ML18065A085
| ML18065A085 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 09/18/1995 |
| From: | Smedley R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9509210278 | |
| Download: ML18065A085 (2) | |
Text
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/llllCHlliAN"S PROliRESS Palisades Nuclear Plant: 27780. Blue Star Memorial Highway, Covert, Ml 49043 September 18, 1995 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 DOCKET 50-255 - LICENSE DPR PALISADES PLANT INSERVICE TESTING OF SAFETY RELATED PUMPS - REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM PUMP VIBRATION ALERT LEVELS The Containment Spray and Low Pressure Safety Injection Pumps are tested quarterly in accordance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI.
During this testing, pump vibration readings are taken. Specific pump vibration limits are given in the Code-endorsed Operations and Maintenance Manual, Part 6, Inservice Testing of Pumps In Light Water Power Reactor Power Plants (OM-6).
OM-6 specifies alert and action levels for pump vibration measurements, along with actions that need to be taken if these levels are exceeded.
At Palisades, the system design ~onfigurations for both the Low Pressure Safety Injection and Containment Spray systems do not allow full.flow testing of the system pumps during _plant operation.
The pumps are tested quarterly, howeijer, using a recirculation flow path of limited capacity.
As a result, this low flow quarterly testing gives high, but consistent vibration readings.
Many of these vibration readings exceed the OM-6 Alert vibration levels and we predict that this will usually be the case as long as the pump testing is performed using the restricted flow path.
If the alert limit for pump vibration is exceeded during the quarterly test, OM-6 requires the pump testing frequency to be doubled from once every quarter to once every six weeks.
Our reviews of the pump vibration testing history have shown that the higher vibration levels measured during the quarterly testing r.esult from testing the pumps using restricted flow paths, and are not an indication of pump degradation. Approval of increased* Alert levels will avoid excessive testing of these pumps.
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In accordance with 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(ii), Attachment 1 contains a request for relief from the ASME B&PV Code Section XI requirements as they apply to the pump vibration alert levels during the quarterly testing of the containment spray and low pressure safety injection pumps.
An alternate method for determining Alert levels is proposed in the relief request.
The resulting values of the new Alert limits are listerl in Attachment 2.
I The situation requiring relief was discussed with the NRC during a conference call on September 6, 1995.
In that call, we agre~d to submit this relief request separate from other program submittals, and to include historical information on pump vibration test results. This information is provided in Attachments 3 throµgh 9.
We will be happy to discuss this request either in person or by telephone at your convenience.
Please feel free to contact Robert Vincent directly with your questions at (616) 764-8913, extension 0559~
SUMMARY
OF COMMITMENTS This letter contains no n~w commitments and no revisions to existing commitments.
Richard W. Smedley Manager, Licensing CC Administrator, Region Ill, USNRC Project Manager, NRR, USNRC NRC Resident Inspector - Palisades Attachments 2