GNRO-2014/00023, Notification of Intended Use of Nsf Lead Use Channels
| ML14070A500 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Grand Gulf  |
| Issue date: | 03/11/2014 |
| From: | Seiter J Entergy Operations |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| GNRO-2014/00023 | |
| Download: ML14070A500 (5) | |
Text
Entergy Operations, Inc.
P. O. Box 756 Port Gibson, MS 39150 Jeffery A. Seiter Acting Manager, Regulatory Assurance Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Tel. (601) 437-2344 GNRO-2014/00023 March 11,2014 u.s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001
SUBJECT:
Notification of Intended Use of NSF Lead Use Channels Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Docket No. 50-416 License No. NPF-29
Dear Sir or Madam:
In accordance with NEDE-24011-P-A, "General Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel (GESTAR II)," Entergy Operations Incorporated (EOI) is making notification to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the intended use of lead use channels (LUC) at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station (GGNS).
A letter dated September 23, 1981 from the NRC to the General Electric Company, referenced in GESTAR II, indicates the notification should include a description of the LUCs, a statement of applicability to GESTAR II, the objectives of the LUC program, and an outline of the measurements to be made on the LUCs. The attachment provides this information.
This letter contains no new commitments. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Mr. Jeffery Seiter at 601-437-2344.
Sincerely,
- ~
JAS/slw
Attachment:
NSF Lead Use Channels at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station cc: (See next page)
I Entergy Operations, Inc.
P. O. Box 756 Port Gibson, MS 39150 Jeffery A. Seiter Acting Manager, Regulatory Assurance Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Tel. (601) 437-2344 GNRO-2014/00023 March 11,2014 u.s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001
SUBJECT:
Notification of Intended Use of NSF Lead Use Channels Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Docket No. 50-416 License No. NPF-29
Dear Sir or Madam:
In accordance with NEDE-24011-P-A, "General Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel (GESTAR II)," Entergy Operations Incorporated (EOI) is making notification to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the intended use of lead use channels (LUC) at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station (GGNS).
A letter dated September 23, 1981 from the NRC to the General Electric Company, referenced in GESTAR II, indicates the notification should include a description of the LUCs, a statement of applicability to GESTAR II, the objectives of the LUC program, and an outline of the measurements to be made on the LUCs. The attachment provides this information.
This letter contains no new commitments. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Mr. Jeffery Seiter at 601-437-2344.
Sincerely,
- ~
JAS/slw
Attachment:
NSF Lead Use Channels at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station cc: (See next page)
I
Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 Page 2 of 2 cc: with Attachment U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Mr. Marc L. Dapas Regional Administrator, Region IV 1600 East Lamar Boulevard Arlington, TX 76011-4511 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Mr. A. Wang, NRR/DORL Mail Stop OWFN/8 G14 Washington, DC 20555-0001 NRC Senior Resident Inspector Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Port Gibson, MS 39150 Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 Page 2 of 2 cc: with Attachment U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Mr. Marc L. Dapas Regional Administrator, Region IV 1600 East Lamar Boulevard Arlington, TX 76011-4511 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Mr. A. Wang, NRR/DORL Mail Stop OWFN/8 G14 Washington, DC 20555-0001 NRC Senior Resident Inspector Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Port Gibson, MS 39150
Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 NSF Lead Use Channels at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 NSF Lead Use Channels at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station
Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 Page 1 of 2
Background
Entergy is required to provide an information letter to the NRC describing the lead-test assemblies (LTA) or in this case the 8%
lead-use channel (LUC) program per Section 1.2.1.b. of GESTAR (REF. 1). Specifically, the agreed content includes a description of the LUCs, a statement of applicability of GESTAR, a description of the objectives of the LUC program, and an outline of the kinds of measurements that will be made on the LUCs (REF. 2). This letter is intended to communicate the content required in the notification for Entergy's use in preparing the information letter.
The use of this LUC process for inserting NSF channels on up to 8%
of the bundles in a core was requested and approved in References 3 and 4, respectively.
Description of Lead Use Channels Sixty-four NSF Channels will be loaded into Grand Gulf at the beginning of Cycle 20.
The GNF supplied assemblies contain standard GNF2 components and fuel with the exception of the channel. The channels will be manufactured with a distortion-resistant material known as NSF. The term NSF reflects the presence of Niobium (Nb), Tin (Sn) and Iron (Fe) as the primary alloying metals combined with Zirconium. Similar zirconium-niobium alloys are commonly used in PWR and Russian plants, but not commercially used in BWR's.
The NSF alloy is resistant to channel bow. The mechanical properties of NSF (including in-reactor creep) are similar to the standard Zircaloys, and are considered adequate for reactor service. Corrosion performance of NSF is adequate based on visual and hot-cell examinations after six years of operation. The material properties of NSF have been documented in Reference 5 - a licensing topical report that the NRC is currently reviewing.
The surface condition of these NSF channels is different from the current standard channel. The NSF channels to be inserted in Grand Gulf Cycle 20 will have a pre-oxidized surface condition similar to the pre-oxidized surface condition that was standard on Zircaloy-4 channels prior to 1990. Currently there are 16 pre-oxidized NSF channels operating in three different BWRs.
Applicability of GESTAR GNF has reviewed the properties of the NSF channels relative to the properties of Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 in the context of required functions, including safety, of fuel channels as described in GESTAR and the relevant LTRs. GNF has concluded that the use of NSF as a channel material meets the approved criteria of GESTAR and may be used in an LUC or LTA.
Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 Page 1 of 2
Background
Entergy is required to provide an information letter to the NRC describing the lead-test assemblies (LTA) or in this case the 8%
lead-use channel (LUC) program per Section 1.2.1.b. of GESTAR (REF. 1). Specifically, the agreed content includes a description of the LUCs, a statement of applicability of GESTAR, a description of the objectives of the LUC program, and an outline of the kinds of measurements that will be made on the LUCs (REF. 2). This letter is intended to communicate the content required in the notification for Entergy's use in preparing the information letter.
The use of this LUC process for inserting NSF channels on up to 8%
of the bundles in a core was requested and approved in References 3 and 4, respectively.
Description of Lead Use Channels Sixty-four NSF Channels will be loaded into Grand Gulf at the beginning of Cycle 20.
The GNF supplied assemblies contain standard GNF2 components and fuel with the exception of the channel. The channels will be manufactured with a distortion-resistant material known as NSF. The term NSF reflects the presence of Niobium (Nb), Tin (Sn) and Iron (Fe) as the primary alloying metals combined with Zirconium. Similar zirconium-niobium alloys are commonly used in PWR and Russian plants, but not commercially used in BWR's.
The NSF alloy is resistant to channel bow. The mechanical properties of NSF (including in-reactor creep) are similar to the standard Zircaloys, and are considered adequate for reactor service. Corrosion performance of NSF is adequate based on visual and hot-cell examinations after six years of operation. The material properties of NSF have been documented in Reference 5 - a licensing topical report that the NRC is currently reviewing.
The surface condition of these NSF channels is different from the current standard channel. The NSF channels to be inserted in Grand Gulf Cycle 20 will have a pre-oxidized surface condition similar to the pre-oxidized surface condition that was standard on Zircaloy-4 channels prior to 1990. Currently there are 16 pre-oxidized NSF channels operating in three different BWRs.
Applicability of GESTAR GNF has reviewed the properties of the NSF channels relative to the properties of Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 in the context of required functions, including safety, of fuel channels as described in GESTAR and the relevant LTRs. GNF has concluded that the use of NSF as a channel material meets the approved criteria of GESTAR and may be used in an LUC or LTA.
Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 Page 2 of 2 Objectives of NSF LUC Program The objectives of this program are to expand the experience base for NSF channels to provide a better understa'lding of the inherent statistical variability in the performance of this new material. Channel distortion will be monitored to confirm previous measurements that indicate NSF is resistant to channel bow. Standard analyses will be performed to assure that the safety and licensing bases are maintained.
Outline of Measurements In addition to the monitoring and inspection plan required in Reference 3, the corrosion performance will be evaluated visually during fuel outages and after discharge.
REFERENCES:
- 1. NEDE-24011-P-A-20& NEDE-24011-P-A-20-US, General Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel &Supplement for United States, (GESTAR II, Licensing Topical Report).
- 2. Letter from T.A. Ippolito (NRC) to R.E. Engel (GE), Lead Test Assembly Licensing, September 23, 1981.
- 3. MFN 12-074, "Enhanced Lead Use Channel (LUC) Program for NSF Fuel Bundle Channels," September 25, 2012.
- 4. Letter from Sher Bahadur (NRC) to A. A. Lingenfelter (GNF-A),
Subject:
Final Safety Evaluation for Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas Topical Report (TR) Enhanced Lead Use Channel Program for NSF Fuel Bundle Channels (TAC No. ME9829),
MFN 13-020, March 29,2013.
- 5. MFN 13-008/NEDE-33798P, "Application of NSF to GNF Fuel Channel Designs,"
February 13, 2013.
Attachment to GNRO-2014/00023 Page 2 of 2 Objectives of NSF LUC Program The objectives of this program are to expand the experience base for NSF channels to provide a better understa'lding of the inherent statistical variability in the performance of this new material. Channel distortion will be monitored to confirm previous measurements that indicate NSF is resistant to channel bow. Standard analyses will be performed to assure that the safety and licensing bases are maintained.
Outline of Measurements In addition to the monitoring and inspection plan required in Reference 3, the corrosion performance will be evaluated visually during fuel outages and after discharge.
REFERENCES:
- 1. NEDE-24011-P-A-20& NEDE-24011-P-A-20-US, General Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel &Supplement for United States, (GESTAR II, Licensing Topical Report).
- 2. Letter from T.A. Ippolito (NRC) to R.E. Engel (GE), Lead Test Assembly Licensing, September 23, 1981.
- 3. MFN 12-074, "Enhanced Lead Use Channel (LUC) Program for NSF Fuel Bundle Channels," September 25, 2012.
- 4. Letter from Sher Bahadur (NRC) to A. A. Lingenfelter (GNF-A),
Subject:
Final Safety Evaluation for Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas Topical Report (TR) Enhanced Lead Use Channel Program for NSF Fuel Bundle Channels (TAC No. ME9829),
MFN 13-020, March 29,2013.
- 5. MFN 13-008/NEDE-33798P, "Application of NSF to GNF Fuel Channel Designs,"
February 13, 2013.