ML19296D704
| ML19296D704 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 02/25/1980 |
| From: | Schwencer A Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Proffitt W VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003130032 | |
| Download: ML19296D704 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES i
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
/. C WASHINGTON. D. C. 20555
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%, ' v j' FEGRUARY 2 5 1960 Docket No. 50-338 Mr. W. L. Proffitt Senior Vice President - Power Virginia Electric and Power Company Post Office Box 2666 Richmond, Virginia 23261 Dear Mr.
P roffitt:
During the last several years, data have begun to indicate that the fission gas release rate from LWR fuel pellets is increased (enhanced) with burnup.
Many of the current fuel performance analyses do not consider the impact of burnup-enhanced release on safety. By letters dated November 23, 1976, the NRC staff requested all LWR licensees to assess the higher fission gas release for fuel burnups above 20,000 Megawatt-day per metric ton (MWD /t).
Also, by NRC staff letter dated January 18, 1978, all U. S. LWR fuel suppliers were requested to revise their fuel performance analyses to include the enhance-ment of fission gas relet.se at higher burnups.
All responses to the November 23, 1976 letters have been reviewed.
We have concluded that no immediate licensing action is required for operating reactors.
This conclusion is valid for typical reported LWR fuel bundle and batch burn-ups. Any extension of these burnups or other factors which significantly affect fission gas release, LOCA PCT or fuel rod internal pressure is outside the scope of the conclusion.
Westinghouse was the on'y fuel supplier calculating that the increased release would cause internal fue! r1d pressure to exceed coolant system pressure. The staff has approved revised design criteria which allow internal rod pressures greater than system pressure. The staff is also completing the review of a Westinghouse revised fuel performance code. The staff, in evaluating reloads, has been requesting licensees using Westinghouse fuel to quantify the burnup when the newly approved design criteria will be violated.
In the reloads eval-uated thus far, there appears to be a significant burnup margin to the newly approved evaluated design criteria to compensate for modifications which may result from the staff's review of the Westinghouse revised fuel performance code.
Inasmuch as you and/or the staff will be evaluating all future reloads against fuel vendors' revised fuel performance codes which provide for increase in fission gas release at higher burnups, we consider this a satisfactory resolution of this concern.
Sincerely,
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A. Schwencer, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #1 Division of Operating Reactors cc: See next page 800318 0 D Q
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Mr. J. H. Ferguson FEBRUARY ? 5 560 Virginia Electric and Power Company cc:
Mr. Anthony Gambardella Mr. Micnael S. Kidd Office of the Attorney General U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11 South 12th Street - Room 308 P. O. Box 128 Richmond, Virginia 23219 Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553 Richard M. Foster, Esquire Director, Technical Assessment Division 1230 A Pearl Street Office of Radiation Programs (AW-459)
Denver, Colorado 80203 U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Crystal Mall (2 Michael W. Maupin, Esquire Arlington, Virginia 20460 Hunton, Williams, Gay and Gibson P. O. Box 1535 U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Richmond, Virginia 23212 Region III Office ATTN: EIS C0ORDINATOR Mrs. June Allen Curtis Building 6th and Walnut Streets 412 Owens Drive Huntsville, Alabama 35801 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 Mr. James Torson Alderman Library 501 Leroy Manuscripts Department Socorro, New Mexico 87801 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 Mrs. Margaret Dietrich Route 2, Box 568 Mr. Edward Kube Gordonsville, Virginia 22042 Board of Supervisors Louisa County Courthouse Ellyn R. Weiss, Esquire P. O. Box 27 Shsicon, Harron, Roisman and Weiss Louisa, Virginia 23093 1725 I Street, N.W., Suite 506 Washii:gton, D. C.
20006 Mr. J. B. Jackson, Jr.
Commonwealth of Virginia Mr. James C. Dunstan Council on the Environment State Corporation Commission 903 Ninth Street Office Building Commonwealth of Virginia Richmond, Virginia 23129 Blandon Building Ricnmond, Virginia 23209 Mr. Paul W. Purdom Environmental Studies Institute Mr. A. D. Johnson, Chairman Drexel University Board of Supervisors of Louisa County 32nd and Chestnut Streets Trevillians, Virginia 23170 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Mr. J. H. Ferguson Virginia Electric and Power Company REPUARY 2 5 000 cc:
Mr. W. R. Cartwright, Statior Manager P. O. Box 402 Mineral, Virginia 23117 Alan S. Rosenthal, Esquire Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D. C.
20555 Michael C. Farrar, Esquire Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D. C.
20555 Dr. John H. Buck Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D. C.
20555 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel V. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D. C.
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