ML19256A456

LER 78-101/03L-0 on 781209:primary Containment Could Not Be Inerted W/Nitrogen to Reduce Oxygen Concentration to Less That 4% by Weight.Caused by Incorrect Operating Procedure Info

ML19256A456
Person / Time
Site:	FitzPatrick
Issue date:	01/03/1979
From:	W. Verne Childs POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19256A455	List: ML19256A454 ML19256A456
References
LER-78-101-03L, LER-78-101-3L, NUDOCS 7901080176
Download: ML19256A456 (2)

Text

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,ATTACilMENT TO LER-78-101/03L-0 Page 1 of 1 During routine startup operations, the Primary Containment could not be inerted with nitrogen to reduce the oxygen concentration to less than 4 percent by weight and a drywell to pressure suppression chamber differential pressure of 1.7 psi could not be established within the allowed 24-hour period following placing the reactor in the Run Mode. This is contrary to Technical Specification Appendix A, Paragraphs 3.7A.6.b and 3.7.A.7.a.1, respectively.

In the event of a design basis Loss of Lt 31 ant Accident, the presence of oxygen in the primary containment in excess of 4 percent by weight could contribute to the generation of significant heat from the rapid recombination of oxygen and hydrogen. In addition, the inability to establish the drywell to pressure suppression chamber differential pressure would result in redaced safety margins associated with pressure suppression pool structural members in the event of a design basis Loss of Coolant Accident.

The Operating Procedure, with controls for the inerting evolution, called for inerting both the drywell and pressure suppression chamber at the same time. Since the drywell takes considerably longer to inert than the pressure suppression chamber, this parallel inerting evolution " wasted" considerable nitrogen and resulted in exhaustion of the supply before the drywell oxygen concentration could be reduced to less than 4 percent by weight. As soon as it was evident that inerting could not be completed within the specified time limit, operations personnel initiated a normal shutdown in accordance with specification 3.7. A.8.

Additional nitrogen supply was obtained, and establishment of the drywell to pressure suppression chamber differential pressure was completed approximately 11 hours1.273148e-4 days <br />0.00306 hours <br />1.818783e-5 weeks <br />4.1855e-6 months <br /> after exhaustion of the initial nitrogen supply. In addition, the operating procedure has been revised to preclude recurrence.

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