ML19249D445
| ML19249D445 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 08/06/1979 |
| From: | Kohler J, Spessard R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19249D440 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-295-79-14-01, 50-295-79-14-1, 50-304-79-13, NUDOCS 7909240666 | |
| Download: ML19249D445 (6) | |
See also: IR 05000295/1979014
Text
.
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
'
0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
REGION III
Report No. 50-295/79-14; 50-304/79-13
Docket No. 50-295; 50-304
Licensee: Commonwealth Edison Company
P. O. Box 767
Chicago, IL 60690
Facility Name: Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2
Inspection At:
Zion Site, Zion, Illinois
Inspection Conducted: June 2-July 2, 1979
Wb
Al l
i
Inspector:
J. E. Ko ergy
5/4/79
9d
>: tant
iI
8h/7Y
Approved By:
R. L. Spe sard
/
Inspection Summary
Inspection on June 2-July 2, 1979 (Report No. 50-295/79-14; 50-304/79-13)
Areas Inspected: Routine unannounced inspection of plant operations,
maintenance, licensee event reports, and Unit I and Unit 2 reactor trips.
The inspection involved 120 hours0.00139 days <br />0.0333 hours <br />1.984127e-4 weeks <br />4.566e-5 months <br /> of onsite inspection by one NRC inspector.
Results: Of the areas inspected, one item of noncompliance (infraction
- violation of TS surveillance requirement, Paragraph 12) was identified
in one area.
i
' I
' n.
O, n
s
7 909240 (c 06
4
DETAILS
.
1.
Persons Contacted
- N. R ndke, Station Superintendent
C. Schumaan, Operating Assistant Superintendent
- E. Fuerst, Unit 1 Operating Engineer
- R. Ward, Unit 2 Operating Engineer
F. Stetkar, Shift Foreman
T. Boyce, Shift Engineer
K. Garside, Shift Foreman
J. Harbin, Shift Engineer
R. Landrum, Nuclear Station Operator
D. Kaley, Nuclear Station Operator
N. Valos, Shift Foreman
F. Pauli, Shift Engineer
L. Pruett, Shift Engineer
J. Brandice, Nuclear Station Operator
E. Murach, Maintenance Assistant Superintendent
L. Soth, Assistant Superintendent Administrative Support Services
J. Marianyi, Technical Staff Supervisor
- T. Parker, Assistant Technical Staff Supervisor
- Denotes those present at the exit interview on July 2,1979.
2.
Monthly Reactor Operations Summary
Unit 1
The unit operated at our levels up to 100% through June 8, 1979,
when the unit tripped due to the 1(C) feedwater pump tripping from
100% power. During recovery from this trip, water hammers were
experienced followed by a spurious safety injection. The unit >
'
placed in cold shutdown after June 8, 1979, for steam generato-
feedwater nozzle to pipe inspections. The unit started up on
approximately June 18, 1979, with the 1(A) and 1(C) feedwater lumps
in operation. Shortly after this startup, high vibration alants
were received from the turbine generator. The unit was shut down on
June 24, 1979, for turbine vibration investigation. Unit I startup
commenced on June 28, 1979, and was limited to approximately 50%
power due to availability of only the 1(C) feedwater pump. The unit
has varied between 50%-90% power since June 28, 1979.
Unit 2
Power levels up to 90% have been achieved during the month with
routine power operation. The unit is the swing unit and has not
reached base load operation at 100% power because of conservatism in
1
O
(\\
i
u
O[n
-2-
D
,
the axial power distribution monitoring system. One reactor trip
'
occuired on June 13, 1979, due to an electrical switching error.
Reactor operation has been continous since June 13, 1979.
3.
Review of Plant Operations
During the month, the inspector spent time in the control room and
reviewei shift performance, shif t logs, tagging practices, compliance
with LCO's and plant startups. Tours of the auxiliary building,
turbine building, and site perimeter were conducted. Unit I contain-
ment was entered by the inspector on June 8 to witness a portion of
the visual inspection performed on the steam generator feedwater
lines. No items of noncompliance were identified during the monthly
review of plant operations.
4.
Maintenance
During the month, certain jobs were reviewed by the inspector.
The
maintenance packages associated with the below listed jobs were
reviewed for completeness in order to determine if work control
procedurcs were being followed.
The following jobs were being
reviewed.
Job
Work Package Number
Turbine Generator Vibration
00876
1(C) Feedwater Pump Maintenance
00593
Unit 2 Reactor Trip Bypass Breaker
00685
Unit 1 Steam Generator Nozzle Inspection
00660
00661
00662
00663
The inspector identified no items of noncompliance regarding the
maintenance items reviewed.
5.
Licensee Event Report Reviewed
The following licensee event reports were reviewed during the month
and are considered closed.
Unit 1
Unit 2
79-32
79-29
79-31
79-31
79-29
79-33
79-12
79-25
79-44
ph
c
m
-3-
U
e
n,O d
.
No items of noncompliance were identified, except for the matter
'
discussed in Paragraph 12 below relating to LER 304/79-29.
6.
Unit 2 Reactor Trip of June 13, 1979
During performance of periodic tests PT-5A and B which tests the
reactor trip breakers, a reactor trip from approximately 35% power,
occurred on June 13, 1979, at 2:30 a.m.
The cause of the trip is
attributed to personnel error.
While in the process of racking out
the train B reactor bypass trip breaker and racking in the train A
reactor trip breaker, the bypass breaker jammed and movement was not
possible.
In order to free the stuck breaker, and in an effort to
return the train A reactor trip breaker to service in routine alignment,
an equipment man used a metal pry bar to gain leverage to free the
stuck breaker.
This action, which was performed on an energized 480
volt system, caused a ground to occur. The ground caused a ground
relay in the rod control system to actuate leading to a reactor trip
and damage to the rod control system.
The individual involved in the event has been instructed not to
perform electrical switching withcut supervision in the future.
This item is considered closed by the inspector.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
7.
Unit 1 Reactor Trip of June 8, 1979 (LER Nu 295/79-44)
On June 8, 1979, approximately 0600, a Unit I trip occurred resulting
from low ID steam generator level which was caused by a trip of the
steam driven IC feedwater pump. The pump trip occurred from a high
thrust bearing wear signal.
Sixteen minutes after the reactor
tripped, four water hammers were experienced signified by spikes on
all four feedwater flow recorders.
Subsequent to the water hammers, a momentary safety injection signal
originating from the high steam line delta P safety injection signal
was received. However, no automatic safety injection occurred. One
and a half minutes later, operators manually initiated safety injection.
The safety injection ram for 100 seconds before it was terminated by
operating personnel, having concluded that the cause of the safety
injection was spurious.
The inspector was at the Dresden facility in Morris, Illinois, at
the time of the Unit I reactor trip. The inspector was dispatched
to the Zion site and arrived at approximately 11:30 a.m.
The licensee investigated the events associated with the failure of
the SI to actuate automatically. Review of the annunciato printout
by the inspector showed that the safety injection signal was present
for less than 1/60th of a second. This signal duration was sufficient
to activite the safety injection annunciator and typer which are
composed of solid-state electronics, but the time was insufficient
f 4
-4-
\\'
r
g
F
(
,
in duration to activate the mechanical relays associated with the
,
safety injection. The relays were subsequently tested by special
performance of PT-10A and B and found to be satisfactory.
Had a real event occurred in which safety injection was required, it
is assumed that the initiating event would have lasted more than
5/60ths of a second, the time required for automatic SI relays to
actuate. The inspector reviewed the alarm typer output, discussed
the event with the cognizant engineer and har no further questions
regarding the failure of the SI to automatically actuate.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
8.
Unit 1 Steam Generator Feedwater Nozzle Inspection
Unit I was taken to cold shutdown immediately after the June 8,
1979, reactor trip in order to inspect for possible cracking in the
steam generator feedwater nozzle piping and welds. No cracks were
found and the unit was cleared for service. Results of the piping
investigation are covered in Region III inspection report 50-295/79-12.
9.
Unit 1 Turbine Vibration
Following the Unit I reactor startup af ter the steam generator
nozzle inspection, high vibration at the number 11 main generator
bearing was recorded. The unit was taken off the line on June 23,
1979, to investigate the cause of the vibration.
Investigation
revealed seieral perimeters in the exciter area that were out of
tolerance. These were corrected according to Westinghouse
specifications.
A unit startup was commenced on June 27, 1979. At approximately
1:30 p.m. with the main generator at 1800 rpm, while in the process
of picking up loads, a turbine trip reactor trip occurred.
The
first out panel declared the trip to be caused by a thrust bearing
failure.
Investigation by the licensee revealed that the alarm was
spurious caused by a malfunction in the thrust bearing alarm network.
The alarm was repaired and the unit was in service on June 28, 1979.
The inspector has no further questions regarding this item.
No items of noncompliance were identified.
10.
Spent Fuel Expansion Hearings
During the month, the inspector participated in public hearings held
in Waukegan, Illinois. The inspector presented testimony on June 11
and June 12, 1979, and June 21 and June 22, 1979, on behalf of the
NRC regarding contentions 2L and 2F2.
,rh
-5-
\\'
n
n op
,
11.
Feedwater Pump Trips
,
The inspector met with Mr. Wandke and others of his staff on June 20,
1979. During this meeting, the inspector discussed the performance
of the IB feedwater pump. The inspector stated that a review of
plant transients since January showed that IB feedwater pump trips
themselves were responsible for two safety injection-water hammer
(SI-WH) transients and the IC pump was responsible for one SI-WH.
It was the inspector's conclusion that IB feedpump operation was
erratic and should not be used until proved to be more stable.
The licensee agreed with the inspector's conclusion and had previously
substituted the 1A pump for the IB pump. According to the licensee,
the IB pump control system wac being overhauled and would not be put
into full operation until stable operation was achievable.
The inspector will continue to follow the operation of the IB feedwater
pump.
(295/79-14-01)
12.
2C Containment Spray Pump (LER 304/79-29)
The licensee notified RIII on May 22, 1979, that Technical Specification 4.6.1.c for Unit 2 was violated when the 2C containment
spray pump was rendered inoperable without first performing the
required surveillance on the redundant A and B containment spray
pumps. The licensee performed the required surveillance upon discovery.
The cause of the event is classified as personnel error.
Corrective
action consisted of placing warning signs on control boards and
local panels informing the shift that automatic pump actuation upon
safeguards only occurs when the battery switch is in the automatic
position. The licensee is also investigating modification of the
battery switch. A similar event occurred previously in 1978 (LER 295/78-66). This event is considered an item of noncompliance
against TS 4.6.1.c and is classified as an infraction. Since
corrective and preventive actions have already been taken, no response
to this item of noncompliance is required.
13.
Management Exit
An exit was held with Mr. Wandke and others of his staff at the
conclusion of the inspection on July 2, 1979, in which the results
of the inspection were summarized. The inspector stated that there
,was one item of noncompliance regard.'.ng inoperability of the 2C
containment spray pump without performing the required surveillance
(LER 304/79-29), but that no response would be required because
corrective and preventative actions had been taken.
,O'
rfd
r
-6-