LR-N09-0267, Special Report 311/2009-001, One Channel of Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation System (RVLIS) Inoperable Greater than 30 Days

Special Report 311/2009-001, One Channel of Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation System (RVLIS) Inoperable Greater than 30 Days

ML093580094
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	12/14/2009
From:	Braun R Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
311/2009-001, LR-N09-0267
Download: ML093580094 (3)

Text

PSEG Nuclear LLC P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 0 PSEG Nuclear L.L. C.

TS 3.3.3.7 DEC 1 42009 TS 6.9.4 LR-N09-0267 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Salem Generating Station Unit No. 2 Facility Operating License DPR-75 NRC Docket No. 50-311

Subject:

Special Report 311/2009-001, One Channel of Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation System (RVLIS) Inoperable Greater Than 30 Days The attached Special Report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of Salem Unit 2 Technical Specification (TS) 3.3.3.7, which requires that both channels of Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation System (RVLIS) be operable in Modes 1, 2 and 3. With one channel inoperable, the action statement requires that channel be restored to operable status within 30 days or submit a Special Report in accordance with administrative TS 6.9.4. There are no commitments contained in this letter.

Should there be any questions regarding this matter please contact Brian Thomas at 856-339-2022.

Robert Braun Site Vice President - Salem Attachment Piiz-

Document Control Desk DEC 1 42009 Page 2 LR-N09-0267 C Mr. S. Collins, Administrator, Region I, NRC Mr. D. Schroeder, USNRC Senior Resident Inspector, Salem (x24)

Mr. P. Mulligan, Manager IV, NJBNE L. Marabella, Corporate Commitment Tracking Coordinator H. Berrick, Salem Commitment Tracking Coordinator

Attachment DEC 1 4 2009 LR-N09-0267 Special Report 311/09-001-00 Description Of Occurrence The Salem Unit 2 Technical Specification (TS) 3.3.3.7 requires both channels of Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation System (RVLIS) to be operable in Modes 1, 2 and 3. With one channel inoperable, TS 3.3.3.7 Action 8 requires the inoperable channel to be returned to operable status within 30 days or submit a Special Report in accordance with administrative TS 6.9.4.

On November 5, 2009, while in Mode 4 and performing plant heat up and pressurization during the seventeenth refueling outage (2R17) control room operators noted that the 'B' train RVLIS remote display showed an error status. At that time the dynamic head reading for the 'B' train did not align with the 'A' train. Troubleshooting was conducted in an effort to restore the 'B' RVLIS train to operable status prior to entry into Mode 3. As a result of troubleshooting efforts and consultation with the vendor, the error is attributed to either loss of water from the sealed capillary line causing the bellows internal valve to go closed or the bellows internal plunger may not be allowing free vertical motion as a result of the capillary line being found bent. The capillary lines coming out of the bottom of the bellows were found bent and were straightened; however, this did not fix the indication error. Based on the nature of the repairs, the unit would need to be placed in mode 5 to make the repairs followed by a fill and vent of the RVLIS system which would take approximately 5 days and will require vendor support. Since the 'A' RVLIS channel was responding properly and vendor support to perform the repairs was not available, a management decision was made to proceed with Unit 2 mode ascension and operations with the 'B' RVLIS train inoperable. On November 9, 2009, Salem Unit 2 entered Mode 3.

Preplanned Alternate Monitoring Method Procedure S2.OP-SO.RVL-0001 (Q), "Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation System," in Step 3.9, states that when one or both RVLIS channels are inoperable, the preplanned alternate method of monitoring for inadequate core cooling is that the required channels in TS Table 3.3-11 for both the Reactor Coolant System (RCS) Sub-cooling Margin Monitor and the Core Exit Thermocouples (CET) are operable. These channels are operable.

Cause of the Inoperability The cause of the inoperability appears to be a result of the bent capillary tube coming out of the bottom of the RVLIS Train 'B' bellows.

Plans to Return to Operable Status The 'B' RVLIS train will be returned to operable status in the next refueling outage (2R1 8) scheduled for the Spring of 2011.