ENS 54756
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Apr 28, 2020 | |
| Title | Part 21 Report - Non-Conservative Bwr/6 Side Entry Orifice Loss Coefficients |
| Event Description | The following is a summary of information received from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy:
For core monitoring, Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (GNF) applies different hydraulic loss coefficients to BWR/6 fuel bundles as a function of location. The Side Entry Orifice (SEO) loss coefficient varies in BWR/6 plants, depending on the orientation of the SEO relative to intersecting core support beams. The SEO loss coefficient for some bundle locations are under predicted, which results in a local over prediction of Minimum Critical Power Ratio (MCPR) margin. Specifically, the SEO loss coefficients for fuel bundle locations adjacent to Intermediate and Source Range Monitor (IRM/SRM) locations should be higher than the current "one beam" values that are applied. The MCPR effect on affected bundles under conditions where they are near limits can reduce margin by 0.02 in CPR. The condition is not a substantial safety hazard, but the MCPR effect is above the threshold that GNF applies for reportability. GNF has completed its evaluation and concluded that this issue is a reportable condition under 10 CFR 21.21(d). The basis for reportability is that the change in MCPR associated with this issue could contribute to the exceeding of a safety limit, as defined in the technical specifications of a license for operation issued under 10 CFR Part 50. US BWR Potentially Affected Plants: Grand Gulf, River Bend, Clinton, and Perry. There are currently no US ABWR plants in operation that would potentially be affected by this evaluation. The potential error in the core monitoring system does not affect the NRC certified design of the ABWR or the GEH ABWR design certification renewal application currently under review. The unique core support structure design of the BWR6 and ABWR is not shared by earlier BWR plants or the ESBWR. Affected plants should review the following paragraph and contact their GNF account representative for schedule and delivery dates for updated core monitoring databanks. Updated core monitoring databanks for the affected BWR/6 plants are scheduled to be completed by July 10, 2020. For affected plants that use GNF core monitoring software, the long-term corrective action is to implement an updated core monitoring databank with corrected SEO loss coefficient values. Affected plants should contact their GNF account representative for schedule and delivery dates. If necessary, a short-term corrective action such as an administrative MCPR penalty on IRM/SRM locations, should be applied to the core monitoring system. An effective short-term measure would be to assure that IRM/SRM locations are 0.02 less than the Maximum Fraction of Limiting CPR limit (e.g., MFLCPRlimit = 1.00). This condition is met if the core wide MFLCPR is 0.02 below the limit (e.g., MFLCPR < 0.98), because the IRM/SRM locations will be bounded. Note that this recommended short term or interim measure was developed on a standalone basis and does not supplant any existing MFLCPR limit reductions established for other purposes. For non-affected plants, there are no recommended actions. GNF recognizes that other non-GNF fueled plants, safety analysis methodologies, and core monitoring systems may have different design bases and address SEO losses by other means. For more information, please contact: Safety Evaluation Program Manager 3901 Castle Hayne Road, Wilmington, NC 28401 Michelle.Catts@GE.com (910) 200-9836 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Ge Hitachi Nuclear Energy Wilmington, North Carolina (NRC Region 1) | |
| Organization: | Ge Hitachi Nuclear Energy |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 21.21(d)(3)(i), Failure to Comply or Defect | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1377 h57.375 days <br />8.196 weeks <br />1.886 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Michelle Catts 13:00 Jun 24, 2020 |
| NRC Officer: | Bethany Cecere |
| Last Updated: | Jun 24, 2020 |
| 54756 - NRC Website | |
Ge Hitachi Nuclear Energy with 10 CFR 21.21(d)(3)(i), Failure to Comply or Defect | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 553142021-02-18T04:00:00018 February 2021 04:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 21.21(d)(3)(i), Failure to Comply or Defect Part 21 Report ENS 547562020-04-28T04:00:00028 April 2020 04:00:00 10 CFR 21.21(d)(3)(i), Failure to Comply or Defect Part 21 Report - Non-Conservative Bwr/6 Side Entry Orifice Loss Coefficients ENS 496102013-10-09T05:00:0009 October 2013 05:00:00 10 CFR 21.21(d)(3)(i), Failure to Comply or Defect Part 21 - Failure of Relay Logic Card Modules in 2 Out of 4 Voters for Power Range Monitors ENS 487352013-02-08T05:00:0008 February 2013 05:00:00 10 CFR 21.21(d)(3)(i), Failure to Comply or Defect Part 21 - Completed Evaluation for Potential Error in Main Steam Line High Flow Calculational Methodology 2021-02-18T04:00:00 | |