1CAN118504, Discusses Installation of Hydrogen Recombiners in Combustible Gas Control Sys.Benefits of Installation Listed. Meeting to Discuss Sys Upgrades & to Seek NRC Approval Requested
| ML20137B029 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 11/20/1985 |
| From: | Enos J ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| To: | Stolz J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| 1CAN118504, NUDOCS 8511260165 | |
| Download: ML20137B029 (2) | |
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ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY POST OFFICE BOX 551 UTTLE ROCK. ARKANSAS 72203 (501) 371-4000 November 20, 1985 1CAN118504 Direc'or of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ATTN:
Mr. J. F. Stolz, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #4 Division of Licensing U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
SUBJECT:
Arkansas Nuclear One - Unit 1 Docket No. 50-313 License No. DPR-51 Installation of Hydrogen Recombiners-Unit 1 Combustible Gas Control System Gentlemen:
We are in the process of evaluating potential upgrades in the Arkansas Nuclear One - Unit 1 Combustible Gas Control System.
This matter has been briefly discussed with Mr. Guy Vissing of your staff.
We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with Mr. Vissing and other appropriate staff members to discuss the ANO Unit 1 Combustible Gas Control System in greater detail.
Our current installation consists of original plant equipment - a redundant Hydrogen Purge System; together with revisions made to provide connections for an External Hydrogen Recombiner.
These revisions brought us into f
compliance with revised 10 CFR 50.44 which requires the capability of installing an External Recombiner.
To support this caprillity we have a short-term agreement with TVA for use of one of their spare External Recombiners, should it be needed.
The Hydrogen Purge System has proven to be very maintenance intensive and a number of system failures have occurred during surveillance testing.
This performance history has been noted by the NRC in recent SALP reports.
Although we have completed several design changes to the system which have improved reliability, maintenance requirements for the purge system are expected to continue to be high because of its complexity.
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7 Mr. J. F. Stolz November 20, 1985 a
AP&L management has evaluated potential modifications which would further enhance the reliability of the AND Unit-1 Combustible Gas Control System.
An alternative, which AP&L management considers will improve the reliability of the ANO Unit-1 Combustible Gas Control System, is the installation of two redundant 100% capacity-Internal Hydrogen Recombiners in lieu of the Hydrogen Purge System.
We anticipate that the' benefits of this installation would include:
- 1) resolving concerns over the long-term availability of an External Hydrogen Recombiner; 2) the Internal Recombiners would have operational advantages over the Hydrogen Purge System / External Recombiner in the event of a need for their use; 3) installation of Internal Recombiners would obviate the need for the Hydrogen Purge System for combustible gas control, thus improving reliability of this function.
A significant factor in this decision will be NRC' conceptual approval of this upgrade to ANO Unit 1 and the scope of required NRC reviews. We have l
requested the opportunity to review this design change with your staff and propose that the following items be included on the agenda:
Presentation of conceptual design by AP&L; Scope and criteria of any required NRC review; Technical Specification deletions and additions; and Schedule for AP&L submittals and NRC reviews.
We will establish a more detailed agenda and schedule for this proposed meeting via conversations with the ANO-1 Project Manager.
Ver truly ours, I
. Ted Enos Manager, Licensing JTE:MGB:ds 34 J