ML19320D428
| ML19320D428 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron, Braidwood, Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1980 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Reed C COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007210356 | |
| Download: ML19320D428 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES E"
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
'c.E REGION 111 D[-
799 ROOSEVELT ROAD Q,
GLEN ELLYN,ILLINolS 60137 o
E N ? 8 1980 Docket No. 50-295, 50-304, 50-456 50-457, 50-454 and 50-455 Commonwealth Edison Company ATTN:
Mr. Cordell Reed Vice President Post Office Box 767 Chicago, IL 60690 Gentlemen:
The enclosed Circular No. 80-13 is forwarded to you for information.
If there are any questions related to your understanding of the suggested actions, please contact this office.
Sincerely, gh y f James G. Kepp er Director
Enclosure:
IE Circular No. 80-13 cc w/ encl:
Mr. D. L. Peoples, Director Director, NRR/DPM of Nuclear Licensing Director, NRR/ DOR Mr. R. Cosaro, Project PDR Superintendent Local PDR Mr. Gunner Sorensen, Site NSIC Project Superintendent TIC Mr. N. Wandke, Plant Mr. Dean Hansell, Office of Superintendent Assistant Attorney General Central Files Myron M. Cherry, Chicago l
i 80072103fo.
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SSINS No.: 6830 Accessions No.:
UNITED STATES 7910250495 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 28, 1980 IE Circular No. 80-13 GRID STRAP DAMAGE IN WESTINGHOUSE FUEL ASSEMBLIES Description of Circumstances:
During the refueling operation at Salem Unit 1, it was noted by the licer.see that some of the assemblies that were removed had suffered grid strap mechanical damage. This was reported to the NRC in LER 79-44.
Subsequent to this discovery all fuel assemblies were removed from the core for examination.
The degree of the damage to the grid straps was classified in three cate-gories: small pieces missing (15 assemblies), grid material ripped and laid over (5 assemblies), larger sections missing and fuel pins exposed (11 assemb-lies).
N. damage to the fuel pins was observed.
A total of 31 assemblies suffered acme grid damage.
The damage appeared to be the result of corner to corner interaction of the grid straps of diagonally adjacent fuel assemblies during the vertical loading and unloading movements.
No correlation of the damage to core location, grid strap elevation, or manufacturing and shipping batches has been identified.
The licensee and the fuel manufacturer established the following guidelines for reloading damaged assemblies: (1) those assemblies with full width pieces missing will not be reloaded for cycle 2, (2) those assemblies with deformed edges and those with small pieces missing will be reloaded with special pro-cedures to prevent further damage.
Salem Unit 1 is fueled with 17X17 Westinghouse assemblies.
Similar grid problems have occurred at other facilities fueled with 14X14 and 15X15 Westinghouse assemblies; however, fewer assemblies were damaged in those instances.
Recommended Actions:
All licensees using 14X14, 15X15, or 17X17 Westinghouse assemblies are advised to:
(1) Visually inspect grid straps of those fuel assemblies which are
-discharged from the core as well p@%MW"FWWWTTESF"?N the spent fuel pool for control rer -
A returned to the core.
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