ML18057A552
| ML18057A552 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 11/02/1990 |
| From: | Slade G CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18057A553 | List: |
| References | |
| RTR-REGGD-01.097, RTR-REGGD-1.097 NUDOCS 9011070260 | |
| Download: ML18057A552 (7) | |
Text
- II I.
consumers Power.
POW ERIN&
NllCHl&AN'S PRO&RESS
. Palisades Nuclear Plant:
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway, Covert, Ml 49043 November 2, 1990 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 DOCKET 50-255 - LICENSE DPR PALISADES PLANT -
G-B Slade General Manager NEUTRON MONITORING UPGRADE ~ TECHNICAL SPECIFICATtONS tHANGE R~QUEST This proposed change to the Technical Specifications is necessary to allow use of the Regulatory Guide 1.97 qualified neutron monitoring system which is being
. installed during the current 1990 refueling outage. Additionally, a change has been made to the Design Features section to ~ore accurately describe the fixed absorber rods. contains proposed changed pages. contains existing Technical Specifications pages marked to illustrate this proposed change.
Consumers Power Company requests approval of this change before startup. The change should be made effective on the date the approval is iss~ed.
/~~
Ger~ld.B.Slade _
General Manager CC Administrator, Region III, USNRC NRC Resident Inspector, Palisades I
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LICENSING CORRESPONDENCE - RECORD
SUMMARY
. November 2, 1990 DOCKET 50-255 LICENSE DPR PALISADES PLANT NEUTRON MONITORING UPGRADE - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS CHANGE REQUEST
SUMMARY
Proposed Tech Spec changes to permit use of new combined source/wide range channels which are qualified under RG 1.97 and are being installed during the 1990 REFOUT.
Additionally, changes in the description of the mechanicalJy fixed absorber rods.
COMMITMENTS MADE: (Identify Close-out Document)
RESIDENT COMMITMENT ¥-5-/No None COMMITMENTS CLOSED:
None Previous NRC/CP Co Correspondence NRC letters dated CPC letters dated AIR No UFJ No 950-02520-50019 950-02100-70500 Individuals Providing Information:
DJRadzwion, P23-434 SFP~erce, Pal Resident Commitment Information Air No. -
Resident Document -
Responsible individual -
Due Date -
Individuals Assigned Responsibility for Implementing Commitment:
RSWesterhof, Pal N/A Concurrences:
.GBSl ade, Pal JLKuemi n, Pal RMRice, Pal Budget - N/A DJVandeWalle, Pal PFBruce, Pal OPJolly, Pal NSSD - WJBeckius, P24-418 PRC - 11/01/90 PS&L Log No. 90-1699 R/1 Special Distribution RRFri sch, Pal Originator:
RWSmedley, Pal (2174)
Individual Responsible for Obtaining Budge~ Approval; N/A FSAR/FHSR Change (Identify):
¥e-s-/No Category #N/A Individual Responsible for Initiating Change Request:
RAVincent, Pal
- ll CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY Docket 50-255 Request for Change to the Technical Specifications License DPR-20 1
For the reasons hereinafter set forth, it is requested that the Technical Specifications contained in the Provisional Operating License DPR-20, Docket 50-255, issued to Consumers Power Company on October 16, 1972, for the Palisades Plant be changed as described in Section I below:
I. Changes A.
In the third paragraph from the end of the Basis for Section 3.17, delete reference to the "start-up" range and replace it with "source" range-.
De 1 ete reference to the "log" range and replace it with reference to the "wide" range. (See marked~ up pages.)
B.
In Table 3.17.1, change Item No. 3 from "Log Range" to "Wide-Range".
C.
In Table 3.17.4, Item 7, change "Start-up" to "Sourc~ Range" and in footnote (d) to Table 3.17.4, change "log range" to "wide range".
D.
In Table 3."25.1, Item No. 7, change *"Start-up" to "Soun::e" and
"(N-OOlA)" to "(N-l/3C)";
E.
In Table 3.25.1, Item 14, add "Neutron Monitor System Power" under the Function Column.
F.
In Table 4.1.1, Item 2, under the Channel Description
_C9lumn,.delete the word "Logarithmic". *In the Surveillance Function Column, add "C. Calibrate".
In the Frequency
- Column, add "R" on the "C. Calibrate" line.
In the Surveillance Method Column on the "a" line, delete "both wide-range readings" and insert "Channel indications*. *Also in the Surveillance Method column, add "C. Channel alignment through measurement/adjustment of internal test points".
G.
In Table 4.1.3, Item No. 1 in the Channel Description Column*
change "Start-up" to "Source"; in the Surveillance Function Column add "c. Calibrate"; in the Frequency Column, add "R" on the "c. Calibrate" line; and, in the Surveillance Method Column, add "C.
Channel alignment through measurement
/adjustment of internal test points."
.e H.
In Table 4.21.-1, item No. 7, under the Channel Description column, change "Start-up" to "Source" and "(Nl-OOlA)" to
"(Nl-l/3C)".
In the surveillance Method Column, after "a.
Internal Test Signal" add, "(Performed under Table 4.1.3, Iteml.b)".
I.
In Section
- 5. 3. 2d, change the description of the mechanically fixed rods from "... mechanically fixed boron rods... " to "... mechanically fixed absorber rods... ".
II. Discussion For clarity and consistency with the newly installed equipment, changes A, B, and C change the name of the most sensitive neutron monitoring range from "Start-up Range" to "Source-Range".; and change the name of the "Logarithmic Range" to "Wide-Range".
Change D reflects the new instrument numbers.of the fission chambers and the use of the term "source range" for the previously used "start-up range".
Change E adds to the function of the transfer switch on the Alternate Shutdown Panel.
Change F applies the new range description and adds new surveillance functions, frequencies and methods.
Change G reflects the use of the term "Source Range" and adds a new surveillance function, frequency and method.
C~ange H uses the new term "Source Range", provides a new identifier for the fission chamber and adds a reminder that this surveillance was performed under Table 4.1.3.
Change I is necessary to generically describe the mechanically fixed absorber rods. Fixed boron rods are no longer in use at Palisades.
The B4C - Al 203 rods were gr_adually phased out -to be replaced by -
- Gadolinia r6ds (Gd203). This conversion began with Reload H with 4 Gadolinia and 16 B4C bearing assemblies.
Batch I had 12 Gadolinia and 8 B4C bearing assemblies. When Reload J completed the conversion with 20 assemblies having Gadolinia as burnable poison.
With recent fuel cycles converting to reduced leakage designs, additional neutron absorbent rods are being utilized.
Stainless Steel rods w~re used in Cycle 8, and Hafnium rods will be used in Cycle 9.
Because a variety of materials may be used, the general term "fixed absorber rods" is thought most appropriate to accommodate different core reload* designs.
2
The changes in the neutron monitoring system involve usfog existing
- fission chambers (previously referred to as Nl-1, NI-2, Nl-3, and Nl-4; and now combined into two sets of two and referred to as Nl-1/3 and Nl-2/4), installing new cables from the fission chambers through two new electric penetrations to preamplifiers previously located inside but now located outside containment, and installihg
- new cables from the preamplifiers to power sources in the Control Room.
The new system is qualified to the criteria of RG 1.97, whereas the previously existing system was not.
The degree.of redundancy for the source range and wide range power monitoring systems remains the same; ie, 2 power sources, 2 preamplifiers, 4 indicators, and four fission chambers.
Analysis of No Significant Hazards Consideration 3
Consumers Power Company finds that activities associated with this change request involve no significant hazards; and accordingly, a no significant hazards determinat.ion pe.r 10CFRS0.92(c) is justified.. The following evaluation supports-the conclusion*that the proposed thange would noti
- 1.
Invo 1 ve a s i qn i fi cant' increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously_ evaluated.
- These changes enhance the re 1 i ability of the accuracy of the neutron monitoring function under accident conditions and permit use of material other than boron as a neutron absorber in the fixed absorber rods.
The Source Range and Wide Range neutron monitoring instrument systems perform the same function as existing systems, thus they do not increase the*. probability of an accident previously
~valuated.
The new RG 1.97 qualified instrument systems will monitor reactor power more reliably under ace i dent conditions and will provide the operator with more reliable information which may allow actions to be taken that could
.reduce the consequence~ of an accident.previously evaluated. -
The use of material other than boron in the fixed absorber rods will not effect the probability or the consequences of an accident previously evaluated since the fuel reload design, using Boron or oth~r.absorbers in the fixed absorber rods, must meet the same fuel design criteria. Thus, these changes do not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously e.valuated.
- 2.
Create the _possib-ility -of a new -or. different kind of
~ccident from any accident previously evaluated.
This Technical Specifications change only reflects the use*
of upgraded neutron monitoring equipment and fixed absorber rods which wi 11 perform the same function as existing equipment.
Therefore, this change wil 1 not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident.
- 3.
Involve a significant reduction in the margin of safety.
The upgraded neutron monitoring equipment identified in this proposed change performs the s.ame function as existing equipment and will be more reliable under accident conditions.
The degree of redundancy of the new equipment remains the same.
The mechanically fixed absorber rods using material other than boron meet fuel reload design criteria.
Absorber materials other than boron perform the same function as boron within the re 1 oad design criteria and thus, the use of absorber materials other than boron does not effect the margin of safety.
Therefore, the margin of safety is not reduced by the new more stringently qualified neutron monitoring system or by using different neutron absorbing material in the fixed absorber rods.
Since these changes only reflect use of *material or equipment which will perform the same functions a~ existing equipment, they do not involve a significant reduction in the margin of safety.
4
5 III.
ConcJ~sion The Palisades Plant Review Committee has reviewed this Technical Specification Change Request and has determined that this change does not involve an unreviewed safety question.
Further, this change involves no significant hazards consideration.
This change has been reviewed by the Nuclear Safety Services Department. A copy of this Technical Specification Change Request has been sent to the State of Michigan official designated to receive such Amendments to the Operating License.
CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY To the best of my kn owl edge, information and be 1 i ef, the contents of this Technical Specification Change Request are truthful and complete.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 2nd day of* November 1990.
. ~£~
Elaine E Buehrer, Notary Public Jackson County, Michigan.
My commission expires October 11, 1993