ML071150371

Technical Specifications (TS) Changes TS-431 and TS-418 - Extended Power Uprate (EPU) - Steam Dryer Evaluations

ML071150371
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	04/24/2007
From:	Crouch W Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	Document Control Desk, NRC/NRR/ADRO
References
TVA-BFN-TS-418, TVA-BFN-TS-431
Download: ML071150371 (4)

Text

April 24, 2007 TVA-BFN-TS-431 TVA-BFN-TS-418 10 CFR 50.90 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Mail Stop OWFN, P1-35 Washington, D. C. 20555-0001 Gentlemen:

In the Matter of ) Docket Nos. 50-259 Tennessee Valley Authority ) 50-260

) 50-296 BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT (BFN) - UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 -

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (TS) CHANGES TS-431 AND TS-418 -

EXTENDED POWER UPRATE (EPU) - STEAM DRYER EVALUATIONS By letters dated June 28, 2004 and June 25, 2004 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML041840109 and ML041840301, respectively),

TVA submitted license amendment applications to the NRC for the EPU of BFN Unit 1 and BFN Units 2 and 3, respectively.

The proposed amendments would change the operating licenses to increase the maximum authorized core thermal power level of each reactor to 3952 megawatts.

On January 31 and February 16, 2007 (ADAMS Nos. ML070310569 and ML070650210, respectively), TVA provided plans and schedular information regarding submittal of revised steam dryer analyses. Subsequently, TVA revised its approach to providing assurance of steam dryer integrity during EPU operation. In this regard, changes and refinements in

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 April 24, 2007 engineering analyses have been and continue to be made to better define steam dryer loads and reduce uncertainties in the analyses of the Browns Ferry steam dryers. TVA is confident that these analytical improvements will result in a better understanding of steam dryer performance under EPU conditions.

During a telephone conference call held on April 6, 2007, the NRC staff requested that TVA provide the schedule for completing the steam dryer analyses. TVA's steam dryer structural analyses will be performed by Continuum Dynamics, Inc. (CDI) and will be based on a proprietary load definition methodology also developed by CDI. The completed analyses will be reviewed by TVA and an independent contractor prior to submittal to the NRC. Because of modifications to the BFN Unit 1 steam dryer, two separate analyses will be provided for the three BFN units. The following is TVA's submittal schedule:

• Steam Dryer Finite Element Model and Stress Report (June 29, 2007)

• Steam Dryer Load Limit Curves (August 7, 2007)

Through regular communications, TVA will keep the NRC staff apprised of progress and any changes that may impact the above activities.

No new regulatory commitments are made in this submittal.

If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at (256)729-2636.

Sincerely, Original signed by:

William D. Crouch Manager of Licensing and Industry Affairs

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 April 24, 2007 cc: State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3415 Mr. Malcolm T. Widmann, Branch Chief U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8931 NRC Senior Resident Inspector Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, Alabama 35611-6970 NRC Unit 1 Restart Senior Resident Inspector Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, Alabama 35611-6970 Ms. Eva A. Brown, Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (MS 08G9)

One White Flint, North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2739 Margaret Chernoff, Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (MS 08G9)

One White Flint, North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2739

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 April 24, 2007 DTL:LTG:BAB cc: M. Bajestani, NAB 1A-BFN A. S. Bhatnagar, LP 6A-C D. C. Matherly, Jr.

R. H. Bryan, Jr., LP 4J-C J. C. Fornicola, LP 6A-C R. G. Jones, POB 2C-BFN G. V. Little, NAB 1D-BFN R. F. Marks, Jr., PAB 1C-BFN B. A. Wetzel, BR 4X-C B. J. OGrady, PAB 1E-BFN P. D. Swafford, LP 6A-C E. J. Vigluicci, ET 11A-K NSRB Support, LP 5M-C EDMS WT CA-K, s:lic/submit/EPU/TS 418 and 431 - steam dryer evaluations.doc