IR 05000458/2024010

Design Basis Assurance Inspection (Programs) Inspection Report 05000458/2024010

ML24304A897
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	10/31/2024
From:	Vincent Gaddy NRC/RGN-IV/DORS/EB1
To:	Hansett P Entergy Operations
Gaddy V
References
IR 2024010
Preceding documents:	ML24164A086 (12 June 2024)
Download: ML24304A897 (1)

Text

October 31, 2024

SUBJECT:

RIVER BEND STATION - DESIGN BASIS ASSURANCE INSPECTION (PROGRAMS) - INSPECTION REPORT 05000458/2024010

Dear Phil Hansett:

On September 26, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an inspection at River Bend Station and discussed the results of this inspection with you and other members of your staff. The results of this inspection are documented in the enclosed report.

One finding of very low safety significance (Green) is documented in this report. This finding involved a violation of NRC requirements. We are treating this violation as a non-cited violation (NCV) consistent with Section 2.3.2 of the Enforcement Policy.

If you contest the violation or the significance or severity of the violation documented in this inspection report, you should provide a response within 30 days of the date of this inspection report, with the basis for your denial, to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN:

Document Control Desk, Washington, DC 20555-0001; with copies to the Regional Administrator, Region IV; the Director, Office of Enforcement; and the NRC Resident Inspector at River Bend Station.

This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely, Vincent G. Gaddy, Chief Engineering Branch 1 Division of Operating Reactor Safety Signed by Gaddy, Vincent on 10/31/24 Docket No. 05000458 License No. NPF-47

Enclosure:

As stated

Inspection Report

Docket No.:

05000458 License No.:

NPF-47 Report No.:

05000458/2024010 Enterprise Identifier:

I-2024-010-0019 Licensee:

Entergy Operations, Inc.

Facility:

River Bend Station Location:

St. Francisville, LA Inspection Dates:

September 09, 2024 to September 26, 2024 Inspectors:

D. Bryen, Reactor Inspector W. Cullum, Senior Reactor Inspector R. Deese, Senior Reactor Analyst C. Franklin, Reactor Inspector Approved By:

Vincent G. Gaddy, Chief Engineering Branch 1 Division of Operating Reactor Safety

SUMMARY

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) continued monitoring the licensees performance by conducting a design basis assurance inspection (programs) inspection at River Bend Station, in accordance with the Reactor Oversight Process. The Reactor Oversight Process is the NRCs program for overseeing the safe operation of commercial nuclear power reactors. Refer to https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/oversight.html for more information.

List of Findings and Violations

Failure to ensure design capabilities for capacitors Cornerstone Significance Cross-Cutting Aspect Report Section Mitigating Systems Green NCV 05000458/2024010-01 Open/Closed None (NPP)71111.21N.

The inspectors identified a Green finding and associated Non-cited Violation of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion VII, Control of Purchased Material, Equipment, and Services when the licensee failed to ensure that purchased equipment conformed to the procurement documents.

Additional Tracking Items

None.

INSPECTION SCOPES

Inspections were conducted using the appropriate portions of the inspection procedures (IPs) in effect at the beginning of the inspection unless otherwise noted. Currently approved IPs with their attached revision histories are located on the public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-manual/inspection-procedure/index.html. Samples were declared complete when the IP requirements most appropriate to the inspection activity were met consistent with Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2515, Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program - Operations Phase. The inspectors reviewed selected procedures and records, observed activities, and interviewed personnel to assess licensee performance and compliance with Commission rules and regulations, license conditions, site procedures, and standards.

REACTOR SAFETY

71111.21N.03 - Commercial Grade Dedication Commercial Grade Dedication

(1) Item Number 320378292, Capacitor, Commercial Grade Dedication

(2) Item Number 15920409732, Fuse, Commercial Grade Dedication

(3) Item Number 991230112, High Voltage Termination Kit, Procured as Safety Related

(4) Item Number 14810699272, Solenoid Valve, Procured as Safety Related

(5) Item 5945075192, Undervoltage Relay, Procured as Safety Related

(6) Item 1301011795, Sleeve Coupling, Commercial Grade Dedication

(7) Item 15430016332, Strainer, Commercial Grade Dedication

(8) Item 14320655431, Carbon Seal Face, Procured as Safety Related

(9) Item 60000019602, O-Ring, Utility Purchase with 3rd Party Dedication

(10) Item 18040031532, Locitie Sealant, Utility Purchase with 3rd Party Dedication

(11) Item 49150032972, Molykote, Commercial Grade Dedication

(12) Item 992700062, Seal Kit, Commercial Grade Dedication

(13) Item 35935303972, Connector, Commercial Grade Dedication

(14) Item 1920162, Relief Valve, Commercial Grade Dedication

(15) Item 15930397372, Viton O-ring, Commercial Grade Dedication

INSPECTION RESULTS

Failure to ensure design capabilities for capacitors Cornerstone Significance Cross-Cutting Aspect Report Section Mitigating Systems Green NCV 05000458/2024010-01 Open/Closed None (NPP)71111.21N.0 The inspectors identified a Green finding and associated Non-cited Violation of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion VII, Control of Purchased Material, Equipment, and Services when the licensee failed to ensure that purchased equipment conformed to the procurement documents.

Description:

Inspectors reviewed the Commercial Grade Dedication for a capacitor, item number 32037829, used in the plant. This capacitor is used in the starting circuit for the seal oil pump in the safety chillers. Inspectors noted that one of the critical characteristics for this component is capacitance. The original tolerance used for the capacitance was 2 percent. A revision was made under PE-RBS-0030389 to change the capacitance tolerance from 2 percent to 10 percent. The justification for this change was that the capacitor was used in a motor starting circuit instead of electronics, therefore, the tolerance for the capacitance did not need to be as restrictive. However, the licensee did not perform an evaluation that showed the capacitor would perform its design function under degraded voltage conditions. In the commercial grade dedication plan for the capacitor, the function of the capacitor is to ensure that the seal oil pump starts. Failure of the seal oil pump to start could result in the chiller losing oil over time causing the seals to overheat and degrade. Licensee procedure EN-DC-306, "Acceptance of Commercial-Grade Items/Services in Safety-Related Application," Section 5.14 Step 4 states, "The responsible engineer clearly documents the worst-case conditions for the applications considered in the Commercial-Grade Item Technical Evaluation." There was no discussion in the Commercial-Grade Item Technical Evaluation or evaluation PE-RBS-0030389 to indicate whether or not the capacitor would perform its safety function under a degraded voltage condition.

Corrective Actions: The licensee performed a review and determined that currently installed capacitors were dedicated under an updated commercial grade plan, and no capacitors remained installed or in stock that were dedicated under the previous plan.

Corrective Action References: CR-RBS-2024-04875

Performance Assessment:

Performance Deficiency: The licensee failed to ensure that purchased equipment conformed to procurement documents as required by 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion VII, "Control of Purchased Material, Equipment, and Services." Specifically, capacitor item number 32037829 did not meet the acceptance criteria for capacitance during the commercial grade dedication.

Screening: The inspectors determined the performance deficiency was more than minor because it was associated with the Design Control attribute of the Mitigating Systems cornerstone and adversely affected the cornerstone objective to ensure the availability, reliability, and capability of systems that respond to initiating events to prevent undesirable consequences. The capacitors were installed in the plant without evaluating the ability of the capacitors to perform their design safety function under the worst case plant conditions.

Specifically, the tolerance for the capacitance was changed from 2 percent to 10 percent without evaluating if the capacitors would ensure the seal oil pump starts under a degraded voltage condition. If the safety-chiller seal oil pump fails to start, it would affect the availability, reliability, and capability of systems that respond to initiating events to prevent undesirable consequences.

Significance: The inspectors assessed the significance of the finding using IMC 0609 Appendix A, The Significance Determination Process (SDP) for Findings At-Power.

Inspectors used Exhibit 2, "Mitigating Systems Screening Questions," to determine the significance. The finding screened to Green because the finding is a deficiency affecting the design of a mitigating SSC and the SSC maintained its operability. Specifically, the capacitors were installed in the motor starting circuit of all four safety-chiller seal oil pumps from 2008 to 2017, however, there were no documented failures of the capacitors. These capacitors have been replaced by capacitors that were dedicated under a new plan that meets design criteria.

Cross-Cutting Aspect: Not Present Performance. No cross-cutting aspect was assigned to this finding because the inspectors determined the finding did not reflect present licensee performance.

Enforcement:

Violation: 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion VII, states, in part, that purchased equipment must conform to the procurement documents.

Contrary to the above, from 2008 to 2017, the licensee failed to ensure that purchased equipment conformed to the procurement documents. Specifically, capacitors used in the starting circuits of the seal oil pumps for the safety-chillers did not meet the original acceptance criteria for capacitance required in the commercial grade dedication. The acceptance criteria for the capacitance was changed without validating that the capacitors could still perform their designed safety function under a degraded voltage condition.

Enforcement Action: This violation is being treated as a non-cited violation, consistent with Section 2.3.2 of the Enforcement Policy.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

The inspectors verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.

• On September 26, 2024, the inspectors presented the design basis assurance inspection (programs) inspection results to Phil Hansett and other members of the licensee staff.

DOCUMENTS REVIEWED

Inspection

Procedure

Type

Designation

Description or Title

Revision or

Date

Corrective Action

Documents

21-03148,

1989-1142,

2018-03715,

2019-02045,

2019-02135,

21-02030,

21-02098,

21-03148

Corrective Action

Documents

Resulting from

Inspection

24-04875

PE-RBS-

00030389

CAPACITOR, MOTOR START, ALUMINUM

ELECTROLYTIC, 130-156, 110/125 VAC, 1-7/16"

DIA. X 2-3/4"

PE-RBS-

00145016

Sleeve, Coupling, Type JE or JN, Sure-Flex, EPDM OR

Neoprene, for Coupling Size 6

PE-RBS-

00185209

FUSE, PIN INDICATING,NON TIME DELAY, MIC, 15A,

250V, 13/32" X 1-1/2"

PE-RBS-

00198227

Seal, Mechanical, 2-1/4" DIA, Inside Single RO

PE-RBS-

202542

Seal, Mechanical, 2-1/4" DIA, Inside Single RO

PE-RBS-

218692

VALVE, SOLENOID, 1/2" INLET/OUTLET PIPE, 125VDC,

3-WAY,

CONTINUOUS, 0-125PSI

PE-RBS-

0030350

CAPACITOR, MOTOR START, ALUMINUM

ELECTROLYTIC, 130-156, 110/125 VAC, 1-7/16"

DIA. X 2-3/4"

PE-RBS-

00535890

O-Ring, 50012440-001, 4.11 IN, 4.39 IN,.14

71111.21N.03

Engineering

Evaluations

PE-RBS-

Sealant, Loctite PST 580, 50 ML

Inspection

Procedure

Type

Designation

Description or Title

Revision or

Date

00536489

Miscellaneous

88-4-75459, 96-

E-71842,

10674082,

10578208,

10592671,

61167281,

61165705,

252045, 71-Q-

75322

Purchase Orders

Shipping Records

88-RIR-01085,

96-RIR-00682,

R-0001-07,

00059035, 88-

RIR-00664

Receiving Inspection Reports

Work Orders

234658,

50370333,

2864253,

2930395,

00505385,

00538828,

54025441,

2821775,

2394478