ML16224A794

Full-Height, Full Pressure Integral System Testing for the Westinghouse AP600 Passive Plant Design

ML16224A794
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/06/1992
From:	Ward D Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:	Selin I NRC/Chairman
References
Download: ML16224A794 (2)

Text

D920406 The Honorable Ivan Selin Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

SUBJECT:

FULL-HEIGHT, FULL-PRESSURE INTEGRAL SYSTEM TESTING FOR THE WESTINGHOUSE AP600 PASSIVE PLANT DESIGN During the 384th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, April 2-4, 1992, we met with representatives of the NRC staff to discuss the need for conducting full-height, full-pressure integral system testing at the Japanese ROSA-IV facility, in support of certification for the Westinghouse AP600 passive plant design. We also had the benefit of the referenced documents.

We do not agree with the need for an immediate decision on whether or not testing should be carried out at the ROSA-IV facility. We are not even sure testing at ROSA-IV is necessary.

Since our March 10, 1992 report to you on the need for testing of the AP600 passive safety features, Westinghouse has volunteered to do full-height, full-pressure testing at the SPES facility, located in Italy. This testing, combined with the Westinghouse commitment to perform low-pressure integral system testing at a facility at Oregon State University, covers the pressure range needed. We have not seen the details of the Westinghouse plans or the necessary scaling analysis for either facility and reserve judgment as to the completeness of the effort. We do believe, however, that the sense of urgency caused by the certification schedule has been addressed.

The staff plans to conduct further tests, as yet undefined, at the Oregon State University facility when Westinghouse is finished with its program. We see no reason why a similar approach could not be taken to satisfy the staff's residual concerns about the behavior of the AP600 passive systems at full-pressure conditions. The Westinghouse plans for the SPES facility appear to call for testing early enough for the staff to do confirmatory testing at this facility before the certification date.

We do not have enough information to make a recommendation at this time. Both the staff and Westinghouse indicate that they will be prepared to defend their views during May 1992. If this is the case, we will be prepared to make a definitive recommendation after meeting with them.

Sincerely,

David A. Ward Chairman

References:

1. Memorandum dated April 1, 1992, from E. Beckjord, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, NRC, for R. F. Fraley, ACRS,

Subject:

Information on AP600 Testing (Predecisional)

2. Letter dated April 1, 1992, from J. M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, NRC, to D. A. Ward, ACRS,

Subject:

Requirements for Full-Height, Full-Pressure Integral System Testing of the Westinghouse AP600 Passive Plant Design (Contains Proprietary Information)

3. Memorandum dated March 27, 1992 from J. M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, NRC, for the Commission,

Subject:

Staff Requirements - SECY-92-037 - Need for NRC-Sponsored confirmatory Integral System Testing of the Westinghouse AP600 Design (Predecisional)

4. Letter dated March 10, 1992 from David A. Ward, Chairman, ACRS, to Ivan Selin, Chairman, NRC,

Subject:

Requirements for Full-Height, Full-Pressure Integral System Testing of the Westinghouse AP600 Passive Plant Design