ML19309B866
| ML19309B866 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fort Saint Vrain  |
| Issue date: | 03/04/1980 |
| From: | Justin Fuller PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF COLORADO |
| To: | Speis T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| P-80036, NUDOCS 8004070286 | |
| Download: ML19309B866 (2) | |
Text
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public service company off o d le n d e 12015 East 46th Avenue, Suite 440; Denver, CO 80239 March 4, 1980 l
Fort St. Vrain Unit No. 1 P-80036 Mr. Themis P. Speis, Chief Advanced Reactors Branch Division of Project Management Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive Suite 1000 Arlington, Texas 76012
Subject:
FSV Fuel Particles OPyC Microporosity
Reference:
Letter Speis to Fuller February 6,1980
Dear Mr. Speis:
In the opinion of the Public Service Company of Colorado, the subject of OPyC microporosity was reported to the NRC in a timely fashion based upon the information originally presented to PSC by GA and in light of the in reactor performance of the fuel to date.
The original information concerning microporosity presented to PSC was that a higher than anticipated fertile particle OPyC failure rate may be expected if the data from the referenced capsule irradiation test was interpreted correctly. Even if the higher rate of fertile fuel particle failure were to occur, the total anticipated number of failures was not expected to exceed the number of failures assumed in the FSAR.
The release of fission products from the failed fertile particles was then assumed to occur following complete hydrolysis of these particles resulting in a circulating inventory of fission products in the primary coolant that exceeded that allowed by the Technical Specifications if the plant was operated in excess of approximately 75% of rated thermal power.
Insofar as the plant is presently limited to 70% of rated power, the increased particle failure, if it occurs, is expected to start to occur toward the end of Cycle 2, and because the present rate of release of fission products from the fuel esults in a circulating inventory of fission products that is a factor of 30 less than design at 70% power, 000) 5//o 8 0 04 070 ass j
Mr.-Themis P. Speis
-March 4, 1980 Page 2 it was PSC's considered opinion that further testing should be completed prior to infoming the NRC to assure the initial' information from GA was infact valid. Under these circumstances, PSC considers their notification to the NRC to be both timely and prudent and in compliance l
with the Technical Specifications and regulations concerning submission of such reports.
Very truly yours,
/ // ~
J/. Fuller, Vice President gineering and Planning JKF/FES:pa
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