ML19270F874

LER 79-001/01T-1 on 790219:radioactive Gas Escaped Through Open Discharge Valve.Caused by Failure of Operator to Ensure Valve Was Closed Before Returning Cryogenic Sys Gas Compressor to Svc.Operator Reinstructed

ML19270F874
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	03/13/1979
From:	Burstein S WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML19270F873	List: ML19270F872 ML19270F874
References
LER-79-001-01T, LER-79-1-1T, NUDOCS 7903290005
Download: ML19270F874 (3)

Text

NRC F ORM 366 U (7 77) ,

UPDATE REPORT - PREVIOUS REPORT DATE 0 3-01-7 9 . S. NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSEE EVENT REPORT CON TROL BLOCK: l l l l l (PLEASE PRINT OR FYPE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION) 1 o i H 9 lW Il Pl B H l 1l@l 0 l 0 -l 0l 0 l0 l 0 ] 0 l- l 0 0 @l4 LICENSEE CODE 14 IS LICENSE NUMBEH D 26 1

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PEPORT DATE DOCKE T NUV8E R EVENT DESCRIPTION AND PROBA3LE CONSEQUENCES h lo121lWhile returning the K10B cryogenic system gas compressor to service i o 3 lfollowing repair, an inadvertent radioactive gaseous release occurred. I o 4 lAs the ccmpressor discharge valve was opened at 1819 hours0.0211 days <br />0.505 hours <br />0.00301 weeks <br />6.921295e-4 months <br />, 2-19-79, thel loisijoperator heard gas escaping through a vent valve inadvertently lef t open d o o lThe valve was immediately closed. T. S. 15.3.9.B.3 requires a 7-day I

[o / l decay time prior to release. The release rate was found to be less thanl o a 1 3 percent of the permitted annual average release rate. I 7 8 9 80 SYSTEM CAUSE CAUSE COMP. VALVE CODE CODE SUSCOCE COMPONENT CODE SUBCODE SUBCODE lolol 1 H LM I 10B l@ L^J@ L^_J O I V ^ LIV l El Xl@ W@ y @

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JJ 35 J/ 40 41 42 43 44 41 CAUSE DESCRIPTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS i o lThe operator failed to ensure that the valve was closed before ji jil l returning the compressor to service. The operator was reinstructed to

, , [ carefully adhere to procedures.

IiIll I I i 14 I l I 7 8 9 H0 ST A  % PotiE R OTHER S TATUS disco HY DISCOVERY DESCHtPTION i 5 E @ l 1l 0 l 0]@l N/A l l A j@l N/A l A TIVIT Y CONTENT RELE ASED OF RELE ASE AVOUNT OF ACTIVITY LOC ATION OF RE LE ASE l Auxiliary bldg. vent to atmosphere l 7

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ATTACHMENT TO LICENSEE EVENT REPORT NO. 79-001/0lT-1 Wisconsin Electric Power Company Point Beach Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Docket No. 50-266 An inadvertent radioactive gaseous release occurred at 1819 hours0.0211 days <br />0.505 hours <br />0.00301 weeks <br />6.921295e-4 months <br />, February 19, 1979, while returning the K10B cryogenic gas compressor to service following repair. As the compressor discharge valve was opened, the operator heard gas escaping through a vent valve (CR-il9 ) inadvertently left open. The vent valve was immediately closed, isolating the source of the release.

The release caused the auxiliary building atmospheric vent gas monitor to alarm. The monitor spiked to approxi-mately 200,000 counts, quickly dropped to 30,000 counts, and then slowly decreased to normal levels about 70 minutes later. ,

The entire release was properly monitored.

Calculations show that the release rate was 2.82% of the permitted annual average release rate of 0.2 Curies per second (not 1.96% as originally reported). The total release was 1.03 Curies of noble gases. A revised isotopic breakdown is attached.

The release occurred as a result of the operator failing to ensure that the valve was closed before returning the compressor to service as required by procedure. The procedure requires that all purge paths are ensured to be secured before restoring any portion of the system to service. The operator was reinstructed to carefully adhere to procedures.

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• ISOTOPIC BREAKDOWN Date: 02-19-79 Time: 1800 hours0.0208 days <br />0.5 hours <br />0.00298 weeks <br />6.849e-4 months <br /> Source: Auxiliary Building Vent Average Gas: 2.45 x 10-5 pCi/cc Release Activity: 7.1 x 10-" Ci/sec Gaseous Composition:

Isotope f fxA XMF "Xe-133" Xe-133 .068435 4.86 x 10-5 1 d.86 x 10 Kr-85m .068349 4.85 x 10-5 3 1.46 x 10-"

Kr-88 .12166 8.64 x 10-5 15 1.30 x 10-3 Xe-133m .0050981 3.62 x 10-6 1 3.62 x 10-6 Xe-135 .26043 1.85 x 10-" 3 5.55 x 10 Xe-138 .22924 1.63 x 10 10 1.62 x 10-3 Kr-87 .068435 4.86 x 10-' 15 7.29 x 10-"

" 3 Xe-135m .14612 1.04 x 10 10 1.04 x 10 Ar-41 .035687 2.53 x 10 -5 7.5 1.90 x 10

-' -6 Kr-85 .0028517 2.02 x 10 1 2. 0 2 x 10 7.15 x 10-" 5.63 x 10 Air Particulates and Iodines:

I-131: N/A I-133: N/A Total Release (Based on Computer):

0004 - 2/20 - 3.53 Ci 0004 - 2/19 - 2.35 Ci 24 Hr. Total 1.18 Ci - .15 Ci (daily average) = 1.03 Ci 1.03 Ci x 7.87 (Avg. Xe-133 XMF) = 8.11 Ci Xe-133 Equivalents Total Average Release Rate, Curies /Second: 5.63 x 10-3 Percent of 0.2 Curies /Second = 2.82%

(permitted annual average release rate)