ML17252A959
| ML17252A959 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden  |
| Issue date: | 07/17/1973 |
| From: | Worden W Commonwealth Edison Co |
| To: | Anthony Giambusso US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) |
| References | |
| WPW Ltr. #522-73 | |
| Download: ML17252A959 (3) | |
Text
1i°eguf afo..Y.. " *.. ft[e Cy-;
Commoriw~.Edison*
One First Nati~;aza, Chicago
. Address Reply to: Post 0
- e.- o Chicago, Illinois 60690. "'
WPW Ltr *. #522-73 Mr. A. Giambusso C7.
DOCKETED USAEC Deputy Director for Reactor Projects
. Director of Licensing
- u.s. Atomic Energy Commission
- Washington; *"D*;c. ***12054*5 Morris, IL 60450 July 17, 1973 50-237 50-249
SUBJECT:
LICENSE DPR-19-25 I DRESDEN NUCLEAR POWER STATION I UNIT 112 AND 3 I SECTION 6.6.B.3 OF THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS High Activity in* Above Ground Floor Drain Sample Tank B
References:
- 1.
Notification of Region III of.AEC Regulatory Operations Telephone:
.H. Dance 1600 hr_s-:7 /9/73 Telegram:
B. Grier 1620 hrs. 7/9/73
- *'*****2:
- Dwgs:
- P & ID M-44
Dear 'Mr. 'G'iambusso:
This letter is to report a condition relating to the operation of Unit 2/3 Radwaste at about 0650 hours0.00752 days <br />0.181 hours <br />0.00107 weeks <br />2.47325e-4 months <br /> on July 9, 1973.
At.this time an above ground tank ("B" Floor Drain Sample Tank) was found to contain 1.04 curies.
This radioactivity level is contrary to section 3.8.D of.
the Unit 2/3 Technical Specifications which require that the radioactivity in any above ground tan~ not exceed 0.7 curies.
The review of this problem subsequent to the initial reports (reference 1) established that the contents of this tank were reprocessed within 5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br />.
The Technical :Specifications (section 3.8.D) allow 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> in which to accomplish this reprocessing.
Therefore, a limiting condition for operation was not exceeded and consequently this problem is not reportable.
However, in order to complete the reporting sequence already begun by our telephone call (reference 1), this letter is being.
submitted.
Similar incidents were reported to you on March 29 and April 13, 1973.
Thes.e incidents were likewise not reportable.
PROBLEM At 0650 hours0.00752 days <br />0.181 hours <br />0.00107 weeks <br />2.47325e-4 months <br /> on July 9, 1973, the processing of water to "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank from the Floor Drain Collector was completed and the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank was placed on recirculation for sampling.
/
~
- ~.
Mr. A. Giambusso *
-2~
July 17, 1973 Th'e.sample results received at 0945 hours0.0109 days <br />0.263 hours <br />0.00156 weeks <br />3.595725e-4 months <br /> indicated a beta-gamma radio-*
activity in the tank cif l.3xl07pCi/1.
This concentration combined with a tank level of 96% f.uli resulted in a total radioactivity content of*
1.04 curies in the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank.
In order to reduce.the radioactivity.of the water in the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank, the water was reprocessed as follows.
At 1005 hours0.0116 days <br />0.279 hours <br />0.00166 weeks <br />3.824025e-4 months <br /> on July 9, 1973 the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank water was trans-ferred to the "B" Neutralizer Tank (underground) for temporary storage while the Floor Drain Filter was backwashed and precoated *. Then the water in the "B" Neutralizer Tank was refiltered through the Floor Drain Filter back to the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank.
At 1452 hours0.0168 days <br />0.403 hours <br />0.0024 weeks <br />5.52486e-4 months <br />, when filtering wa~..,c_.()Jl!plet.. e.d..... tJ1.e.'~B" flpqr_.. Dr.a,~ri,S~J:llP.l.. e.. 'l'qnk.was_.,plac.ed... on re~ir,!=ulation for sampling..
The sample results indicated a beta-garmna radioactivity of 4.8xl06pCi/l, with a tank volume of 73%.
This resulted in a radio-activity content of.29 curies.in the tank.
This result is within Tech-nical Specifications limits.
INVESTIGATION The analysis of the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank water (0650) showed a turbidity of 340 APHA units.
The average value after similar filter runs in June was 166 APHA units.
The filter run.which filled the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank.*
at 0650 hours0.00752 days <br />0.181 hours <br />0.00107 weeks <br />2.47325e-4 months <br /> was obviously an inefficient run.
The performance of this
.. D.eLaval.-fil.ter.has been,ma.r.ginal..
.An inv.es.t.igation of,the fU.. t-er.per£or-mance has been underway for some months and is continuing.
However, at this time, no clear. reason for this marginal performance is evident *
. A review of procedures applicable to the Floor Drain Filter operations was made.
Adequate procedures for the operation of the filters do exisL In addition, a procedure designed to minimize the possibility of processing high activity water to above ground tanks is in effect.
It appears that this procedure was not followed correctly in that the Floor Drain Collector.was not sampled and analyzed prior to being processed.
Had this sample been taken, a different plan for processing this water probably would have been employed.
The omission of the Floor Drain Collector analysis was the result of the operators not having a clear understanding of the steps in this procedure.
The operators did follow the procedures correctly as they understood them.
There was no operating error made to their knowledge at the time.
CORRECTIVE ACTION In addition to the immediate corrective action of reprocessing the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank water through a. freshly backwashed and precoated filter, the operating procedure which requires the beta-gamma radioactivity analysis of the Flo~r Drain Collector water prior to processing will be reviewed with the appropriate operating personnel.
The investigation of the. filter performance is continuing.
A filter manufacturer representative was called in recently for consultation.
.. *-*** -. **-*-*" -- -'"***--='-- *-*-** --- ----* -- --*-*.. *-. ___ _,_........
- -**--*-*.u
. Mr.
- July 17, 1973
- ~. EVM.UATION The presence of 1.04 curies in the "B" Floor Drain Sample Tank did not produce a hazard to the public since the water was not released to the river and the tank beta-gam:na radioactivity was reduced to less than Technical Spec_ifications Requirements within 5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> from the time the "B" Floor* Drain Sample Tank was filled (0650 hrs.). If a failure (as described in Amendment /19, section V.C. l of the S.A.R.) had occurred, and the radioactive water inthe tank had been released to the aquatic environment, the limits as specified in 10CFR20.106 would not have been exceeded when averaged over one year.
"'The<innneti':ii'at'ec'orre:!t'ive acfforts were 'appropriate an:d corrected the problem fn a timely manner.
These actions will also reduce the probability of future problems similar to this. __ There_ are no safety implications to the continued operation of Radwaste and the units.
- WPW:slb
- *c*c :
-Fi:l:e'/'AEC *corr~ *'Cat* 'I Sincerely, d-/Vl-J, J.lM ~
- ...., w. P. Worden
-1"" - Superintendent;