ML19319C768
| ML19319C768 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 02/11/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Parshall G E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO., INC. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19319C767 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003040706 | |
| Download: ML19319C768 (2) | |
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I Docket No. 50-320 George W. Parshall E. I. Du Pont De Nemours a Co..
I Central Research and Development Geoartment Experimental Station W11minaton, Delaware 19898
Dear Mr. Parshall:
Your interest in the continuing effort of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) to resolve problems associated with the Three Mile Island accident is appreciated.
Your letter of April 16, 1979, to Chairman HendMe suggested that operators of nuclear power plants be recuired to maintain records of the comoosition of coolant water (i.e., pH, dissolved solids, additives and particulate matter).
We have long recognized the importance of such a requirement. We require that the operators of pressurized water reactors maintain limits on the amounts of oxygen, chlorides and fluorides in the oHmary coolant fluid. These impurities have been shown to be the major cause of degradation of piping materials. We also require that records be kept of the water quality analysis.
With respect to your coments on requiMng utilities to measure trace elements, some nuclear power olants do include in their reactor coolant wter chemistry program the analysis of items such as lead, sulfates, nitrates, and other contaminants. However, this is not a mandatory requirenent by the NRC.
The primary coolant water of a number of pressuMzed water reactors has been extensively analyzed and characteHred. This characterization included the evaluation of a number of trace elements. There is an extensive body of literature available on this subject with details of the elements analyzed and the analytical procedures employed.. For examole, an excellent recent review paper is the Electric Power Research Institute Report,' EPRI-NP-522 dated March 1979, entitled, " Survey of. Corrosion Product Generation. Transport, and Deposition in Light Water Nuclear Reactors."
It is tnse that we need to know more about the role that trace elements play in stress corvosion cracking, especially at hich temperatures. Research programs sponsored by both NRC and the ElectMe PSwer Research Institute are currently investigatino mechanisms of corrosion aM transoort of corrosion products within the light water reactor systems. These programs which are lookinc at the entire aspect of stress corrosion cracking in nuclear components include work on the effect of trace elements,. and it is expected that their role in stress corrosion cracking will be claMfied on completion of the research effort.
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George W. Parshall I appreciate your concern in this matter and trust that this information will demonstrate that we are fully aware of the imoortance of water chemistry in all its aspects.
Sincerely yours.
Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Muclear Reactor Regulation Distribution:
Docket File (50-320)
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