the pump was left in PTL to facilitate the next test. Due to the multiple procedural tasks being conducted concurrently for plant startup, the "A" MDEFP was not restored from PTL when the mode escalation occurred. Review of the procedures determined a lack of clear, cohesive guidance to ensure that the MDEFPs were in the appropriate alignment for entry into Mode 3.
A contributing factor to the event was the upgrade to the Integrated Plant Computer System (IPCS) computer during the outage. The IPCS was not fully functional during this phase of startup and the Bypass Inoperable Status Indication (BISI) program did not provide a back up indication that the EFW system was out of alignment.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
Immediate corrective action was taken to place the "A" MDEFP switch in Normal-After-Stop. This action returned the pump to Operable status.
Condition Evaluation Report CER 05-2300 was generated to address investigation, cause, and corrective actions associated with this event.
PRIOR OCCURENCES No prior occurrences were identified in which an EFW pump was in PTL during Mode 3 entry.