ML19260F369

Forwards Request 1 for Addl Info on Proposed Barrier Fuel Rev of NEDE-24011-P-A-4, GE Std Application for Reactor Fuel. Schedule for Submittals Requested

ML19260F369
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/01/1983
From:	Thomas C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Sherwood G GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
References
NUDOCS 8302090529
Download: ML19260F369 (3)

Text

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• FEB 01 B83 General Electric Company ATTN: Dr. G. G. Sherwood, Manager Safety and Licensing 175 Curtner Avenue San Jose, California 95114

Subject:

Request Number 1 for Additional Information on the Proposed Revision of NEDE-24011-P-A-4 We are currently reviewing the proposed barrier fuel revision of General Electric Compary licensing topical report NEDE-24011-P-A-4 ehtitled " General Electric Standard Application for Reactor Fuel".

The initial review reveals the need for additional information as identified in the enclosure.

This additional information is necessary to continue the review - its expeditious submittal will, therefore, be to General Electric's advantage. Please advise us of your intended submittal date, so that we may schedule the continuing review.

O Sincerely, 4

Cecili0. Thomas, Chief Standardization & Special Projects Branch Division of Licensing

Enclosure:

As stated

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490.1 Is barrier cladding to be used for burnable poison gadolinia-urania rods as well as for ragular fuel rods without gadolinia?

If so, please discuss the relative behavior of barrier fuel and standard fuel with regard to waterside corrosion citing any data that might be relevant to that discussion.

490.2 The maximum' calculated internal rod pressures for barrier fuel as well as standard 8x8R and P8x8R designs are listed in Section 2.4.2.3 to be about twice the coolant system pressure even for normal operation.

This appears to be inconsistent with the Stand.ard Review Plan criterion and has been questioned on the GESSAR-II docket. We will pursue that question in the GESSAR-II review.

490.3 Inasmuch as about 10% of the cladding thickness for barrier fuel rods is taken up by the zirconium liner which is weaker than Zircaloy, the barrier fuel will have reduced margins for

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stress / strain limits, creep collapse, fatique, and swelling and rupture.

Compare quantitatively the relative effects on these phenomena expected for barrier vs standard cladding fuel designs.

Where burnup or exposure is a factor, provide the requested numerical information for the peak target burnup.

490.4 (a)

In Section 2.5.3.1.2 of NEDE-240ll-P-A-5, it is indicated that the stress analyses for the barrier fuel (BP8x8R) and the standard prepras urized fuel (P8x8R) designs are performed differently tee 1st paragraph on page D2-27) even though both types t Y fuel are prepressurized (presumably to the same degree).

Please explain.

(b) Similarly, in Section 2.5.3.1.4, Fatigue Evaluation, please explain why a minimum ckdding thickness is used for the 8x8/8x8R fuel rod stress analysis in contrast to a nominal thickness for P8x8R/BP8x8R fuel.

Provide a comparative stress analysis for each of the fuel types using a consistent set of input assumptions for fuel rod internal pressure and cladding thickness and show the relative margin to failure.

490.5 In GEAP-25163-6, which is the latest-available (March 1982) barrier fuel PCI demonstration report, it is indicated that two barrier fuel liner types are being tested: (1) liners prepared from low oxygen sponge zirconium and (2) liners prepared from crystal bar zirconium.

It is also noted in the report that power ramp failures of sponge Zr lined fuel rods had been observed in tests at Studsvik. This raises a question regarding the potential effect of liner precursor material on subsequent fuel rod cladding performance. What current information exists concerning this subject? Has GE settled on a single precursor Zr liner material? Please summarize the s'

data that exist concerning the effects of the Zr-liner precursor material on subsequent performance and discuss what further testing will be carried out to investigate this effect.

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490.6 Please summarize the observations made to date on the 4 barrier lead tert assemblies (LTAs) irradiated in Quad Cities Unit 1 and relate that experience, operating history, burnup,.etc. to the range of fuel duty expected for future full core commercial utilization of barrier feel.

490.7 Please discuss the status and results (e.g., off-gas activity, number of failed rods reasured or inferred) obtained to date on the large-scale (144 bundle) barrier fuel ' demonstration irradiation in Quad Cities Unit 2.

Briefly describe the ramp tests that will be conducted at the end of each cycle along with thd type of pcrt-irradiation and interim examinations that will be conducted on the fuel.

490.8 It is stated in GEAP-25163-6 that laboratory hydrogen charging experiments have indicated that preferential hydriding of the liner occurs, but that in-reactor performance is not expected to be affected.

Discuss why in-reactor performance of barrier fuel is not expected to be affected. Are there in-reactor data that support that hypothesis? Does GE Intend to perform any examinations (including destructive PIE) te confirm that the hydriding behavior of barrier fuel in-reactor is not affected?

490.9 As indicated in Section 4.2.II.D.3 of the Standard Review Plan, for a fuel design that introduces new features-(e.g., Zr liners) t a detailed post-irradiatir n surveillance plan commensurate with the nature of the change is required.

The program should include appropriate qualitative and quantitative ir.spections to be carried out at interim and end-of-life refueling outages.

Therefore, we will require the first two utilities that u;e barrier fuel to propose and carry out surveillance programs that reet the SRP guidelines. We will require this of two different utilities to insure that statistically significant numbers of fuel assemblies are examined and that different coolant chemistries and operating procedures are sampled.

490.10 Have any rod bowing measurements been made on barrier fuel rods?

If so, please provide either the data or a reference that describes the data.

If no measurements have been made, we will require such measurements as part of a general surveillance program (see Question 490.9) to be carried out by the first two utilities to use barrier fuel.

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