Information Notice 1991-50, A Review of Water Hammer Events After 1985

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A Review of Water Hammer Events After 1985
ML031190397
Person / Time
Site: Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Crane  Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 08/20/1991
From: Rossi C
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-91-050, NUDOCS 9108140097
Download: ML031190397 (12)


UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

August 20, 1991 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 91-50: A REVIEW OF WATER HAMMER EVENTS AFTER 1985

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is'intended to alert addressees to a U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission (NRC) evaluation of water hammer events between

January 1986 'And March 1990. It is expected that recipients will review the

information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as

appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this

information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific

action or written response is required.

Background

The NRC originally addressed water hammer in Unresolved Safety Issue (USI) A-1, reviewing 148 reported events from 1969 to 1980. The NRC considered this USI

resolved with the issuance of "Evaluation of Water Hammer Occurrence in Nuclear

Power Plants," NUREG-0927, Revision 1, in March 1984. 'The NRC concluded that

cost-benefit considerations did not support new requirements'to reduce the

number of water hammer events.

However, the'NRC included guidelines on mea- sures to prevent-and reduce water hammer.

After the-event at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1, in

November 1985, the NRC reassessed the occurrence of water hammer, reviewing

40 events from 1981 to 1985.

In the reassessment, the NRC confirmed the

original conclusions that new or additional requirements to reduce the number

of water hammer events-were not cost-effective. The frequency of water hammer

events had decreased significantly since the'initial review. The NRC identi- fied no new causal mechanisms for water hammer.

Description of Circumstances

'.

The NRC evaluated'water hammer events that have occurred since January 1, 1986.

The staff searched NRC -databases from January 1986'through March 1990 and found

about a dozen reports of water hammer events or events related to the water

hammer phenomenon.

In February 1991, the staff documented its findings in "A

Review of Water Hammer Events After 1985," AEOD/E91-01. A copy of this

097

IN 91-50.

August 20, 1991 report is available in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street N.W.,

Washington, D.C.

The staff reviewed each of these reports to identify new

physical phenomena, common mode aspects, and ways to prevent situations that

could result in water hammer. The following events at Dresden Units 2 and 3, South Texas Unit 1, Trojan, and Susquehanna Unit 2 exhibit characteristics not

emphasized in previous studies and offer lessons beyond implementing the

guidance in NUREG-0927, Revision 1. In addition, a recent event at Big Rock

Point 1 involved damage to a gate valve.

Such damage has not been previously

identified in a nuclear power plant.

-

Big Rock Point 1:

On May 28, 1991, while the reactor was operating at 97X of

full power, thl licensee was performing a routine surveillance test of the

emergency core spray (ECS) injection valves. After successfully testing both

injection valves in the primary ECS system and the upstream injection valve in

the backup ECS system, a signal to open the downstream injection valve was

generated. A few seconds after the valve started to open, a reactor operator

at the valve heard a water hammer and observed movement of the 4-inch piping

that continued for several seconds.

The water hammer bent one pipe hanger, partially pulled a bolt for another from the wall, and misaligned or damaged

switches attached to the valve operators.

The backup ECS system is intended to deliver water from the fire suppression

system at 150 psi to the reactor vessel after it has been depressurized follow- ing a loss of coolant accident. Fire water would be delivered to a nozzle

located within the reactor vessel.

The elevation of this nozzle is slightly

higher than the elevation of the nozzles for the piping which connects the

reactor vessel to the steam drum.

The length of backup ECS piping from where

it penetrates the head of the reactor vessel to the nearest injection valve is

approximately 60 feet. This piping is routed horizontally and vertically

upwards. An 18-foot section of horizontal piping has a rise in excess of

4 inches in the downstream direction and thus acts as a water trap.

The

-upstream side of the injection valve nearest to the reactor vessel connects to

a short pipe spool, a check valve, another short pipe spool, and the upstream

injection valve. A short length of 1-inch pipe connects to the bottom of the

upstream spool and terminates at a blind flange with an eighth-inch hole.

The

pipe serves to demonstrate that the check valve is not leaking.

The backup ECS piping normally contains noncondensible gases and saturated

steam and water at 1350 psi.

The relative concentrations of these constituents

depend on the temperature distribution in the piping, the length of time that

the reactor has been at power, and the number of surveillance tests that have

been performed since the last startup. On May 28, 1991, conditions in the pipe

led to acceleration of a slug of water that struck the gate of the downstream

injection valve as it was opening during the surveillance test.

The impact was

great enough to leave imprints of the valve seats on both sides of the gate and

to cause some cracking of the gate.

Leakage of the valve prior to the event

and consequent steam cutting of the upstream side of the gate and seat. may have

contributed to the event. The licensee's corrective actions included changing

the slope of the horizontal section of piping, so that it will drain back to

the reactor, and repairing the valves, valve operators, and pipe hangers.

IN 91-50

August 20, 1991 Dresden'Unit 2:. A series of events occurred in the high pressure coolant

injection

THPCI) system at Dresden Units 2 and 3 over several months. They are

discussed in 'order of occurrence to enhance the understanding of changes.in

system'valve positions. This' event is also'discussed, but in less detail, in

NRC Information Notice No. 89-80,'"Potential for Water Hammer, Thermal Strati- fication, and Steam Binding in High-Pressure-Coolant I.njection Piping,"

December 1, 1989. On October'31 1989, while the plant was operating at'100

percent full power, the licensee declared an unusual event and began an orderly

shutdown because time had expired for the limiting condition of operation (LCO)

with the HPCI system inoperable. During the 5 months before taking this

action, the licensee had.observed high temperatures in the piping at the HPCI

pump discharge.and between two motor-operated valves (MOVs)*(Points A and

B on Figure 1 showing the normal.configuration) near the interface between the

HPCI system and the feedwater'system. During this time, the licensee concluded

that feedwater was -leaking back through.feedwater isolation check valve No. 7 and thehnormally closed IPCI.injection MOV No.-8, found deficiencies in about

one-half'of the pipe supports t(16/34), and concluded that steam voids could

form.: On October 23, the licensee declared the HPCI system inoperable. To

correct the.problem temporarily, the licensee realigned the HPCI system valves

to open MOV No. 8 and close MOV No. 9 to serve as the normally closed HFCI

injection valve.

In a later inspection, the licensee found a bent stem and

erosion of the.disc and the seat in MOV No. 8. In the realignment, the nor- mally closed MOV;No. 10.becomes subject.to feedwater pressure. If MOV No. 10

is not fully closed', theh the open MOV No. 15 in the HPCI test return line to

the condensate storage tank (CST) allows a conditi'on conducive to water hammer

when check valve No.' 7 is'

leakin'g.

This alignment permits. hot pressurized

feedwater to flow in.a cold low pressure test system (LER 50-237/89-29-01),

Dresden Unit 3:! On October 31, 1989, while the plant was operating at

100 percent tull power, the licensee declared the HPCI system inoperable, having found conditions similar to.those-at Unit 2 described above: similarly

elevated temperatures., deficiencies in about one-half of the pipe supports

(21/40), and valves.that'could'be leaking. The licensee found the discharge

piping in the steam tunnel to be insulated, contrary to'the original con- struction documentation.

Initially, the licensee revised the alignment of the

HPCI system as it had at Unit 2, to open MOV No. 8 and close MOV No. 9. The

licensee later determined that feedwater was leaking back through MOV No. 10.

Accordingly, the licensee closed MOV No. 15 to return the HPCI system to

operable status.,-"In a later inspection', the licensee identified damage in the

seating surfaces tin MOVs No. B'and 10 and check.valve No..7 to confirm feed- water back leakage.

Closure of MOV No. 15 offers protection from a potential

water hammer condition thatcould develop if MOV No. 10 does not fully close

when check valve No..7'!is,1eaking (also LER 50-237/89-29-01).

Dresden Unit 2:

On March 19, 1990, while the plant was operating at 96 percent

full power, the licensee was conducting HPCI system surveillance. Before

testing, the'valve alignment corresponded to that described above for the

short-term correction-to the October 23, 1989 event; i.e.,.MOV No. 8 was open

and MOV No. 9 was closed. To conduct certain tests,.the licensee temporarily

closed MOV No.'8 to isolate the HPCI system from the feedwater system, even

though both MOV No. 8`and chepk valve.No. 7 were still leaking.

After complet- ing the routine surveillance tests, including a test of MOV No. 10, the

IN 91-50.

August 20, 1991 licensee began a quarterly valve timing test of the HPCI pump discharge valve

MOY No. 9. The licensee heard banging noises and observed HPCI pump discharge

pipe movement. The licensee terminated the timing test, restored system valves

to the pretest configuration, and monitored the noises and movement until they

ceased about one and a half hours later (also LER 50-237/89-29-01).

Subsequent valve manipulation and HPCI pump discharge pipe temperature measure- ment led the licensee to conclude that the root cause of the event was

feedwater that had leaked back through the HPCI test return MOY No. 10.

The

licensee postulated that this valve did not fully close after one of the

required manipulations.

This valve did not have a seal-in feature to complete

the stroke after initiation, and the limit switch was set to bypass the torque

switch in the open direction until the valve was 25 percent open. This same

limit switch also controlled illumination of the "valve closed" indication

light in the control room. Consequently, the "valve closed" light would be

illuminated over the part of the valve stroke for which the open torque switch

was bypassed. Thus, a control room operator who removed a closure signal when

the light indicated the valve was closed would leave the valve approximately

25 percent open.

Accordingly, the licensee revised the appropriate procedures

to maintain the closure signal for 30 seconds after the "valve closed" light

illuminates.

In addition, the licensee revised the valve alignment of the HPCI system to

protect against backleakage through MOY No. 10 by closing MOY No. 15.

South Texas Unit 1:

On November 5, 1987, before the plant attained initial

criticality, the licensee, Houston Lighting & Power, declared the A train of

the auxiliary feedwater (AFW) system inoperable when a one-inch double valve

vent line in the pump discharge piping was severed completely. A second

failure occurred three days later in a double valve instrument tap in the

D pump discharge line.

In making the initial assessment, the licensee

attributed the cause as water hammer resulting from improper venting of the

system.

The licensee continued to note vibrations in the AFW system. During

later testing, the licensee found that pressure pulsed when the flow control

valves were in highly throttled positions. The resulting combination of both

hydraulic and structural resonances was sufficient to cause the damage. The

licensee made design changes to eliminate this problem (LER 498/87-016-01).

an: On May 12, 1987, while the plant was in a refueling outage, the

licensee, the Portland General Electric Company, was transferring water from

the pressurized A accumulator (583 psig) to the depressurized D accumulator to

prepare for maintenance on the A accumulator. This event has also been dis- cussed from a different perspective in NRC Information Notice No. 88-13, "Water

Hammer and Possible Piping Damage Caused by Misapplication of Kerotest Packless

Metal Diaphragm Globe Valves," April 18, 1988. The nozzle-to-pipe weld in the

A accumulator one-inch fill line ruptured, spilling 2000 gallons of borated

water. The licensee repaired the line, satisfactorily hydrotested it, and

again aligned the system for the transfer.

The licensee had not released the

system for operations, but no controls were on the system because the clearance

had been released.

This time, differential pressure was about 650 psig. When

the transfer was started, the licensee heard loud noises, stopped the opera- tion, checked the arrangement of the valves and restarted the transfer.

After

IN 91-50

August 20, 1991 one more cycle of this sequence of events, the nozzle-to-pipe weld in the

A accumulator fill line ruptured again.

The licensee performed metallurgical analysis of the accumulator nozzle welds

after each failure and found that the ruptures resulted from low cycle, high

stress fatigue cracking. This cracking resulted from excessive flow back

through the packless diaphragm globe valve in the A accumulator fill line.

This backflow imposed a high differential pressure across the valve, causing

the valve disc to vibrate. The licensee concluded that operator error and

insufficient procedures had-contributed to this failure.

The operators had

failed to follow procedures and to determine the causes of the loud noises

before proceeding., The licensee had a procedure for transferring water through

  • the sample lines but not through the fill lines.

The licensee developed a model for dynamic

through the fill line resulted in theload

greater than the pipe's failure threshold.

similar packless globe valve, the licensee

flow of about 70 gpm. The licensee revisec

water transfer between the accumulators ant

plan (LER 344/87-013-01).

_ -

analysis and found that the backflow

on the nozzle-to-pipe weld being far

During a backflow test using a

found that the pipe would fail at a

I operating procedures to prohibit

I developed an operation improvement

Susquehanna Unit 2:

On October 12, 1986, while the plant was shut down, a

water hammer occurred.

This event is discussed in more detail in NRC Informa- tion Notice No. 87-10, "Potential for Water Hammer During Restart of Residual

Heat Removal Pumps," February 11, 1987. The licensee, the Pennsylvania Power

and-Light Company, had established a temporary-pathway from the B recirculation

loop to the-condenser for control of reactor water level while the residual

heat removal (RHR) system was in service. With the D RHR pump running, the

licensee started the B RHR pump and then stopped the D RHR pump. However, at

approximately the same time, the outboard isolation valve in the letdown line

from the B recirculation loop to the suction of the B RHR pump closed automati- cally, tripping the pump. To compensate for the resulting loss of shutdown

cooling, the licensee established alternate cooling using the control rod drive

cooling system and the reactor water cleanup system. The licensee reset the

logic and reopened the valve to the B RHR pump suction without filling and

venting the system. The system had partially drained to the condenser through

the temporary pathway and a water hammer resulted when the suction valve was

opened. To prevent water hammer from occurring in the future, the licensee

reviewed this event and two previous similar events and revised procedures for

reestablishing RHR service (LER 388/86-015-01).

Other Plants:

Other water hammer events are discussed in the following re- ports.

These events resulted from causes similar to those discussed in the USI

assessment and reassessment.

PLANT

SYSTEM

REPORT

Palisades

Oconee 3 Waterford 3 ANO 2

Indian Point 3

Oyster Creek

Shearon Harris 1

Accumulator Injection

Main Steam

Steam Generator Blowdown

Steam Supply to AFW

Feedwater

Isolation Condenser

Steam Generator Blowdown

NRC

LER

LER

LER

LER

LER

LER

Inspection Report 255/90-14

50-287/89-02

50-382/89-15

50-368/88-23

50-286/88-02

50-219/88-21

50-400/87-29-01

IN 91-50

August 20, 1991 Discussion:

These water hammer events occurred at both boiling water reactor (BWR) and

pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants.

In BWRs, the events occurred in the

RHR (shutdown cooling mode), isolation condenser, and HPCI systems.

In PWRs, the events occurred in the feedwater, main steam, auxiliary feedwater (AFW),

steam generator blowdown, and accumulator systems.

These systems have been

associated with water hammer in previous studies.

Some aspects differ between these events, such as the location of the water

hammer.

For example, the accumulator fill lines and injection lines and the

AFW vent lines were not previously recognized as typical sites of water hammer.

However, the physical phenomena involve the previously identified mechanisms of

formation of steam voids and fluid transfer between high and low pressure

systems. The licensees have cited a number of causes for these events, includ- ing improper filling and venting, the overly rapid stroking of valves, a lack

of guidance about system configuration, accumulating water at low points, depressurizing a system to cause local flashing, and bypassing steam traps.

Such causes were addressed in NUREG-0927, Revision 1.

These events illustrate the complex nature of water hammer events and hydrody- namic interactions. The events at Dresden Units 2 and 3 point out the care

that is necessary in altering system alignment during operation or to perform

testing.

Such alignments can increase the susceptibility to water hammer.

Details of component operability and control features may easily be overlooked

when the immediate goal is to find a means to continue operation.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one

of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

ares E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Earl J. Brown, AEOD

(301) 492-4491

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1861 Attachments:

1. Figure 1. High Pressure Coolant Injection System Normal

Valve Configuration

2.' List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment I

IN 91-50

August 20, 1991. FEEDWATER

UNE

I

CST Condensate

Storage Tank

Figure 1

High Pressure Coolant Injection System Normal

Valve Configuration

Attachment 2

IN 91-50

August 20, 1991 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information

I

Date of

Notice No.

Subject

Issuance

Issued to

91-49

91-48

91-47

89-56, Supp. 2

91-46

91-45

91-44

91-43

Enforcement of Safety

Requirements for Radiog- raphers

False Certificates of Con- formance Provided by West- inghouse Electric Supply

Company for Refurbished Com- mercial-Grade Circuit

Breakers

Failure of Thermo-Lag

Fire Barrier Material to

Pass Fire Endurance Test

Questionable Certification

of Material Supplied to

the Defense Department by

Nuclear Suppliers

Degradation of Emergency

Diesel Generator Fuel Oil

Delivery Systems

Possible Malfunction of

Westinghouse ARD, BFD, and

NBFD Relays, and A200 DC

and DPC 250 Magnetic Con- tactors

Improper Coptrol of

Chemicals in Nuclear Fuel

Fabrication

Recent Incidents Involving

Rapid Increases in Primary- to-Secondary Leak Rate

08/09/91

All holders of OLs or CPs

for nuclear power reactors.

08/06/91

All holders of OLs or CPs

for nuclear power reactors.

07/19/91

All holders of OLs or CPs

for nuclear power reactors.

07/18/91

All holders of OLs or CPs

for nuclear power reactors.

07/05/91

All holders of OLs or CPs

for nuclear power reactors.

07/08/91 All nuclear fuel facilities.

07/05/91

All holders of OLs or CPs

for pressurized-water

reactors (PWRs).

08/15/91 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission (NRC) licensees

authorized to use sealed

sources for industrial

radiography.

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 91-50

August 20, 1991 Discussion:

These water hammer events occurred at both boiling water reactor (BWR) and

pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants. In BWRs, the events occurred in the

RHR (shutdown cooling mode), isolation condenser, and HPCI systems. In PWRs, the events occurred in the feedwater, main steam, auxiliary feedwater (AFW),

steam generator blowdown, and accumulator systems. These systems have been

associated with water hammer in previous studies.

Some aspects differ between these events, such as the location of the water

hammer.

For example, the accumulator fill lines and injection lines and the

AFW vent lines were not previously recognized as typical sites of water hammer.

However, the physical phenomena involve the previously identified mechanisms of

formation of steam voids and fluid transfer between high and low pressure

systems. The licensees have cited a number of causes for these events, includ- ing improper filling and venting, the overly rapid stroking of valves, a lack

of guidance about system configuration, accumulating water at low points, depressurizing a system to cause local flashing, and bypassing steam traps.

Such causes were addressed in NUREG-0927, Revision 1.

These events illustrate the complex nature of water hammer events and hydrody- namic interactions. The events at Dresden Units 2 and 3 point out the care

that is necessary in altering system alignment during operation or to perform

testing.

Such alignments can increase the susceptibility to water hammer.

Details of component operability and control features may easily be overlooked

when the immediate goal is to find a means to continue operation.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one

of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Original Signid by

Charles E. Rossi

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts:

Earl J. Brown, AEOD

(301) 492-4491

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1861 Attachments:

1. Figure 1. High Pressure Coolant Injection System Normal

Valve Configuration

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

  • SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D

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05/13/91 DOCUMENT NAME:

IN 91-50

IN 91-XX

.-

July xx, 1991

--

K>

\\_- Discussion:

These water hammer events occurred at both boiling water reactor (BWR) and

pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants.

In BWRs, the events occurred in the

RHR (shutdown cooling mode), isolation condenser, and HPCI systems. In PWRs, the events occurred in the feedwater, main steam, auxiliary feedwater (AFW),

steam generator blowdown, and accumulator systems. These systems have been

associated with water hammer in previous studies.

Some aspects differ between these events, such as the location of the water

hammer. For example, the accumulator fill lines and injection lines and the

AFW vent lines were not previously recognized as typical sites of water hammer.

However, the physical phenomena involve the previously identified mechanisms of

formation of steam voids and fluid trdnsfer between high and low pressure

systems. The licensees have cited a number of causes for these events, includ- ing improper filling and venting, the overly rapid stroking of valves, a lack

of guidance about system configuration, accumulating water at low points, depressurizing a system to cause local flashing, and bypassing steam traps.

Such causes were addressed in NUREG-0927, Revision 1.

However, these events exhibit the following new characteristics:

(1) Hydrodynamic interactions of systems or trains that can produce water

hammer

(2) System realignments involving changing the position of MOVs that can

introduce complex issues concerning component operability and water

hammer

(3) The energization of RHR pumps in BWR plants that has resulted in a

number of isolation valve closures followed by water hammer and a

loss of shutdown cooling

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one

of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts:

Earl J. Brown, AEOD

(301) 492-4491

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1861 Attachments:

1. Figure 1. High Pressure Coolant Injection System Normal

Valve Configuration

2.

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

  • SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRI

Document Name: WATHAM 0503 CERossi

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C/O

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06/26/91

06/26/91

IN 91-XX

June xx, 1991 Discussion:

These water hammer events occurred at both boiling water reactor (BWR) and

pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants. In BWRs, the events occurred in the

RHR (shutdown cooling mode), isolation condenser, and HPCI systems. In PWRs, the events occurred in the feedwater, main steam, auxiliary feedwater (AFW),

steam generator blowdown, and accumulator systems. These systems have been

associated with water hammer in previous studies.

Some aspects differ between these events, such as the location of the water

hammer. For example, the accumulator fill lines and injection lines and the

AFW vent lines were not previously recognized as typical sites of water hammer.

However, the physical phenomena involve the previously identified mechanisms of

formation of steam voids and fluid transfer between high and low pressure

systems.

The licensees have cited a number of causes for these events, includ- ing improper filling and venting, the overly rapid stroking of valves, a lack

of guidance about system configuration, accumulating water at low points, depressurizing a system to cause local flashing, and bypassing steam traps.

Such causes were addressed in NUREG-0927, Revision 1.

However, these events exhibit the following new characteristics:

(1) Hydrodynamic interactions of systems or trains that can produce water

hammer

(2) System realignments involving changing the position of MOVs that can

introduce complex issues concerning component operability and water

hammer

(3) The energization of RHR pumps in BWR plants that has resulted in a

number of isolation valve closures followed by water hammer and a

loss of shutdown cooling

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one

of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts:

Earl J. Brown, AEOD

(301) 492-4491

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1861 Attachments:

1. Figure 1. High Pressure Coolant Injection System Normal

Valve Configuration

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

  • SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRR

Document Name: WATHAM 0503

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4 IDlvs'Uion of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts:

Earl J. Brown, AEOD

(301) 492-4491

C. Vernon Hodge, NRR

(301) 492-1861 Attachments:

1. Figure 1. High Pressure Coolant Injection System Normal

Valve Configuration

29 'lit ~f-44efcrz.nc

3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Document Name: WATHAM 0503 it

OGCB:DOEA:NRR

CVHodge

05/13/91 ROAB:DSP:AEOD

EBrown £

95bt/91 Kzq/

C/R

IE

SP:AEOD

JER senthal

0O6 W91 D/DOEA:NRR

'CERossi

05/ /91 D/DSP:AEOD

TMNovak

05/ /91 C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

CHBerlinger

05/ /91 RPB:ADM

TechEd Jma A

05/13 /91