IR 05000244/1997006

Discusses Review of Apparent Inconsistency Between Data for Meteorological Tower & CR Instrumentation as Requested in Insp Rept 50-244/97-06,dtd 970909

ML17264B098
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	11/11/1997
From:	Mecredy R ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC CORP.
To:	Vissing G NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned), NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
50-244-97-06, 50-244-97-6, NUDOCS 9711180294
Download: ML17264B098 (7)

Text

<p AND ROCHESTER GAS AND EIECTRIC CORPORATION

+89 EAST AtrrENUE, ROCHESTER, M Y Id6d9.QUOI ROBERT C.MECREDY Vice President Hvc!eoroperotions AREA CODE 7I6 546.2700 November 11, 1997 U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Attn: Guy S.Vissing Project Directorate I-1 Washington, D.C.20555 Subject: Review of Apparent Inconsistency Between Data for Meteorological Tower and Control Room Instrumentation NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50-244/97-06, dated September 9, 1997 R.E.Ginna Nuclear Power Plant Docket No.50-244

Dear Mr.Vissing:

As requested in NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50-244/97-06, dated September 9, 1997, Rochester Gas&Electric (RG&E)has reviewed the apparent inconsistency between data for the primary meteorological tower instrumentation and the control room instrumentation.

During an NRC Inspection Exit meeting (conducted by Dr.Jason Jang of the USNRC)on August 1, 1997, Dr.Jang stated that there was a potential line loss of the signal for the meteorological data transfer between the meteorological tower base and control room instrumentation.

Control Room indication is provided by the plant process computer system (PPCS).In July, 1997, Dr.Jang and a Ginna Station Radiation Protection (RP)technician observed and recorded the data readouts at the meteorological tower, and a plant operator did the same for the data provided by the PPCS to the Control Room recorder.Data was recorded during the period of NRC Inspection 97-06.RG&E personnel assisted Dr.Jang in obtaining this data.The data was obtained from chart values, and the, resulting data observations were not as precise or accurate as needed for the subsequent NRC evaluation.

For example, the chart spacing for wind speed is in 0.5 mph increments, allowing substantial interpolation of data.The data obtained was"instantaneous" data, as read out at the meteorological tower and every 6 seconds in the Control Room.There is a delay of approximately 2 to 5 seconds for data processing in the PPCS prior to generating a readout in the Control Room.

Page 2 Line loss appeared to be the major issue at the time of the inspection.

Ginna Station personnel promptly investigated this possibility.

It was determined that the data transfer from the meteorological tower to the PPCS is a digital transfer.Therefore, there would not be any line loss of the signal during data transfer.This information was discussed with the NRC'inspector (Dr.Jang)on or about August 21, 1997, as well as with Mr.Randy Ragland (USNRC)during his inspection of August 18-22, 1997.In October, 1997, Ginna Station personnel obtained data from more precise comparisons of the recorder charts at the meteorological tower and the Control Room.Analysis of this new data (obtained over a two hour period)showed less than a 5%difference (with a 7%standard deviation)

in wind speed, comparing the wind speed from the meteorological tower and the Control Room display.During the same time period, the wind direction showed no differences.

It can therefore be stated that the data, as first obtained by the meteorological tower, is transferred with accuracy to the PPCS and to the display in the Control Room for use by plant staff.Additionally, an analysis was performed between the meteorological tower and Control Room wind speed and direction as recorded by the two charts.There were no statistical differences between the two.In conclusion, RG&E has confirmed that there are no discrepancies between meteorological tower instrumentation data and Control Room instrumentation data.Due to a digital signal, there is no line loss of signal.Any minor instantaneous differences in observed values would be dampened, because RG&E uses time-averaged meteorological data for dose calculation purposes.We are confident in RG&E's continued ability to provide effective response activities and projected dose calculations to the public.Very yours, Robert C.Mecredy xc: Mr.Guy S.Vissing (Mail Stop 14B2)~Project Directorate I-1 U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.20555 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406U.S.NRC Ginna Senior Resident Inspector

CATEGORY 1 REGULATORY INFORMATXON DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)ACCESSION NBR:9711180294 DOC.DATE: 97/11/11 NOTARIZED:

NO FACIL:50-244 Robert Emmet Ginna Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, Rochester G GTH.NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION CREDY,R.C.

Rochester Gas 8 Electric Corp.RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILXATXON Document Control Branch (Document Control Desk)SUBJECT: Responds to NRC 970909 ltr re violations noted in insp rept 50-244/97-06 on 970801.RGE has confirmed that there are no discrepancies between meteorological tower ins trumenta tion da ta&CR ins trumen tat ion da ta." DOCKET 05000244 DISTRIBUTION CODE: IE01D COPIES RECEIVED:LTR ENCL SIZE: TITLE: General (50 Dkt)-Insp Rept/Notice of Violation Response NOTES:License Exp date in accordance with 10CFR2,2.109(9/19/72)

.E 05000244 G RECIPIENT ID CODE/NAME PD1-1 PD INTERNAL: AEOD/SPD/RAB DEDRO NRR/DISP/PIPB NRR/DRPM/PECB NUDOCS-ABSTRACT OGC/HDS3 RNAL!LITCO BRYCE,J H NRC PDR COPIES LTTR ENCL RECIPIENT ID CODE/NAME VISSING, G.NRR DRCH/HHFB NRR/DRPM/PERB OE DIR RGN1 FILE 01 NOAC NUDOCS FULLTEXT COPIES LTTR ENCL 0 D E N NOTE TO ALL"RIDS" RECIPIENTS:

PLEASE HELP US TO REDUCE WASTE.TO HAVE YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION REMOVED FROM DISTRIBUTION LISTS OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COPIES RECEIVED BY YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION, CONTACT THE DOCUMENT CONTROL DESK (DCD)ON EXTENSION 415-2083 TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED: LTTR 18 ENCL

November 11, 1997 U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Attn: Guy S.Vissing Project Directorate I-l Washington, D.C.20555 Subject: Review of Apparent Inconsistency Between Data for Meteorological Tower and Control Room Instrumentation NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50-244/97-06, dated September 9, 1997 R.E.Ginna Nuclear Power Plant Docket No.50-244

Dear Mr.Vissing:

As requested in NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50-244/97-06, dated September 9, 1997, Rochester Gas&, Electric (RG&E)has reviewed the apparent inconsistency between data for the primary meteorological tower instrumentation and the control room instrumentation.

During an NRC Inspection Exit meeting (conducted by Dr.Jason Jang of the USNRC)on August 1, 1997, Dr.Jang stated that there was a potential line loss of the signal for the meteorological data transfer between the meteorological tower base and control room instrumentation.

Control Room indication is provided by the plant process computer system (PPCS).In July, 1997, Dr.Jang and a Ginna Station Radiation Protection (RP)technician observed and recorded the data readouts at the meteorological tower, and a plant operator did the same for the data provided by the PPCS to the Control Room recorder.Data was recorded during the period of NRC Inspection 97-06.RG8cE personnel assisted Dr.Jang in obtaining this data.The data was obtained from chart values, and the resulting data observations were not as precise or accurate as needed for the subsequent NRC evaluation.

For example, the chart spacing for wind speed is in 0.5 mph increments.

allowing substantial interpolation of data.The data obtained was"instantaneous'ata.

as read out at the meteorological towep and every 6 seconds in the Control Room.There is a delay of approximately 2 to 5 seconds for data processirig in the PPCS prior to generating a readout in the Control Room.'P7iii80294 97iiii PDR ADQCK 05000244 8 PDR IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Page 2 Line loss appeared to be the major issue at the time of the inspection.

Ginna Station personnel promptly investigated this possibility.

It was determined that the data transfer from the meteorological tower to the PPCS is a digital transfer.Therefore, there would not be any line loss of the signal during data transfer.This information was discussed with the NRC inspector (Dr.Jang)on or about August 21, 1997, as well as with Mr.Randy Ragland (USNRC)during his inspection of August 18-22, 1997.In October, 1997, Ginna Station personnel obtained data from more precise comparisons of the recorder charts at the meteorological tower and the Control Room.Analysis of this new data (obtained over a two hour period)showed less than a 5%difference (with a 7%standard deviation)

in wind speed, comparing the wind speed from the meteorological tower and the Control Room display.During the same time period, the wind direction showed no differences.

It can therefore be stated that the data, as first obtained by the meteorological tower, is transferred with accuracy to the PPCS and to the display in the Control Room for use by plant~staff.Additionally, an analysis was performed between the meteorological tower and Control Room wind speed and direction as recorded by the two charts.There were no statistical differences between the two.In conclusion, RG&E has confirmed that there are no discrepancies between meteorological tower instrumentation data and Control Room instrumentation data.Due to a digital signal, there is no line loss of signal.Any minor instantaneous differences in observed values would be dampened, because RG&E uses time-averaged meteorological data for dose calculation purposes.We are confident in RG&E's continued ability to provide effective response activities and projected dose calculations to the public.Very yours, Ocr-Robert C.Mecredy xc: Mr.Guy S.Vissing (Mail Stop 14B2)Project Directorate I-l U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.20555 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 U.S.NRC Ginna Senior Resident Inspector