ML043010665
| ML043010665 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group |
| Issue date: | 11/08/2004 |
| From: | Sheron B NRC/NRR/ADPT |
| To: | Putnam K BWR Owners Group, Nuclear Management Co |
| Pham B, NRR/DLPM, 415-8450 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML043010665 (4) | |
Text
November 8, 2004 Mr. Kenneth S. Putnam, Chairman BWR Owners Group Nuclear Management Company Duane Arnold Energy Center 3277 DAEC Road Palo, IA 52324
SUBJECT:
INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES TO RESOLVE POTENTIAL ADVERSE FLOW EFFECTS FROM POWER UPRATE OPERATION
Dear Mr. Putnam:
I am writing to request information about the Boiling Water Reactors Owners Groups (BWROGs) recent activities regarding potential adverse flow effects from power uprate operation.
During a public meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff on February 3, 2004, you stated that the BWROG had assumed the lead role for coordinating responses from the nuclear industry to concerns surrounding the potential for adverse flow effects on nuclear power plant structures, systems, and components (SSCs) during boiling water reactor (BWR) plant operation at power uprate conditions. During this meeting, you presented industrys short-and long-term plans and activities to resolve this issue. A schedule for the integrated industry plan was submitted by letter dated May 7, 2004. The letter summarized the results of BWR steam dryer inspections and an evaluation of the industrys development of a database for power uprate events.
During subsequent meetings with the NRC staff on August 18 and 31, 2004, the BWROG provided updates, as summarized below:
Develop "best practices" steam dryer performance monitoring - September 2004 Revise the General Electric guidelines for steam dryer inspections - September 2004 Develop report on lessons-learned and recommendations in response to adverse flow effects from power uprate operation - December 2004 Develop steam dryer inspection guidelines - December 2004 Revise BWRVIP-06 with updated guidance for addressing loose parts in the reactor vessel, and steam and feedwater systems - December 2004 Validate a methodology for determining steam dryer loading using main steam acoustic circuit analysis and verification with scale model testing and plant data - May 2005 Because of the NRCs significant interest in this issue, we would appreciate if the BWROG would provide to the NRC staff copies of the documents mentioned above as they become available. In addition, in order for us to remain fully informed of industrys efforts so that we can factor these efforts into our decisions on whether and what regulatory actions may be necessary, we would appreciate that the NRC staff be notified in advance of your plans to
K. Putnam conduct tests for validating the steam dryer loading methodology, or of any change in the scope of these tests, so that we can comment on and observe them as necessary. The NRC staff will review and provide any comments on the documents requested above, while trying to minimize its impact on your schedule for resolving this issue.
In addition, Exelon recently conducted an evaluation at Dresden and Quad Cities for SSCs that experienced performance problems at power uprate conditions. While they are taking corrective actions, Exelon is also conducting a detailed vulnerability assessment of the SSCs for potential performance problems during future power uprate operation. The staff has recommended that Exelon provide these lessons learned to the BWROG. Please consider this information as you develop industry-wide guidance for licensees currently operating or proposing to operate their plants at power uprate conditions.
Please contact Gene Imbro, Chief, NRR Mechanical and Civil Engineering Branch, at 301-415-3288 for any additional information regarding this request.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Brian W. Sheron Associate Director for Project Licensing and Technical Analysis Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No. 691 cc: See next page
K. Putnam November 8, 2004 conduct tests for validating the steam dryer loading methodology, or of any change in the scope of these tests, so that we can comment on and observe them as necessary. The NRC staff will review and provide any comments on the documents requested above, while trying to minimize its impact on your schedule for resolving this issue.
In addition, Exelon recently conducted an evaluation at Dresden and Quad Cities for SSCs that experienced performance problems at power uprate conditions. While they are taking corrective actions, Exelon is also conducting a detailed vulnerability assessment of the SSCs for potential performance problems during future power uprate operation. The staff has recommended that Exelon provide these lessons learned to the BWROG. Please consider this information as you develop industry-wide guidance for licensees currently operating or proposing to operate their plants at power uprate conditions.
Please contact Gene Imbro, Chief, NRR Mechanical and Civil Engineering Branch, at 301-415-3288 for any additional information regarding this request.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Brian W. Sheron Associate Director for Project Licensing and Technical Analysis Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No. 691 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC PDIV-2 Reading RidsNrrOd (JDyer/WBorchardt)
RidsNrrAdpt (BSheron)
RidsNrrDlpm (TMarsh/JLyons)
RidsNrrDlpmPdiv (HBerkow)
RidsNrrDlpmPdiv-2 (RGramm)
RidsNrrLAEPeyton RidsNrrPMBPham RidsOgcMailCenter RidsNrrDe (RBarrett)
RidsNrrDe/Emeb (EImbro)
DTerao TScarbrough Accession No.: ML043010665 NRR-106 OFFICE PDIV-2/PM PDIV-2/LA PDIV-2/SC PDIV/D EMEB NAME BPham EPeyton RGramm HBerkow GImbro DATE 10/24/04 10/26/04 10/27/04 10/27/04 10/25/04 OFFICE DLPM/D ADPT NAME TMarsh BSheron DATE 11/3/04 11/8/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
BWR Owners Group Project No. 691 cc:
Mr. Joseph E. Conen Vice Chairman, BWR Owners Group DTE Energy - Fermi 2 200 TAC 6400 N. Dixie Highway Newport, MI 48166 Mr. J. A. Gray, Jr.
Regulatory Response Group Chairman BWR Owners Group Entergy Nuclear Northeast 440 Hamilton Avenue Mail Stop 12C White Plains, NY 10601-5029 Mr. H. Lewis Sumner Executive Chairman, BWROG Southern Nuclear Company 40 Inverness Center Parkway P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35242 Mr. William Holston Manager, Engineering Services Nine Mile Point - Station OPS Building/2nd Floor P.O. Box 63 Lycoming, NY 13093 Mr. Thomas G. Hurst GE Nuclear Energy M/C 782 3901 Castle Hayne Road Wilmington, NC 28402 Mr. Thomas A. Green GE Nuclear Energy M/C 782 175 Curtner Avenue San Jose, CA 95125 Mr. James Meister Executive Vice Chairman, BWROG Exelon Cornerstone II at Cantera 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Mr. William A. Eaton ENTERGY P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286 Mr. Aloysius Wrape General Manager, Perform Mail Code GENPL4 Two North Ninth Street Allentown, PA 18101 Mr. Richard Libra DTE Energy Fermi 2 M/C 280 OBA 6400 North Dixie Highway Newport, MI 48166 Mr. James F. Klapproth GE Nuclear Energy M/C A-16 3901 Castle Hayne Road Wilmington, NC 28402