ML19242D548
| ML19242D548 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 07/23/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Roth M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19242D549 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7908150405 | |
| Download: ML19242D548 (1) | |
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S UNITED STATES 8'
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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.,'1 2 3 7579 Cocket l'o. 50-309 tr. ficKie ', ling Roth, Jr.
De si gne r P. O. Box 50 3ath, "aine C4530
Dear Mr. ?oth:
Thank jou for your lettar of June 25 regarding the escape of spcnge rubber balls from the cooling system at Maine Yankee.
These balls ire a part of a system, called "Amertap", ',thich is used at the station within
'e condenser cooling system to maintain the cleanliness of the condenser taotog surfaces.
The Maine Yankee 'luclear Station uses a once through, or "c,sen", cool' system shorein water from Montsweag Bay is passed through a condenser
- andansa the icw pressure steam exiting frca the turbine-generator.
Over a period of time, 'arine organisms present in the Bay water tend to adhere to the tube walls and decrease the heat transfar capability of the condenser.
The spcnge rubber balls are periodically passed through the condenser to move the biological fouling ;hich has built up.
'l hen the k.ertap cleaning system is in use the balls are added at the candenser inlet and should be captured by strainers at the ccndenser outlet.
Sore balls are lost during the cleaning operation.
The licensee is currently locking at a possible design change to increase the recovery of balls.
Controls and barriers at the station for containment and control of radionuclides are indeed much more rigorous than controls attending to the non-hazardous Amertap spcnge rubber balls for condenser cleaning.
Therefore, the appearance of the Amertap balls should not be interpreted as evidence of inability to control release of radioactive contaminants.
I appreciate your calling this matter to my attention and hope that my answer is responsive to your concern.
Sincarely, n#dl$ -
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Harold R. Centon, Di rector Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 631027 Of [
7908150