ML19254A642
| ML19254A642 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 04/23/1979 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Leonard J POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906110027 | |
| Download: ML19254A642 (1) | |
Text
.
M "Goq UNITED STATES gm
.k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
$ ( W,. )
REGION I gg a *b
'g 631 PARK AVENUE t.,., j KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANI A 19406 A?R 231979 Docket No. 50-333 Power Authority of the State of New York James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant ATTN:
Mr. J. D. Leonard Resident Manager P. O. Box 41 Lycoming, New York 13093 Gentlemen:
The enclosed Bulletin 79-05B is forwarded to you for information.
No written response is required.
We have also enclosed copies of recom-mendations of the ACRS to the Commission for your :nformation.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, M
Boyce
. Gri'er Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Bulletin No.79-05B with Enclosure 2.
ACRS Recommendations to the Commission dated April 18, 1979 and April 20, 1979 (Typed Copy) cc w/encls:
George T. Berry, Executive Director P. W. Lyon, Manager - Nuclear Operations A. Klausmann, Director, Quality Assurance M. C. Cosgrove, Quality Assurance Supervisor J. F. Davis, Chairman, Safety Review Committee L. R. Bennett, Assistant General Manager - General Counsel G. M. Wilverding, Licensing Supervisor 7906110027
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, DC 20555 IE Bulletin 79-05B April 21,1979 Page 1 of 4 NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND - SUPPLEMENT Description of Circumstances:
Continued NRC evaluation of the nuclear incident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 has identified ceasures in addition to those discussed in IE Bulletin 79-05 and 79-05A which should be acted upon by licensees with reactors designed by B&W. As discussed in Item 4.c. of Actions to be taken by Licensees in IEB 79-05A, the preferred mode of core' cooling following a transient or accident is to provide forced flow using reactor coolant pumps.
It appears that natural circuldtion was not successfully achieved upn securing the reactor coolant pumps during the first two hours of the Three Mile Island (TMI) No. 2 incident of March 28, 1979.
Initiation of natural circulation was inhibited by significant coolant voids, possibly aggrevated by release of noncondensible gases, in the primary coolant system. To avoid this potential for interference with nat"ral circulation, the operator should ensure that the primary system is subcooled, and remains subcooled, before any attempt is made to establish natural circulation.
Natural circulation in Babcock and Wilcox reactor systems is enhanced by maintaining a relatively high water level on the secondary side of the once through steam generators (OTSG).
It is also promoted by injection of auxiliary feedwater at the upper nozzles in the OTSGs.
The integrated Control System automatically sets the OTSG level set operating range when all reactor coolant pumps (RCP) point to 50% on the are secured.
- However, in unusual or abnonnal situations, manual actions by the operator to increase steam generator level will enhance natural circulation capability in anticipation of a possible loss of operation of the reactor coolant pumps.
As stated previously, forced flow of primary coolant through the core is preferred to natural circulation.
Other means of reducing the possibility of void formation in the reactor coolant system are:
A.
Minimize the operation of t DUPLICATE DOCUMENT the pressurizer and thereby reduction by a blowdown thr Entire document previously entered into system under:
nNo 9 % 5 6 % b l S 8 No. of pages:
-_