ML18102B644

Application for Amends to Licenses DPR-70 & DPR-75,revising Containment Hydrogen Analyzer SRs of TS 4.6.4.1

ML18102B644
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	10/24/1997
From:	Storz L Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML18102B645	List: ML18102B644 ML18102B646
References
LCR-S97-14, LR-N970603, NUDOCS 9711040223
Download: ML18102B644 (6)

Text

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Public Service Electric and Gas Company Louis F. Storz Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-5700 Senior Vice President - Nuclear Operations OCT 2 4 1997 LR-N970603 LCR S97-14 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 REQUEST FOR LICENSE AMENDMENT HYDROGEN ANALYZER CALIBRATION FREQUENCY SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-272 AND 50-311 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. DPR-70 AND DPR-75

Dear Sir:

In accordance with the requirements of 10CFR50.90, Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) hereby requests a revision to the Technical Specifications (TS) for Salem Generating Station Unit Nos. 1 and 2_ In accordance with the requirements of the 10CFR50.9l(b) (1), a copy of this submittal has been forwarded to the State of New Jersey.

The changes proposed herein revise the containment hydrogen analyzer surveillance requirements of Technical Specifications (TS) 4_6.4.1. Specifically, PSE&G proposes to increase the calibration frequency from once per refueling outage to quarterly. This change corrects a non-conservative TS, as committed in our letter to the NRC dated May 14, 1997 (LR-N970298).

The proposed changes have been evaluated in accordance with 10CFR50.9l(a) (1), using the criteria in 10CFR50_92(c), and PSE&G has concluded that this request does not involve a significant hazards consideration. The technical justification for the requested changes is provided in Attachment 1. The 10CFR50.92(c) analysis supporting the no significant hazards determination is provided in Attachment 2. The marked-up Technical Specification pages affected by this proposal are provided in Attachment 3.

If you have any questions concerning the enclosed information, we would be pleased to discuss them with you.

Sincerely,

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Document Control Desk 2 OCT 2 4 1997 LR-N970603 Affidavit Attachments C Mr. H. Miller, Administrator - Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. L. N. Olshan, Licensing Project Manager - Salem U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 14E21 Rockville, MD 20852 Ms. M. Evans (X24)

USNRC Senior Resident Inspector Mr. K. Tosch, Manager, IV Bureau of Nuclear Engineering 33 Arctic Parkway CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 95-4933

Document Control Desk 3 OCT 2 4 1997 LR-N970603 WJM/

BC Senior Vice President - Nuclear Engineering (N19)

General Manager - Salem Operations (S05)

Director - QA/NSR (XOl)

Manager - Joint Owners/Ext. Aff. Interface (N28)

J. Keenan, Esq.

Program Manager - NRB (N38)

Records Management (N21)

Microfilm Copy File Nos. 1.2.1, 2.3 (Salem LCR 97-14)

REF: LR-N97603 STATE OF NEW JERSEY SS.

COUNTY OF SALEM L. F. Storz, being duly sworn according to law deposes and says:

I am Senior Vice President - Nuclear Operations of Public Service Electric and Gas Company, and as such, I find the matters set forth in the above referenced letter, concerning Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.

KIMl3ERLY JO BROWN

, My _Commission expires on NOTARY PUBLIC OF NEW JERSEY 1vly Qgm1n1~sion Expires April 2 I, 1996

• D0cument Control LR-N970603 Attachment 1 LCR S97-14 SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 CHANGE TO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS HYDROGEN ANALYZER CALIBRATION FREQUENCY REQUESTED CHANGE AND PURPOSE The changes proposed herein would revise Salem Generating Station (SGS) Unit No. 1 and 2 Technical Specification (TS) 4.6.4.1, to change the containment hydrogen analyzer calibration frequency from once per refueling outage to once per calendar quarter. The purpose of these changes is to make the TS more conservative and consistent with the actual calibration frequency of the hydrogen analyzers, which is based on manufacturer's recommendations.

BACKGROUND The containment hydrogen analyzers used at SGS Unit Nos. 1 and 2 are required to be operable by TS 3/4.6.4.1, in order to detect the presence of abnormally high levels of hydrogen following a design basis accident. The detectors were manufactured by Whittaker. The sensors use an electrolytic compound in a galvanic cell with a permeable membrane. The electrolyte in the sensor may degrade over time, resulting in reduced millivolt output; indicated hydrogen would be less than actual.

The surveillance requirements for the hydrogen analyzers were revised by License Amendments 153 and 134, respectively, to reduce the specified frequency of channel calibrations from quarterly to once per refueling outage. The reduction in calibration frequency was consistent with NRC Generic Letter 93-05, "Line Item Technical Specifications Improvements to Reduce Surveillance Requirements for Testing During Power Operation,"

dated September 27, 1993. However, PSE&G's request for the amendments did not consider, and was contrary to, the manufacturer's recommendation for a quarterly calibration frequency. PSE&G imposed a quarterly calibration frequency by administrative control, and, in a letter to NRC dated May 14, 1997 (LR-N970298), committed to submit a License Change Request to re-establish the quarterly calibration frequency in TS 4.6.4.1. The changes proposed herein satisfy the commitment.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE REQUESTED CHANGES The proposed change would increase the calibration frequency for the containment hydrogen analyzers from once per refueling to its original (quarterly) frequency. The quarterly frequency is recommended by the hydrogen analyzer manufacturer to ensure that degradation of the sensor electrolyte over time would not result in unacceptably low readings. The proposed changes are conservative (more frequent calibrations) and consistent with manufacturer's recommendations.

- Document Control LR-N970603 Attachment 2 LCR S97-14 SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 CHANGE TO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS HYDROGEN ANALYZER CALIBRATION FREQUENCY REQUESTED CHANGE The changes proposed herein revise the containment hydrogen analyzer surveillance requirements of Technical Specifications (TS) 4.6.4.1 for the Salem Generating Station (SGS) Unit Nos. 1 and 2. Specifically, PSE&G proposes to increase the calibration frequency from once per refueling outage to quarterly.

BASIS FOR NO SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS CONSIDERATION

1. The proposed change does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.

The containment hydrogen analyzers provide control room indication of hydrogen concentration in the containment atmosphere. They do not affect the probability of any previously evaluated accident. The proposed change would increase the calibration frequency specified in TS 4.6.4.1 to make it consistent with manufacturer's recommendations and the current calibration frequency at SGS as imposed by administrative controls. The change in TS-required calibration frequency is in the conservative (more frequent) direction, to ensure that potential degradation of the sensor electrolyte over time would not result in unacceptable performance of the hydrogen analyzers.

The change in specified frequency would not adversely affect the consequences of any previously evaluated accident.

2. Proposed change does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously analyzed.

The proposed change affects only the specified calibration frequency of the containment hydrogen analyzers. The proposed change does not affect the design of any SGS structure, system or component, nor would it result in any new plant configuration.

Therefore, it does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident.

3. The proposed change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.

The proposed change to the containment hydrogen analyzer calibration frequency does not affect the design or operating limits of any SGS structure, system or component. The change would make the specified calibration frequency more conservative, to ensure the hydrogen analyzers perform as designed over time.

The proposed change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.