ML11327A065

Request for Additional Information

ML11327A065
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	12/01/2011
From:	Jaffe D Plant Licensing Branch II
To:	Ajluni M Southern Nuclear Operating Co
jaffe, D H, 415-1439
References
TAC ME7094, TAC ME7095
Download: ML11327A065 (4)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 1, 2011 Mr. M. J. Ajluni Nuclear Licensing Director Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295, Bin - 038 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295

SUBJECT:

JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (FNP) - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (TAC NOS. ME7094 AND ME7095)

Dear Mr. Ajluni:

By letter dated September 9, 2011 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML112521438), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., submitted a license amendment request regarding FNP to add Surveillance Requirement 3.3.1.14 to Technical Specification Table 3.3.1-1, "Reactor Trip System Instrumentation," Function 3, "Power Range Neutron Flux High Positive Rate."

The U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the September 9, 2011, submittal and concluded that additional information is required in order for us to complete our review. The request for additional information (RAI) is contained in the enclosure. Please provide your response to the RAI within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter.

-:;n \\

Sincerely,

/~,

~\~....*....

DakitLlaffe, \Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348 and 50-364

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION TABLE 3.3.1-1 SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT. UNITS 1 AND 2 (FNP)

TAC NOS. ME7094 AND ME7095 DOCKET NOS. 50-348 AND 50-364

1. License Amendment Request (LAR) dated September 9, 2011 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML112521438), Section 3 of Enclosure 2 states that the response time testing acceptance criteria are included in the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), Chapter 16. However, Chapter 16 of the FNP FSAR describes the Technical Specifications (TSs) for seismic instrumentation, meteorological instrumentation, containment hydrogen monitors, and the Technical Requirements Manual. Note that FSAR Table 7.2-5, "Reactor Trip System Instrumentation Response Times," lists the response time for this function as "N/A" [not applicable]. To support the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's review, please identify:

a. Where the response time criteria is included in the FSAR.

b. The current FNP response time for the power range neutron flux high positive rate trip (PFRT).

2. The LAR states that FNP had reviewed pre-operational test data and confirmed the response time of the nuclear instrumentation system (NIS) and solid state protection system (SSPS) for the PFRT. This response time has to be evaluated against the allocated time for processing the PFRT trip signal from the NIS to the SSPS. To support the NRC staff's review, please identify this allocated time, and provide a copy of any reference material documenting the basis for this allocation.

3. LAR Section 3 of Enclosure 2 states that the reactor coolant system (RCS) overpressure specific analyses performed for FNP, which addressed the potential for control rod bank withdrawal during power operation (RWAP), takes credit for a PFRT function at or below 9%

of rated thermal power (RTP) with a lag time constant of 2 seconds and a trip delay of 0.65 seconds. This demonstrated that the RCS overpressure limit listed in the TSs is not exceeded. Previous RWAP RCS overpressure analyses have assumed an initial power level of 10 % RTP, minus calorimetric uncertainty. To support the NRC staff's review, please provide the following information:

a. As stated above, the analysis performed for FNP takes credit for a Safety Analysis Limit (SAL) at or below 9% of RTP for the PFRT. Please explain how the SAL relates to the Allowable Value (A V) and Nominal Trip Setpoint (NTS).

Also, please provide the basis for establishing the AV of 5.4% RTP and the NTS of 5% RTP.

Enclosure

- 2

b. Explain if sufficient margin exists to the NTS when considering uncertainties to ensure that the 9% of RTP SAL would be protected by the current NTS and AV.

4. Surveillance Requirement 3.3.1.14 requires verifying that the reactor trip system response times are within limits every 18 months on a staggered test basis. Explain how the proposed 18-month surveillance frequency provides sufficient safety margins for the system channel response time.

December 1, 2011 Mr. M. J. Ajluni Nuclear Licensing Director Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

40 Inverness Center Parkway Post Office Box 1295, Bin - 038 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295

SUBJECT:

JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (FNP) - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (TAC NOS. ME7094 AND ME7095 )

Dear Mr. Ajluni:

By letter dated September 9, 2011 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML112521438), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., submitted a license amendment request regarding FNP to add Surveillance Requirement 3.3.1.14 to Technical Specification Table 3.3.1-1, "Reactor Trip System Instrumentation," Function 3, "Power Range Neutron Flux High Positive Rate."

The U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the September 9, 2011, submittal and concluded that additional information is required in order for us to complete our review. The request for additional information (RAI) is contained in the enclosure. Please provide your response to the RAI within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter.

Sincerely, lRAJ David H. Jaffe, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348 and 50-364

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION PUBLIC LPL2-1R1F RidsNrrDorlLpl2-1 Resource RidsAcrsAcnw_MailCTR Resource RidsNrrDorlDpr Resource RidsRgn2MailCenter Resource RidsNrrLAMOBrien Resource RidsOgcRp Resource MSingletary RidsNrrDssStsb Resource RidsNrrPMFarley Resource RidsNrrDeEicb Resource RAlvarado, NRR ADAM S Accession N0.: ML11327A065 *SE transml'ttedb>y Memorand umdated November 22 , 2011 OFFICE DORULPL2-1/PM DORULPL2-1/LA NRRlDElEICB/BC DORULPL2-1/BC DORULPL2-1/PM GWilson*

NAME DHJaffe MO'Brien GKulesa DHJaffe I(DRahn for)

DATE 12/1/11 11128/11 11/22111 ~/30/11 12/1/11 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY