05000266/LER-1979-001-01, /01T-0 on 790219:inadvertent Radioactive Gaseous Release Occurred While Returning K10B Cryogenic Sys Gas Compressor to Svc.Caused by Operator Failure to Ensure Valve Was Closed.Procedures Restressed

/01T-0 on 790219:inadvertent Radioactive Gaseous Release Occurred While Returning K10B Cryogenic Sys Gas Compressor to Svc.Caused by Operator Failure to Ensure Valve Was Closed.Procedures Restressed

ML19282B712
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	03/01/1979
From:	Burstein S WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML19282B708	List: 05000266/LER-1979-001, Forwards LER 79-001/01T-0 05000266/LER-1979-001-01, /01T-0 on 790219:inadvertent Radioactive Gaseous Release Occurred While Returning K10B Cryogenic Sys Gas Compressor to Svc.Caused by Operator Failure to Ensure Valve Was Closed.Procedures Restressed
References
LER-79-001-01T-01, LER-79-1-1T-1, NUDOCS 7903160147
Download: ML19282B712 (3)

LER-1979-001, /01T-0 on 790219:inadvertent Radioactive Gaseous Release Occurred While Returning K10B Cryogenic Sys Gas Compressor to Svc.Caused by Operator Failure to Ensure Valve Was Closed.Procedures Restressed

Event date:
Report date:
2661979001R01 - NRC Website

text

'

ISOTOPIC BREAKDONN 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:

1.7 x 10-5 pCi/cc Release Activity:

4.93 x 10-" Ci/sec Gaseous Composition:

Isotope f

fxA XMF "Xe-133"

- 5 Xe-133

.068435 3.3738 x 10-'

1 3.37 x 10 Kr-85m

.068349 3.3696 x 10-5 3

1.01 x 10-"

Kr-88

.12166 5.9978 x lo-s 15 9.00 x 10-"

Xe-133m

.0050981 2.5134 x 10-'

1 2.51 x 10-'

Xe-135

.26043 1.2839 x 10-"

3 3.85 x 10-"

Xe-138

.22924 1.1302 x 10-"

10 1.13 x 10-8 Kr-87

.068435 3.3738 x 10-5 15 5.06 x 10-"

7.2037 x 10-s 10 7.20 x 10 "

Xe-135m

.14612 -

Ar-41

.C35687 1.7594 x 10-5 7.5

'1.32 x 10 "

Kr-85

.0028517 1.4059 x 10-'

1 1.41 x 10 '

- 3 4.96 x 10-"

3.91 x 10 2

Air Particulates and Iodines:

I-131:

N/A I-133:

N/A 2

Total Release (Based on Computer) :

0004 - 2/20 - 3.53 Ci 0004 - 2/19 - 2.35 Ci 1.18 Ci -.13 Ci (daily average) = 1.03 Ci i

1.03 Ci x Xe-133 MF = Xe-133 equivalent 1.03 x 7.8891 = 8.13 Ci Xe-133 equivalent total release Total Average Release Rate, Curies /Second:

3.91 x 10-8 Percent of 0.2 Curies /Second 1.96%

=

(permitted annual average release rate) 7903160II}

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NRC FORM 366 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (7 77)

LICENSEE EVENT REPORT

• CONTROL BLOCK:

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8 60 81 DOCKET NUM8ER 68 69 EVENT DATE 74 75 REPORT DATE 80 EVENT DESCRIPTION AND PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES h O 2 IWhile returning the K10B cryogenic system gas compressor to service f5TI'l I following repair, an inadvertent radioactive gaseous release occurred.

lAs the compressor 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 O 4 g l operator heard gas escaping through a vent valve inadvertently left open.

The valve was immediately closed.

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15.3.9.B.3 requires a 7-day l

O e g Idecay time prior to release.

The release rate was found to be less thanl l2 percent of the permitted annual average release rate.

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CODE TYPE N O.

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33 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 43 44 47 CAUSE DESCRIPTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS h Li o IThe operator failed to ensure that the valve was closed before 1

y lreturnina the comoressor to service.

The operator was reinstructed to I

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8 9 80 AT

% POWER OTHER STATUS Dis OV RY DISCOVERY DESCRIPTION W@ l ll 0l 0l@lN/A l

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i s A TIVtTY CO TENT RELEASED OF RELEASE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY LOCATION OF RELEASE [G,,_j @ (,Nj@l1.03 Curies total l

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8 9 11 12 80 LOSS OF OR OAMAGE TO FACILITY TYPE

DESCRIPTION

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8 9 10 68 69 80 g Sol Burstein NAME OF PREPARER PHONE:

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ATTACHMENT TO LICENSEE EVENT REPORT NO. 79-001/0lT-0 Wisconsin Electric Power Company Point Beach Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Docket No. 50-266 An inadvertent radioactivo 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-119 ) 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 1.96% of the permitted annual average release rate of 0.2 Curies per second.

The total release was 1.03 Curies of noble gases.

An 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.