ML071030040

Request for Additional Information (RAI) - Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 (SSES 1 and 2) - Extended Power Uprate Application Electrical Engineering Technical Review

ML071030040
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	04/12/2007
From:	Richard Guzman NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLI-1
To:	Mckinney B Susquehanna
Guzman R, NRR/DORL, 415-1030
References
TAC MD3309, TAC MD3310
Download: ML071030040 (6)

Text

April 12, 2007 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2) - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE APPLICATION RE: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICAL REVIEW (TAC NOS. MD3309 AND MD3310)

Dear Mr. McKinney:

In reviewing your letter dated October 11, 2006, concerning the request to increase the maximum steady-state power level at the SSES 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that additional information contained in the enclosure to this letter is needed to complete its review. These questions were discussed with your staff during a teleconference on April 5, 2007. As agreed to by your staff, we request you respond by May 9, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1030.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard V. Guzman, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page

April 12, 2007 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2) - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE APPLICATION RE: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICAL REVIEW (TAC NOS. MD3309 AND MD3310)

Dear Mr. McKinney:

In reviewing your letter dated October 11, 2006, concerning the request to increase the maximum steady-state power level at the SSES 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that additional information contained in the enclosure to this letter is needed to complete its review. These questions were discussed with your staff during a teleconference on April 5, 2007. As agreed to by your staff, we request you respond by May 9, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1030.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard V. Guzman, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

Public RidsOgcMailCenter RidsNrrPmRGuzman RidsNrrEeeaBC VGoel LPLI-1 R/F RidsNrrDorlLpl1-1 RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrLaSLittle Accession Number: ML071030040

• RAI provided by memo. No substantive changes made.

OFFICE NRR/LPLI-1/PM NRR/LPLI-1/LA NRR/EEEA/BC NRR/LPLI-1/BC(A)

NAME RGuzman SLittle GWilson*

DPickett DATE 4/12/07 4/12/07 3/19/07 4/12/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Enclosure REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED POWER UPRATE (EPU)

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2)

PPL SUSQUEHANNA, LLC DOCKET NOS. 50-387 AND 50-388 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing the request from PPL Susquehanna, LLC (PPL, the licensee) to support the application of the EPU for SSES 1 and 2.

The NRC staff has determined that additional information requested below will be needed to complete its review.

1.

In Attachment 6, Section 10.3.1 of the license amendment request (LAR), the licensee stated that the increased radiation levels, as result of Constant Pressure Power Uprate (CPPU), result in reduction of qualified life of some solenoid valves inside the primary containment. Certain additional equipment (i.e., power and instrument cable) may require radiation dose reduction analysis to demonstrate qualification for radiation level associated with the CPPU condition.

Confirm the worst case reduction in the life of affected solenoid valves due to CPPU condition inside the primary containment, and the management measure which will be taken for the early replacement of these solenoid valves. Confirm the results of radiation dose reduction analysis to demonstrate qualification of certain additional equipment (as stated above), corresponding to the CPPU condition.

2.

In Attachment 6, Section 10.3.1 of the LAR, the licensee stated that the increased radiation levels, as result of CPPU, result in reduction of qualified life of some environmentally qualified (EQ) equipment outside the primary containment. Certain additional equipment (i.e., relays, solenoid valves, flow switches, fire detection controls, pressure switches, hydrogen analyzer cell o-rings, heater control equipment, terminal blocks, and Residual Heat Removal (RHR) pump motor oil) initially do not meet qualification requirements based on CPPU conditions. However, the affected EQ equipment is expected to remain qualified with the application of radiation dose reduction analysis.

Confirm the worst case reduction in the life of some EQ equipment (as stated above) due to CPPU condition outside the primary containment. Also, confirm the management measure which will be taken for the early replacement of these EQ equipment. Confirm the results of radiation dose reduction analysis to demonstrate qualification of certain additional equipment (as stated above) corresponding to the CPPU condition.

3.

Accordingly to the LAR, the SSES 1 and 2 main generators will be uprated from 1280 megavolt-amperes (MVA) to 1354 MVA after rewind.

Confirm the power factor rating of each generator after rewind.

4.

In Attachment 11 of the LAR, it is stated that the studies performed for SSES 1 and 2, by Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland Interconnection, LLC (PJM), tested the compliance of the system with the Mid-Atlantic Area Council (MAAC) Reliability Principles and Standards.

Provide specific normal voltage range and emergency/contingency voltage range criteria followed by PJM for power flow studies. Explain how these voltage range criteria were considered in the relay setting calculations for the plant degraded voltage protection.

5.

According to Attachment 11 of the LAR, there are some cases when the system becomes unstable during certain line or transformer outages. An Operating Guide (PPL Electric Utilities NEPA memorandum) is in place to reduce power during these specific transmission outages. Further, the PJM impact studies and PPL Electric Utilities NEPA memorandum provide the information concerning the maximum gross mega-watts (MWs) and megavolt-amperes reactive (MVARs) output for each of the units, to maintain a stable grid operation under various maintenance and outage conditions.

Provide a copy of PJM's Operating Guide which outlines the procedures for power reduction during certain line or transformer outages, and which puts limits on the maximum gross MWs and megavolt-amperes reactive MVARs output for each of the units under various maintenance and outage conditions. Provide a description as to how PPL follows this operating guide and procedurally coordinates with PJM.

6.

According to the Attachment 11 of LAR, to accommodate the loss in reactive capability due to increase in real power output, a 183 MVAR capacitor will be installed on the 230 kilo-volt (kV) substation bus and a 171 MVAR capacitor will be installed on the 500 kV substation at SSES 1 and 2.

Confirm whether these capacitor banks are controllable or switchable type. If controllable type, provide operational details of capacitor banks. Confirm whether these capacitors were taken into consideration for all cases of power flow and stability studies performed by PJM. Provide a licensing commitment that these capacitor banks will be installed and operated in accordance with the power flow and stabilities studies performed by PJM for SSES.

7.

According to Attachment 11 of the LAR, the Post-fault transient voltages at 500 kV buses shall not be below 0.7 per-unit (pu) voltage.

Confirm the effect of 0.7 pu post-fault transient voltage at 500 kV buses, was considered in the relay setting calculations for the plant undervoltage and degraded voltage protection.

8.

In Section 6.1.2 of Attachment 6 of LAR, the licensee stated that the Unit 2 main transformer rating is upgraded to meet the requirements for CPPU operation and the tap setting is changed.

Confirm the upgraded rating and revised tap setting of the Unit 2 main transformer.

Also, confirm whether the upgraded rating and revised tap setting of this transformer were considered in all the power flow and stability studies performed by PJM for SSES 1 and 2.

9.

In Section 6.1.2 of Attachment 6 of the LAR, the licensee stated that the 230 kV synchronizing breaker was replaced to meet CPPU continuous current and short circuit requirements after replacement of 230 kV synchronizing breaker.

Confirm the revised ratings of the 230 kV synchronizing breaker.

10.

In Section 6.1.2 of Attachment 6 of the LAR, the licensee stated that the Unit 2 overall differential protection relay required a setpoint change for the CPPU generator output.

Confirm the existing and revised relay set points of the Unit 2 overall differential protection. Explain why this setting change is not listed in the Attachment 7 of LAR -

List of Planned Modifications.

11.

In Section 6.1.1 of Attachment 6 of the LAR, it is stated that the existing protective relay settings are adequate to accommodate the increased load on the 13.8 kV system.

Confirm the calculated worst case maximum load demands at 13.8 kV buses, before and after the EPU conditions.

12.

In Section 6.1.1 of Attachment 6 of LAR, it is stated that the current emergency diesel generator (EDG) fuel oil storage volume, as required by the plant technical specification, is based on the continuous full load diesel rating, and not the design-basis accident (DBA) loads.

Confirm any increase in DBA electrical loads due to CPPU which may have any impact on the EDG rating.

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

Robert A. Saccone Vice President - Nuclear Operations PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Terry L. Harpster General Manager - Plant Support PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Rocco R. Sgarro Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor -

Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Michael H. Crowthers Supervising Engineer Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Steven M. Cook Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Luis A. Ramos Community Relations Manager, Susquehanna PPL Susquehanna, LLC 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Bryan A. Snapp, Esq Assoc. General Counsel PPL Services Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor - Document Control Services PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Richard W. Osborne Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

212 Locust Street P.O. Box 1266 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Regional Administrator, Region 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Board of Supervisors Salem Township P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803