ML13129A039

Email from J. Poehler to J. Medoff, Et Al, FW: Background - Kewaunee RAI-MRP-227-A

ML13129A039
Person / Time
Site:	Kewaunee
Issue date:	06/25/2012
From:	Jeffrey Poehler Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Allen Hiser, James Medoff Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
FOIA/PA-2013-0030
Download: ML13129A039 (3)

Text

Poehler, Jeffrey From: Poehler, Jeffrey (L Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 9:09 AM To: Medoff, James; Hiser, Allen

Subject:

FW: Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A Attachments: DOC_20120625085018. PDF FYI Jeffrey C. Poehler Sr. Materials Engineer NRR/DE/EVIB (301) 415-8353 From: Butcavage, Alexander iL A Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 8:53 AM To: Poehler, Jeffrey Cc: Vias, Steven

Subject:

RE: Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A Best I can give.on short notice Jeff...

From: Poehler, Jeffrey Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 8:32 AM To: Butcavage, Alexander

Subject:

RE: Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A Thanks Al, this is helpful. Do you have any pictures or figures of split pins?

Jeffrey C. Poehler Sr. Materials Engineer NRR/DE/EVIB (301) 415-8353 From: Butcavage, Alexander Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 8:18 AM To: Poehler, Jeffrey; Cheruvenki, Ganesh; Hiser, Allen; Purtscher, Patrick; Medoff, James; Rogers, Billy; Widrevitz, Dan Cc: Vias, Steven

Subject:

RE: Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A Recall that in some cases the vendor recommended changing them back when Ginna did the first change out ...... (mid-late1980's?) During that round of change outs, some of them at other units were found broken when replaced or...

broke when they were removed .....

There were also 1 or 2 cases where they activated the loose parts monitor in the SG's..and the pieces were traced back to the Split pins ..... Ginna has some cases documented in the arguments to change the bolts. (Internal cost benefit/consequence type analysis)

Also...the organization overseas that I mentioned previously has a sample plant inspection program ...... when I left Ginna, we were using some of their results in our examples of why Ginna should change ...... they had less hours then Ginna .... but ...could fit the probe up inside the bottom of the opening in the upper core plate, and do UT.

Recall,that the UT probe has to fit into the compressed slot of the split pin after it is in the hole....not all pins can accommodate the probe insertion.....depends on spread after pin installed. (Re-inspection interval had not basis either)

The sample plant in Europe, had "something" (what they called Shadows) show up in there inspection results....that at that time, still were still trying to decipher...as the shadow was in an area where the probe was not qualified to look ...... but they knew "something" was there....

Last I heard after interaction with us at Ginna, they had requested a bid to estimate replacement?????

NOT sure where it ended up???

Thus my comment if someone has a contact over there, I would get an update form them on the latest experience. They had many plants with that type pin.

Hope this helps Jeff ...... Al From: Poehler, Jeffrey Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 4:52 PM To: Butcavage, Alexander; Cheruvenki, Ganesh; Hiser, Allen; Purtscher, Patrick; Medoff, James; Rogers, Billy; Widrevitz, Dan Cc: Vias, Steven

Subject:

RE: Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A So if they are so difficult to inspect, how was the cracking initially found?

Jeff From: Butcavage, Alexander Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 8:28 PM To: Cheruvenki, Ganesh; Hiser, Allen; Poehler, Jeffrey; Purtscher, Patrick; Medoff, James; Rogers, Billy; Widrevitz, Dan Cc: Vias, Steven

Subject:

RE: Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A Ginna did replace split pins in 2011...as I heard .... it went pretty well...They were suppose to give a few to DOE and EPRI to play with for 60-80 year life... not sure if that happened....

Do we know basis for the pins being considered core support structure?????

Are they specifically listed in the ASME tables??? (NO Access this week in training offsite)

As I recall, the functions of the pin is to provide lateral support to the lower end of the CRGT. For RGE design, (others may be different) .... as I recall there is an indentation in the top surface of the upper core plate that would keep the lower end of the CRGT in place if the split pin sheared off.

My reason for wanting to change pins at Ginna was the fact that a loose part (nut or piece there-of) ...had the POTENTIAL to go to SG and not sure where from there.. .depends on size ..... of piece that breaks off.... plus they were 20 years old .... which at that time plants at Edf were seeing "something" on pins with less time.

NOT SURE IF THE W calcs takes any credit for the CRGT's column taking Upload from core on the CRGT column .... or....

does all upload go through the other rigid supports columns (no CR's) that support the top hat???

Now to the inspection part .... you can only see the lower edge of the pin with VT and make sure pin is there .... through the bottom of the hole in the upper core plate when the upper internals are lifted form the vessel to the stand or stand to vessel .... with sub-marine camera.

2

Areva claims they can inspect with UT using a blade probe from below .... by inserting the probe up into the slot of the split pin ...... but depends on size of the slot .... I never bought that argument as there was conflicting views on ifyou can inspect the entire area of interest ...... Also.. .when do you have to re-inspect .... ????

Ask Edf ifyou have any connections there ....they were going to look into this more when I left Ginna last year .... so they probably know the latest. i have a contact name at home someplace....

I know Ginna did check to see ifthey could see pins as the upper internals were moved ..... ask them to see pics .... as I recall we had a few that were made form the sub video.. .just to show you could see them. Don't see why they would not continue to perfrom that check ..... I think they changed to risk informed ISI...but don't think that impacts what they do going forward on internals .....

Note you can also see split pins towards outer row from above upper core plate .... nuts and top end of pin .... but limited to outer rows area...

Hope this helps...AL From: Cheruvenki, Ganesh Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2012 7:16 AM To: Hiser, Allen; Poehler, Jeffrey; Purtscher, Patrick; Medoff, James; Rogers, Billy; Widrevitz, Dan Cc: Butcavage, Alexander

Subject:

Background--Kewuanee RAI-MRP-227-A All-Please discard the previous e-mail on this item, instead read the attached file particularly, the item in bold fonts. I think Jim may be right on this issue. I will set up a meeting to discuss this item next week. We need to make a decision whether split pins come under the ASME Code,Section XI program. The following plants will be affected.

Indian Point, North Anna, Robinson, Ginna, Palisades, Point Beach, Turkey Point, and Surry 3