ML18094B297

LER 90-003-00:on 900122,plant Vent Radioactive Noble Gas Monitor 1R41C Spiked High,Causing Containment Purge/Pressure Vaccum Relief Sys Isolation Signal.Caused by Problems W/ Victoreen Detector.Channel Relay repaired.W/900215 Ltr

ML18094B297
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	02/15/1990
From:	Miller L, Pollack M Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
LER-90-003-01, LER-90-3-1, NUDOCS 9002220043
Download: ML18094B297 (5)

Text

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• Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038 Salem Generating Station February 15, 1990 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk

. Washington, DC 20555

Dear Sir:

SALEM GENERATING STATION LICENSE NO. DPR-70 DOCKET NO. 50-272 UNIT NO. 1 LICENSEE EVENT REPORT 90-003-00 This Licensee Event Report is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations 10CFR 50.73(a) (2) (iv). This report is required within thirty (30) days of discovery.

• Sincerely yours, L. K. Miller General Manager -

Salem Operations MJP:pc I

Distribution II

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M. J. Pollack - LER Coordinator 61019 313 I 91-14 ~ 1212 COM'LETE ONI! LINI FOR EACH COMPONENT FAILUllE OHClllHD IN THIS lllPOllT 1131 CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT MANUFAC. MANUFAC.

TUR ER TUREii B I IL l!l IC I'.:' I V 11 I 115 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IUl'l'LEMENTAL AEPOllT EXPECTED 11'1 MONTH DAY V~AA EX,ECTED n ~

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YES (If ya, complm EXPECTED SVllMISSION DATE/ NO I I I AUTAACT (Limit ro 1400 IPOC*, I.*** *ppro*imor.ly fifrHn 1/ngl..,poc* rypowritttn /inn/ 1181 On January 22, 1990 at 0724 hours0.00838 days <br />0.201 hours <br />0.0012 weeks <br />2.75482e-4 months <br />, the RMS Plant Vent Radioactive Noble Gas Monitor, 1R41C, channel spiked high resulting in a Containment Purge/Pressure-Vacuum Relief System (CP/P-VRS) isolation signal. The channel indications returned to normal and the CP/P-VRS isolation function was reset. At 0807 hours0.00934 days <br />0.224 hours <br />0.00133 weeks <br />3.070635e-4 months <br /> the same day a second channel spike occurred resulting in a CP/P-VRS isolation signal.

Technical Specification 3.3.3.9 Action 34 was then entered and the channel was put in "block". At the time of this second.event, Containment Purge was in progress. The isolation valves functioned as designed. The 1Rl2A channel did not indicate any significant increase of Containment radioactive noble gas at the time of the purge. The root cause of the CP/P-VRS actuations are attributed to a design/equipment problem associated with the Victoreen RMS equipment.

Investigation of the 1R41C channel spikes did identify a defective relay driver which was subsequently replaced. The 1R41C detector is a Victoreen Model 843-22 Beta Scintillator. After the 1R41C channel defective relay was repaired, a channel functional surveillance was successfully completed. On January 22, 1990 at 1630 hours0.0189 days <br />0.453 hours <br />0.0027 weeks <br />6.20215e-4 months <br /> the channel was declared operable and Technical Specification 3.3.3.9 Action 34 was exited. As indicated in prior LERs, the Victoreen detector systems have been prone to failure due to the inherent design of the equipment. As previously stated, the equipment will be replaced with more reliable detector systems as addressed by the PSE&G Living Engineering Plan for the RMS system.

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LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION Salem Generating Station DOCKET NUMBER LER NUMBER PAGE Unit 1 5000272 90-003-00 2 of 4 PLANT AND SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION:

Westinghouse - Pressurized Water Reactor Energy Industry Identification System (EIIS) codes are identified in the text as {xx}

IDENTIFICATION OF OCCURRENCE:

Engineered Safety Feature (ESF) Actuation Signal, Containment Purge/Pressure-Vacuum Relief isolation, due to a design/equipment problem Event Date: 1/22/90 Report Date: 2/15/90 This report was initiated by Incident Report No.90-060.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE:

Mode 1 Reactor Power 100%

DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE:

On January 22, 1990 at 0724 hours0.00838 days <br />0.201 hours <br />0.0012 weeks <br />2.75482e-4 months <br />, the RMS Plant Vent Radioactive Noble Gas Monitor, 1R41C, channel spiked high resulting in a Containment Purge/Pressure-Vacuum Relief System (CP/P-VRS) isolation signal. The channel indications returned to normal and the CP/P-VRS isolation function was reset. At 0807 hours0.00934 days <br />0.224 hours <br />0.00133 weeks <br />3.070635e-4 months <br /> the same day a second 1R41C channel spike occurred resulting in a CP/P-VRS isolation signal. Technical Specification 3.3.3.9 Action 34 was then entered and the channel was put in "block". At the time of this second event, Containment Purge was in progress.

Technical Specification Table 3.3-13 Action Statement 31 states:

"With the number of channels OPERABLE less than required by the Minimum Channels OPERABLE requirement, the contents of the tank(s) may be released to the environment provided that prior to initiating the release:

a. At least two independent samples of the tank's contents are analyzed, and

b. At least two technically qualified members of the Facility Staff independently verify the release rate calculations and discharge valving lineup; Otherwise, suspend release of radioactive effluents via this pathway."

The CP/P-VRS is considered an Engineered Safety Feature (ESF).

LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION Salem Generating Station DOCKET NUMBER LER NUMBER PAGE Unit 1 5000272 90-003-00 3 of 4 DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE: (cont'd)

Subsequently, within four (4) hours of each identified CP/P-VRS signal, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was notified of the automatic actuation of CP/P-VRS as required by Code of Federal Regulations 10CFR 50.72(b) (2) (ii).

APPARENT CAUSE OF OCCURRENCE:

The root cause of the CP/P-VRS actuations are attributed to a design/equipment problem associated with the Victoreen RMS equipment.

Investigation of the 1R41C channel spikes did identify a defective relay driver which was subsequently replaced.

The 1R41C detector is a Victoreen Model 843-22 Beta Scintillator.

ANALYSIS OF OCCURRENCE:

Isolation of the CP/P-VRS is part of the design Engineered Safety Features (ESFs). It mitigates the release of excessive quantities of radioactive material to the environment after a design base accident.

The 1R41C channel monitor's the plant vent effluent releases for radioactive noble gas via representative sampling. The ESF actuation feature of CP/P-VRS isolation, associated with this channel, is of conservative design. It is redundant to the 1R12A channel. In addition to its ESF function, the channel will cause the isolation of the 1WG41 valve (Waste Gas Decay Tank Vent Control Valve). During the 1R41C CP/P-VRS isolation signal events, the 1R12A monitor remained operable.

At the time of the second 1R41C channel CP/P-VRS isolation signal Containment purge was in progress. The isolation valves functioned as designed. The 1R12A channel did not indicate any significant increase of Containment radioactive noble gas at the time of the purge.

As indicated in the Apparent Cause of Occurrence section, the CP/P-VRS isolation was the result of an RMS channel 1R41A equipment problem causing a high channel spike. It was not the result of high plant vent particulate activity. Therefore, this event did not affect the health or safety of the public. However, this event is reportable in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 10CFR

50. 7 3 (a) ( 2) (iv) .

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

The 1R41C channel defective relay was repaired and a channel functional surveillance was successfully completed. On January 22, 1990 at 1630 hours0.0189 days <br />0.453 hours <br />0.0027 weeks <br />6.20215e-4 months <br /> the channel was declared operable and Technical Specification 3.3.3.9 Action 34 was exited.

• ')

LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION Salem Generating Station DOCKET NUMBER LER NUMBER PAGE Unit 1 5000272 90-003-00 4 of 4 CORRECTIVE ACTION: (cont'd)

The 1R41C channels have failed in the past (e.g., LER 272/89-034-00). As indicated by LER 272/89-034-00 and other Salem Unit 2 LERs, the Victoreen detector systems have been prone to failure due to the inherent design of the equipment. As previously stated, the equipment will be replaced with more reliable detector systems as addressed by the PSE&G Living Engineering Plan for the RMS system.

~~

General Manager -

Salem Operations MJP:pc SORC Mtg.90-014 I_