ML061910705

Unacceptable Acceptable Analysis for Steam Dryers on Extended Power Uprate Amendment Requests (TAC Nos. MC3812, MC3743, and MC3744) (TS-431 and TS-418)

ML061910705
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	07/11/2006
From:	Holden C Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority
Brown Eva, NRR/DORL, 415-2315
References
TAC MC3743, TAC MC3744, TAC MC3812
Download: ML061910705 (4)

Text

July 11, 2006 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 UNACCEPTABLE ANALYSIS FOR STEAM DRYERS ON EXTENDED POWER UPRATE AMENDMENT REQUESTS (TAC NOS. MC3812, MC3743, AND MC3744)

(TS-431 AND TS-418)

Dear Mr. Singer:

This letter discusses serious concerns with Tennessee Valley Authoritys (TVAs, the licensees) response to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff requests for additional information regarding the ongoing extended power uprate (EPU) amendment request review.

By letters dated June 28 and 25, 2004, TVA submitted amendment requests for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN), Units 1, 2, and 3. The proposed amendments would change the BFN operating licenses to increase the maximum authorized power level by approximately 20 percent above the current maximum authorized power level for Unit 1, and approximately 15 percent for Units 2 and 3.

In support of the EPU review, TVA provided the General Electric scale model test report, the Continuum Dynamics Incorporated - CDI - load definition benchmarking report, and the unmodified steam dryer stress report. These reports were provided in letters dated March 9, April 13, and May 5, 2006, which were intended to demonstrate that the structural integrity of the steam dryers would not be challenged under extended power uprate (EPU) conditions.

In a letter dated June 23, 2006, TVA provided an addendum to the BFN steam dryer stress analyses report, representing planned steam dryer modifications. The NRC staff reviewed the information provided. From these analysis results, the NRC staff concludes that the submittals do not provide an adequate technical basis to enable the NRC staff to find the applications acceptable. For example, the NRC staff noted that the June 23, 2006, addendum indicated that the maximum stress on some components is calculated to be above the fatigue endurance limit during EPU conditions. Additionally, it was observed that the scale model test report provided in the April 13, 2006, letter, indicates high frequency resonance peaks in the Unit 1 scale model under simulated EPU conditions.

As discussed in a teleconference on July 10, 2006, the remaining outstanding information related to the steam dryers is needed by July 21, 2006. Should any information needed for this review be received after July 21, the NRC staff notes that the scheduled EPU presentations to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards could be delayed from the current schedule of November-December 2006. The NRC staff requests that you inform us at the earliest opportunity of your plans to address these concerns.

K. W. Singer If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Margaret Chernoff at 301-415-4041 or Ms. Eva Brown at 301-415-2315.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Cornelius F. Holden, Deputy Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-259, 50-260, and 50-296 cc: See next page

ML061910705 NRR-106 OFFICE LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/LA LPL2-2/BC OGC DORL/DD NAME EBrown MChernoff BClayton MMarshall JMoore CHolden DATE 7/ 10 /06 7/ 10 /06 7/ 10 /06 7/ 10 /06 7/ 11 /06 7/ 11 /06

Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, Vice President Nuclear Engineering & Technical Services Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Brian OGrady, Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Robert J. Beecken, Vice President Nuclear Support Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Bruce Aukland, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611 Mr. Masoud Bajestani, Vice President Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Robert G. Jones, General Manager Browns Ferry Site Operations Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Larry S. Mellen Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW.

Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Mr. Glenn W. Morris, Manager Corporate Nuclear Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. William D. Crouch, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611-6970 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017