ML19210A147

Event Rept 76-09/1T:on 760221 Inadequate Makeup Pump a Failed,Causing Reduction in Degree of Redundancy Provided in Ingineered Safety Feature.Procedures Re Pump Operation Conflict W/Tech Specs & Will Be Updated

ML19210A147
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	03/06/1976
From:	Arnold R METROPOLITAN EDISON CO.
To:
References
GQL-0299, GQL-299, NUDOCS 7910240870
Download: ML19210A147 (4)

Text

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.. - M g22 mr$ra noom METROPOLITAN EDISON COMPANY PCST CFFICE BOX 542 READING, ,PENNSYLVANI A 19603 TELEPHQNE 215'- 929- % 01 March 6, 1976 GQL 0299 ['[ ' N , ..

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Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation g L.,'i e ' ' Q' ,

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Cc==issien  % :, , " y ,

Washington, D.C. 20555 N/

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Dear Sir:

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Decket No. 50-289 Operating License No. DPR-50 In accordance with the Technical Specifications of cur Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1 (TMI-1), we are reporting the folleving reportable cecurrence:

(1) Report Number: E3 76-09/1T (2a) Report Date: March 6, 1976 (2b) Event Date: February 21, 1976 (3) Facility: Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1 (h) Identificatien of Event:

Title:

Inadequate Make-Up Pu=p A Rulated Procedural Controls Type: A reportable event as defined by Technical Specification 6.9 23.(3) in that the Inadequate Make-Up Pump A related Procedural Centrcls caused a reduction in the degree of redundancy provided in an engineered safety feature system.

(5) Conditions Prior to Event:

Pover: Core: 05 Electrical: 0 M'a'e RC Flow: 62 x 106 lbs./hr.

RC Pressure: 2155 psig RC Temp.: 5000F PRZR Level: 100 inches PRZR Te=p.- tA5 F 2446 1490 056

-.. , s (6) Description of Event:

At approximately Olho hours on February 21, 1976 during the pretest system lineup of the refueling interval "ES System and Power Transfer Test "the "A" I/akeup and Purification Pump was started. The test procedure SP 1303-11.10 allowed for operatien of either the "A" cr "3" Makeup Pump to perform the "B" actuation pcrtion of the test, however, the pretest system lineup was written for operation of the "B" Makeup Pu=p. Thus when the operator closed the sucticn cross connect valves MU-V68A and MU-V683 in accordance v'.th procedure the pump sucticn was isolated frc= the makeup tank which caused the failure of the pump.

In add. tion, come reactor coolant leaked cut of the pump seal as a result of t'ae failure and the degassing of the liquid frc= the spill resulted in a releace of radicactive gas to the Auxiliary Building Exhaust System.

The release a=cunted to a total of 0.166 curies of noble gas.

(T) Designation of Apparent Cause of Event:

The cause of the event has been determined to be procedure and personnel in that the procedure alleved for operatica of either the "A" or "B" Makeup Pumps, but the pretest lineup for valve pcsition was written only for operation of the "3" Makeup Pump, which is the normally running pump.

The personnel involved with running the test and pretest lineup failed to recognize that when they picked the option to run the "A" makeup pump, the pretest valve lineup was not correct.

(8) Analysis of Event:

It has been determined that this event did not constitute a threat to the health and safety of the public in that:

a. The "B" and "C" pumps were still operable to perform their Engineered Safeguards functicn.

b. The reacter was siutdevn and the plant was in the cooldcun

= ode in preparation for refueling when the failure occurred, which reduced the safety impact of the loss of the redundant pump.

c. The average release rate over the 56 minute period of this release was 1.6h x 102 =3/sec. with a total release of noble gas of .166 curies. The radioactive material released was precc=inantly Xe133 based cr. previous samples. The instant-anecus noble gas release rate was 2.95 x 102 =3/ sec., which is below the Technical Specification limit of 1.2 x 105 =3/sec.

(9) Corrective Action:

I:=ediate! The surveillance procedure was thorsaghly reviewed by the Plant Operatien Review Cc==ittee and changed to allow continuance of testing using the "B" and "C" Makeup Pumps as the ES selected pumps. The test was then run and successfully completed.

1490 057

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Long Term: (a) The test procedure vill be changed to eliminate the precedure error to prevent future occurrences of this type.

(b) Specific instructions vill be pretu1 gated within the Cperations Department that vill require an operator to notify the Contrcl Room and obtain permission to change the position of valves associated with the Makeup Pu=ps i==ediately prior to making that change.

(10) Failure Data:

"cne Similar Events: ER 74-9, Th-10 Sincerely, I

t R. C. A. old Vice President RCA:JJM:ils 1490 0158