ML070990413
ML070990413 | |
Person / Time | |
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Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
Issue date: | 06/30/2003 |
From: | Stone & Webster Engineering Corp |
To: | Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
References | |
Download: ML070990413 (16) | |
Text
diEntergy EXTENDED POWER UPRATE COOLING TOWER EVAPORATIVE LOSS STUDY for VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Preparedfor Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC Revision 1 June 2003 Preparedby Shaw- Stone &Webster, Inc.
Entergy EXTENDED POWER UPRATE COOLING TOWER EVAPORATIVE LOSS STUDY for VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Preparedfor Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC Revision 1 June 2003 Preparedby A
Shlaw/T Stone &Webster, Inc,
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................ 1 2
SUMMARY
OF RESULTS ...................................................................................................... 1 3 EVALUATION ........................................................................................................................ 1 3 .1 Me th o d o log y ............................................................................................... . .1 Backg round ..................................................................................................... . . .. 1 Appro a c h ..................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Inputs and Assumptions .............................................................................. 3 3.3 Evaluation of Summer W ater Consumption Rates ..................................... 4 3.4 Evaluation of W inter W ater Consumption Rates ......................................... 7 3.5 Minimum River Flow ..................................................................................... 9 4 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 10 5 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 10 APPENDIX A - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Figure A-1 Circulating Water, Condenser, Cooling Tower Network Figure A-2 Determination of Flow Rates i Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 1 OBJECTIVE The purpose of this report is to determine the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS) cooling towers' increased water consumption rate due to evaporation and drift under Extended Power Uprate (EPU) conditions of 120% Reactor Thermal Power.
- Safety Classification: Non-Safety Related
- Affected System: Circulating Water (CW)
Revision 1 of this report incorporates new PEPSE heat balance runs, which utilized 125 HP cooling tower fans. The PEPSE results of Table 3.3-3 were revised to bound the original 200 HP cases and new 125 HP cases. PEPSE was only used as a check on the evaluation method, and this revision confirms that there are no changes to the results or conclusions of the original study, assuming 125 HP to 200 HP fans. This revision supercedes the previous version of the report dated February 2003.
2
SUMMARY
OF RESULTS Monthly average water consumption rates determined in this report are summarized on Figures 3.3-1 and 3.3-2 for summer cooling tower operation, Figures 3.4-1 and 3.4-2 for winter cooling tower operation, and Table 3.5-1 for minimum river flow conditions.
In the limiting case of minimum river flow, as given in Table 3.5-1, the evaporation and drift consumption is less than 1.5% of the minimum river flow value of 1250 cfs.
3 EVALUATION 3.1 Methodology
Background
The VYNPS is currently licensed to operate at a core thermal power of 1593 MWt. This study evaluates the change in evaporative loss as a result of increasing the core power rating up to 1912 MWt, an increase of approximately 20%. Evaporative loss is the amount of water vapor evaporated and discharged from the cooling tower fans into the atmosphere. Drift is the water entrained in vapor discharged from the cooling tower. The evaporative loss plus drift represents a use of river water that is not recycled back to the river.
During cold weather / winter periods from October 15 through May 15, the circulating water system is normally operated in straight open cycle. This means that the river water drawn into the plant intake is passed once through the condenser and returned to the river without using the cooling tower. With open cycle, there is no evaporative cooling and therefore no evaporative loss.
During warmer weather / summer periods from May 16 to October 14, the cooling tower operates predominantly in hybrid mode. In hybrid mode, the cooling tower operation, or load on the cooling tower, varies as environmental conditions change consistent with NPDES thermal discharge limits. For example, when the river flow is high (greater than approximately 8000 cfs),
the thermal capacity of the river is high and the cooling tower is either not needed, or is very lightly loaded. On the other hand, during extreme summer drought conditions when the river 1 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station flow is low and the river temperature is high, the river's thermal capacity is minimal, and the evaporative cooling process of the cooling towers rejects most of the plant's heat load.
The highest evaporation rate occurs when operating in closed cycle where the entire plant's heat load is handled by the cooling towers. At Vermont Yankee, the cooling tower is operated very rarely in closed-cycle mode (about once every 2 or 3 days per week in summer for only 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> while chlorination treatments are performed).
Approach Since the cooling tower operates primarily in hybrid mode, and the cooling tower heat load (and rate of evaporation) can vary widely each day, this evaluation determined monthly average evaporative loss values based on over 11 years of historical monthly average environmental conditions. The evaporation rate was determined for the following operating conditions:
- 100% Power, Current NPDES, Summer
- 120% Power, Current NPDES, Summer
- 120% Power, Proposed NPDES, Summer
- 120% Power, Current NPDES, Winter (only during winter months with <1500 cfs river flow)
Heat transfer by the cooling tower is accomplished mostly by the evaporation of water. A small amount of this heat is also used to increase the sensible heat of air leaving the tower. This study estimated evaporative loss with the conservative assumption that all cooling tower heat transfer was by evaporation, calculated using the Latent Heat of Evaporation (Hf9 ) of water at the cooling tower Inlet.
The. monthly average cooling tower heat load was determined from heat balance data. Heat balances were performed using a Performance Evaluation of Power System Efficiencies (PEPSE) model (Ref. 1) of the plant, including the heat rejection system. The cooling tower performance characteristics used in the PEPSE model were based on the predictions in the Tower Performance, Inc (TPI) cooling tower report (Ref. 2).
For PEPSE to calculate the cooling tower heat load, three boundary condition parameters were required (river flow, allowable river temperature rise, and wet bulb temperature). The allowable river temperature rise was determined from the NPDES permit. Table 3.1-1 summarizes the available environmental data.
Table 3.1-1 Available Environmental Data River Temperature River Flow Wet Bulb 1991 thru 1999 12 mos (2) 12 mos (2) 12 mos (1) 2000 & 2001 12 mos (2) 12 mos (2) NA 2002 May - Dec. (2) May - Dec. (2) NA
- 1. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) Source - actual data was dew point and drybulb temperatures from which wetbulb temperature was calculated (see Ref. 4).
- 2. Normandeau Source (see Ref. 3) - Normandeau provided the mean monthly values in lieu of the raw hourly data. Note October 1996 data not available.
2 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station This report used a simplified method to calculate the cooling tower heat load that only required river flow data and allowable river temperature rise (not wet bulb temperature) by:
- 1. Assuming the condenser duty or heat rejection was a constant for each power level. The values chosen were based on bounding PEPSE runs. See Inputs and Assumptions Section 3.2 e.
- 2. Calculating the river heat capacity based on river flow and allowable temperature differential from NPDES permit.
- 3. Calculating the cooling tower heat load by subtracting the river heat capacity from the condenser duty.
Using the simplified method, the evaporative loss for 1991 through 2002 period was calculated.
More detailed PEPSE model analyses were performed for several cases for comparison purposes. This comparison confirmed that the simplified analyses were conservative.
For winter months that historically have had significant times (greater than 100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br />) of river flow below 1500 cfs, evaporation rates were determined using the average river flow and the current winter NPDES permit limit. As shown in Appendix A, Figure A-2, 1500 cfs is the approximate minimum river flow required to accommodate the 120% heat load with current winter NPDES permit limit. Evaporation rates for such winter periods were estimated using a simplified analysis similar to the summer analysis.
Comparison cases were also evaluated for a minimum river flow of 1250 cfs and the 7Q10 river flow rate of 1524 cfs. 7Q1 0 is a measure of the naturally recurring low river flow. It is the lowest flow that occurs for 7 consecutive days in a 10-year period.
3.2 Inputs and Assumptions
- a. River Temperature and Flow data was obtained from Mark Mattson, Vice President, Normandeau Associates, Inc. (Ref. 3)
- b. Dew point and drybulb temperature data temperature data for Albany was obtained from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) (Ref. 4).
- c. The cooling tower performance predictions were obtained from Tower Performance Inc. (TPI). TPI Cooling Tower Report for Vermont Yankee (Ref. 2).
- d. PEPSE current and uprate heat balance models (Ref. 1) were used as input to this analysis. These models are tuned to plant operating data. The uprate model incorporated the proposed new HP steam turbine.
- e. Heat rejection for the 100% case of 3712 x 106 Btu/hr and for the 120% case of 4443 x 106 Btu/hr was based upon 5 in. Hg condenser backpressure. This was conservative, as the condenser will typically operate at a lower backpressure, resulting in less heat rejection (Ref. 1).
- f. This study utilized a 1.6 degree temperature increase in lieu of the current NPDES summer permit of 2 degree temperature increase to reflect current plant operational practice. This was conservative because using a lower increase in river temperature resulted in greater calculated evaporation. Likewise, a 2.6 degree temperature increase was used in lieu of the proposed NPDES summer permit of 3 degree temperature increase, which also resulted in greater calculated evaporation.
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Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station
- g. The higher NPDES limits allowed during brief periods in the Spring and Fall due to lower river temperatures have been conservatively ignored. These higher limits would result in lower evaporation rates than determined in this study.
- h. Latent heat of evaporation, hfg, of 1031.4 Btu/lb based upon a maximum estimated cooling tower inlet water temperature of 110 F.
- i. Winter study utilized a 13 degree allowable river temperature increase. This is conservatively lower than the 13.4 degree rise contained in the current NPDES winter permit to account for operating margin.
- j. The minimum river flow utilized for a comparison case was 1250 cfs. This flow is for comparison only and not based upon recorded data.
- k. The 7Q10 comparison case utilized a river flow of 1,971,129,600 gpd (1524 cfs) based upon Vermont Water Quality Standards and Reference 5.
- 1. The cooling tower drift was 183 gpm (total for both towers) based upon 0.05% of the total circulating water flow of 366,000 gpm as described in Reference 2. The drift was added to the evaporation to obtain total water consumption. The increase in drift due to higher horsepower cooling tower fan motors was considered to be negligible.
The drift was assumed to be 183 gpm for both summer and winter evaluations, even though winter operation may potentially utilize lower Circulating Water flows, which would result in less drift.
3.3 Evaluation of Summer Water Consumption Rates The simplified approach described in Section 3.1 was utilized to calculate monthly average evaporation rates. Using the average monthly river flow supplied by Normandeau for May through October for the years 1991 through 2002, the cooling tower heat load was determined by subtracting the allowable heat rejection to the river from the condenser duty. The evaporative loss was calculated using the Latent Heat of Evaporation, hfg. Three different cases were evaluated: 100% power with current NPDES permit, 120% power with current NPDES permit, and 120% power with proposed NPDES permit. The calculated evaporation rates are shown on Figures 3.3-1 and 3.3-2 in terms of gpm and as percent of river flow. As stated in Assumption (I), drift of 183 gpm was added to the calculated evaporation to determine total water consumption.
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Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee NuclearPower Station Figure 3.3-1 1991 - 2002 Average Monthly Water Consumption 0,45% 18000 0.40% 1,,0, 0.35% 14000 o 0.30% 12000 C
00 O -, . ." . .. ". 8 000 0.15% .000 0A10% 40 0.05% 20 May June July August September October Month MR!= i00% Current NPOES 120% Cunrent NPDES = 120% Proposed NPDES -- River Flow Figure 3.3-2 1991 - 2002 Average Monthly Water Consumptionton 7000 18000 700000 610000 5000 12000 a.n 0 4000 10000 e 0 8000 0 3000 20000 4000 1000 2000 May June July August September October Month HER1100% Current NPDES =120%Current NPDES =120%Proposed NPOES - River Flow Note the difference in evaporation rates between 120% Current NPDES and 120% Proposed NPDES cases. The proposed 1OF higher river temperature rise reduced the load on the cooling tower, and thereby reduced evaporation. When river flow is above approximately 3800 cfs (see Appendix A, Figure A-2), the 120% case at the proposed NPDES has less evaporation than Entergy 5 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station both the 120% and 100% cases with the current NPDES limits. Tables 3.3-1 and 3.3-2 give the 1991-2002 Average Monthly Consumption for % river flow and gpm, respectively.
TABLE 3.3-1 1991 - 2002 Average Monthly Water Consumption (% River Flow)
Month 100% Current 120% Current 120% Proposed River Flow NPDES NPDES NPDES (CFS)
May 0.01% 0.01% 0.00% 15931 June 0.06% 0.10% 0.04% 7922 July 0.17% 0.22% 0.16% 5369 August 0.28% 0.36% 0.27% 3773 September 0.31% 0.40% 0.31% 3536 October 0.13% 0.18% 0.11% 5909 TABLE 3.3-2 1991 - 2002 Average Monthly Water Consumption (gpm) 100% Current 120% Current 120% Proposed River Flow Month NPDES NPDES NPDES (CFS)
May 460 878 205 15931 June 2227 3460 1545 7922 July 4000 5300 3759 5369 August 4754 6172 4530 3773 September 4919 6337 4960 3536 October 3503 4733 2841 5909 The tuned PEPSE model incorporated the cooling tower, the river, and the necessary splitters, mixers, and source components to simulate the various modes of CW System operation (Open Cycle, Closed Cycle, and Hybrid Cycle). The PEPSE model was used to spot check the results of the simplified analysis, and it was found that the latter produces reasonably accurate results that slightly overpredict the evaporation rate. Table 3.3-3 presents the comparison of the simplified analysis versus the PEPSE analyses results.
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Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station TABLE 3.3-3 Comparison between Simplified (hfg) Method and PEPSE Mean Wet Evaporation Rate Month River Flow Bulb Temp. Reactor Thermal River NPDES Simplified PEPSE Difference Temp. (OF) (hfg) method (%)
(cfs) (OF) (OF) method (gpm)
((pm)
Aug-98 5050 64.9 120 73.1 2 4403 4218 4.21 Sep-98 3828 58.6 120 68.7 3 3802 3583 5.76 Jun-99 3212 62 120 70.7 1.6 6561 6465 1.47 Jul-99 3300 66.7 120 76.1 2.6 5065 4926 2.74 Aug-98 5050 64.9 100 73.1 2 2986 2762 7.52 Jun-99 3212 62 100 70.7 1.6 5144 5034 2.13 3.4 Evaluation of Winter Water Consumption Rates The cooling tower is not presently used in the winter. For power uprate with the current NPDES permit, occasional use of the cooling towers will be required when river flow is low.
The winter evaporation was evaluated for the months of November through March using historical river flow data from the years 1991 through 1995. To be considered, at least 100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> when the flow was less than 1500 cfs had to be recorded in a given month. Based upon data supplied by Normandeau, nine months over the 1991 - 1995 Winter period met this criterion. The months and the average flow are given in Table 3.4-1.
TABLE 3.4-1 Low River Flow Winter Months Month / Year Average River Flow (cfs)
November 1991 1315.48 December 1992 1387.52 February 1993 1411.86 March 1993 1425.96 January 1994 1439.93 February 1994 1443.86 November 1994 1361.37 February 1995 1458.96 December 1995 1355.66 The evaporation for these months was calculated using the simplified method previously described in the Summer evaluation. Based upon 120% heat rejection, river flow, and a 13 degree increase in river temperature, the amount of evaporation was calculated. Per Assumption (I), drift of 183 gpm is added to the evaporation. Monthly averages of data points in Table 3.4-1 were computed and the results are shown on Figures 3.4-1 and 3.4-2 and Tables 3.4-2 and 3.4-3. The evaporation rates shown below are reflective of when the cooling towers are operating in the winter, which is expected to be less than 20% of the winter period.
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Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower EvaporativeLoss Study Vermont Yankee NuclearPower Station Figure 3.4-1 1991 - 1995 Average Winter Water Consumption for Low River Flow 0,25% 1460 1440 0.20% 12 142 P
- 1400 0.15% ,LL 1380 ~
E .. 1360 o .10% S~5S 0
1340 S0.05% .. 1320 1300 0.00% ____ ___ __ -1280 November December January February March 120% Current NPDES -River Flow Figure 3.4-2 1991 - 1995 Average Winter Water Consumption for Low River Flow 1400 1460 1440 1200 1420 j1000 (L 1400 U.
.0 800 1380 C.
E 0 1360 80 600 1340 400 1320 200 1300 0 1280 November Dece mber January FebrLuary March Month 120% Current NPDES - River Flow 8 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee NuclearPower Station TABLE 3.4-2 1991 - 1995 Average Winter Water Consumption for Low River Flow (% River Flow)
M 120% Current River Flow NPDES (cfs)
November 0.20% 1338 December 0.17% 1372 January 0.10% 1440 February 0.10% 1438 March 0.11% 1426 TABLE 3.4-3 1991 - 1995 Average Winter Water Consumption for Low River Flow (gpm) 120% Current River Flow NPDES (cfs)
November 1227 1338 December 1039 1372 January 653 1440 February 662 1438 March 732 1426 3.5 Minimum River Flow To provide a basis for comparison, the evaporation with the minimum river flow of 1250 cfs and the 7Q10 Indirect Discharge Permit (Reference 5) flow of 1524 cfs was calculated for the 100%
power level with the current NPDES permit, 120% power with the current NPDES permit, and 120% power with the proposed NPDES permit. The cooling tower drift of 183 gpm was added to determine total water consumption. The results are shown in Table 3.5-1. The highest monthly average consumption (September) from Tables 3.3-1 and 3.3-2 is repeated in Table 3.5-1 for comparison purposes.
TABLE 3.5-1 Average Water Consumption for Minimum River and 7Q10 Indirect Discharge Permit Flow Evaporation and Drift Consumption River 100% Current 120% Current 120% Proposed Flow Rive NPDES NPDES NPDES Condition Flw%
(cfs) p % River % River gpm River Flow 913m Flow gpm Flow Minimum River 1250 6511 1.16 7928 1.41 7384 1.32 River Flow 7Q10 Pemi IDFo 1524 6320 0.92 7738 1.13 7074 1.03 Permit Flow September Monthly 3536 4919 0.31 6337 0.40 4960 0.31 Average Flow I I III _ I 9 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 4 CONCLUSION The above evaluation shows that the monthly average evaporation rates and corresponding water consumption rates are small compared to the average river flow. In the limiting case of minimum river flow, as shown in Table 3.5-1, the evaporation and drift consumption is less than 1.5% of the minimum river flow value of 1250 cfs.
5 REFERENCES
- 1. VYNPS PEPSE Heat Balance Models:
RunlOlEVL.mdl 2-5-2003 Runl02EVL.mdl 2-5-2003 Runl03EVL.mdl 2-5-2003 Runl04EVL.mdl 2-5-2003 Runl05EVL.mdl 2-5-2003 Runl06EVL.mdl 2-5-2003 Runl07EVL.mdl 6-2-2003 Runl08EVL.mdl 6-2-2003 Runl09EVL.mdl 6-2-2003 Runi 1OEVL.mdl 6-2-2003 Runi 11 EVL.mdl 6-2-2003 Run1 12EVL.mdl 6-2-2003
- 2. Tower Performance, Inc (TPI) Cooling Tower Report, TPI Reference No. TP-10202, "Vermont Yankee Cooling Tower Study", dated December 10, 2002.
- 3. River flow and temperature data from Normandeau Associates, Excel file "Flow_andTemp96-02_new".
- 4. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) Wet Bulb Temperature for Albany, NY 1990-1999.
- 5. Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee Indirect Discharge Permit, ID-9-0036-1A, June 10, 2002.
Entergy 10 10 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Appendix A Supplemental Information Entergy A-I A-1 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee NuclearPower Station Figure A-1 Circulating Water, Condenser, Cooling Tower Network Service Water Return Entergy A-2 Entergy
Extended Power Uprate Cooling Tower Evaporative Loss Study Vermont Yankee NuclearPower Station Figure A-2 Determination of Flow Rates Winter Flow:
The minimum river flow required to accommodate the 120% heat load of 4443 x 106 Btu/hr with the current winter NPDES allowable temperature rise of 13.4°F is calculated using:
Q = mCpAT Where:
Q = Heat load = 4443 x 106 Btu/hr (Reference 1) m = river mass flow rate (Ibm/hr)
Cp = Specific heat of water - 1.00 BTU/(Ibm °F)
AT = 13.4°F m = Q/(CpAT) m = 4443 x 106 Btu/hr /[(1.00 Btu/(Ibm TF) x (13.4°F)]
m = 3.3157 x 106 Ibm/hr m = 3.3157 x 106 Ibm/hr x (ft3/62.4 Ibm) x (hr/ 3600 sec) m - 1500 cfs Summer Flow:
Increasing the current Summer NPDES permit of 2° to 3*F was evaluated to determine the river flow where the heat load on the cooling towers at 120% would be less than the current 100%
load. Using the maximum differential heat load rejected from the condenser between the 100%
and 120% power levels and a temperature increase of 1 F, the capability of the river to absorb this heat load was evaluated.
Q120 = 120% Heat load at 5 in. Hg condenser pressure = 4443 x 106 Btu/hr (Ref. 1)
Q10o = 100% Heat load at 1 in. Hg condenser pressure = 3584 x 106 Btu/hr (Ref. 1)
Q = Q120 - Q10= (4443 x 106) - (3584 x 106) = 859 x 106 Btu/hr AT = 3°F - 2°F = IVF Cp = Specific heat of water - 1.00 Btu/(Ibm F) m = Q/(CpAT) m = 859 x 106 Btu/hr/[(1.00 Btu/(Ibm °F) x (1°F)]
m = 859 x 106 Ibm/hr m = 859 x 106 Ibm/hr x (ft3/62.4 Ibm) x (hr/ 3600 sec) m - 3800 cfs Entergy A-3 A-3 Entergy