L-12-312, Notification of the Intended Use of Lead Test Assemblies

Notification of the Intended Use of Lead Test Assemblies

ML12319A515
Person / Time
Site:	Perry
Issue date:	11/14/2012
From:	Kaminskas V FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk
References
L-12-312
Download: ML12319A515 (3)

Text

, Perry Nuclear Power Plant 10 Center Road Perry, Ohio 44081 RrstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Vito A. Ksminskas 440-280-5382 Vice President Fax: 440-280-8029 November 14, 2012 L-12-312 A TIN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission*

Washington, DC 20555-0001

SUBJECT:

Perry Nuclear Power Plant Docket No. 50-440, License No. NPF-58 Notification of the Intended Use of Lead Test Assemblies In accordance with NEDE-24011-P-A, "General Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel (GESTAR II)," the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) is making a notification to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the intended use of lead test assemblies (LTA) at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP).

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 LTAs, a statement of applicability to GESTAR II, the objectives of the LTA program, and an outline of the measurements to be made on the LTAs. The attachment provides this information.

There are no regulatory commitments contained in this submittal. If there are any questions or if additional information is required, please contact Mr. Thomas A. Lentz, Manager - Fleet Licensing, at (330) 315-6810.

Sincerely, t/d-f2

. Vito A. Kaminskas

Attachment:

Lead Test Assemblies for Use in Perry Nuclear Power Plant Fuel Cycle 15 cc: NRC Region III Administrator NRC Project Manager NRC Resident Inspector

Attachment l-12-312 lead Test Assemblies for Use in Perry Nuclear Power Plant Fuel Cycle 15*

Page 1 of 2 Description of Lead Test Assemblies Two lead test assemblies (lTAs) , originally loaded into the Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) core prior to the start of operating cycle 11, which began in May 2005, and discharged after operating cycle 13, which ended in April 2011, will be reinserted prior to the start of operating cycle 15, which begins in spring 2013. The Global Nuclear Fuel- Americas, llC (GNF) supplied assemblies contain standard GE14 components and fuel, with the exception of the channel. The channels were manufactured with a distortion-resistant material known as NSF. The term NSF reflects the presence of niobium, tin, and iron as the primary alloying metals combined with zirconium. Similar niobium-containing zirconium alloys are commonly used in pressurized water reactors and Russian plants, but not commercially used in boiling water reactors.

The NSF alloy is resistant to channel bowing and has a much lower sensitivity to cold-work compared to Zircaloy. The mechanical properties of NSF are similar to the standard Zircaloys and are considered adequate for reactor service. Corrosion performance of NSF is adequate based on visual examination after six years of operation.

These two l TAs are in addition to eight l TAs that were inserted into the PNPP core prior to the start of operating cycle 14, which began in June 2011. FENOC provided notification for these eight l TAs by letter dated April 15, 2011 (AcceSSion No.

Ml111050424).

Applicability of NEDE-24011-P-A. uGeneral Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel (GESTAR 11)"

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. This review included GESTAR II and license topical reports: NEDE-21354-P, "BWR Fuel Channel Mechanical Design and Deflection," September 1976, and NEDE-21175 P-A, "BWR Fuel Assembly Evaluation of Combined Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE) and loss-of-Coolant Accident (lOCA) loadings," Amendment 3, October 1984. GNF has concluded that the use of NSF as a channel material meets the approved criteria of GESTAR II and may be used in an l TA.

Attachment L-12-312 Page 2 of2 Objectives of LTA Program The objectives of this program are to expand the experience base on NSF channels and to characterize the corrosion performance out to the limiting residence time.

Channel distortion will be monitored to confirm the observations already made regarding resistance to channel bow. Standard analyses will be performed to assure that the safety and licensing bases are maintained.

Outline of Measurements Corrosion performance will be evaluated visually and potentially with a non-destructive system to measure oxide thickness. Distortion measurements will be made after discharge. Depending on the observed performance and the potential for long-term application, coupons (material samples from irradiated channels) may be extracted for hotcell examination.