ML19322D171

Provides Rept on North Anna CP Application Review,Completed at ACRS Meeting 155 Held on 730308-10

ML19322D171
Person / Time
Site:	Crane, North Anna
Issue date:	03/13/1973
From:	Mangelsdorf H Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:	Ray D US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
References
TASK-TF, TASK-TMR NUDOCS 8002100008
Download: ML19322D171 (5)

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SdFEGUARDS l

v UNITED GTATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION y

wAsmHGToN, D.C. 20545 March 13, 1973

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Honorable Dixy Lee Ray Q.

Chairman

' f, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C.

20545

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Subject:

REPORT ON NORTH ANNA POWER STATION, UNITS NO. 3 AND NO. 4 7

Dear Dr. Ray:

At its 155th meeting, litrch 8-10, 1973, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards completed its review of the applicatJongf_the

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Virginia Electric and Power Company for authorization ftcons t ruc t) two nuclear units, identified as the North Anna Power Station, Units No. 3 and No. 4, in Louisa County, Virginia. This project was considered at a Subcommittee meeting at the site on December 22, 1972,

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at a Subcocznittee meeting on January 3,1973, in Washington, D.

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at the 153rd meeting of the Committee, Lnuary 11-13, 1973, in Washington, D.

C., and at a Subcommittee meeting on February 23, 1973, in Washington, D. C.

During its review, the Corrnitt.ce had the benefit of discussions with representatives and consultants of the Virginia Electric and Power Company, the Babcock & Wilcox Company, the Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation, and the AEC Regulatory Staff.

The Committee also had the benefit of the documents listed.

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The North Anna Power Station site consists of 1,075 acres of land in the northeastern corner of Louisa County, Virginia, on the south shore of Lake Anna, a 17 mile long, 13,000 acre man-made lake' created by impoundment of water in the North Anna River. Units No. 3 and No. 4 share the site with Nuclear Units No. I and No. 2, which are now under i

construction. The nearest population center is Fredericksburg, about I

24 miles northeast of the site, with a population of approximately l

15,000 in 1970. The minimum exclusion distance is 5,000 feet. The low population zone, extending six miles from the. site, had a 1970 l,

population of approximately 2000. The site is in a rural, extensively vooded, area which is interspersed wi.th farms.

Ea.ch of the two proposed nuclear steam supply systems will utilize a two-loop pressurized water reactor supplied by the Babcock & Wilcox Company and designed to operate at an initial power of 2,631 MWt.

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The thermal power level and the design of the nuclear steam supply I

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C 2-March 13, 1973 Honorable Dixy Lee Ray

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(i systems for the North Anna Units No. 3 and No. 4 are generally similar to those of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. However, the average and maximum linear power ratings are, respectively, about 22 percent and 8 percent higher for North Anna Units No. 3 and No. 4.

The Committee reiterates l'.s previous statements with respect to reactors designed

...T for high if aear power ratings that, if experience does not confirm the D

predicted performance, system modifications or restrictions on opera-tions may be appropriate.

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Becaure of the importance of the incore instrumentation for operation of this plant, the Committee urges that careful attention be given to.

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ensuring reliability and adequacy of the incore system. Experience with performance of similar systems in the Oconee Nuclear Station should be thoroughly examined to make certain that the information needed can be i

obtained with the accuracy required. The applicant stated that the

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reactor design does not preclude the capability of installing traveling 3

incore instrumentation. The Committee recommends that this flexibility be retained.

The applicant is reviewing the calculated performance of the emergency core cooling system following a postulated loss-of-coolant accident resulting from a break in a core flooding tank line. He has agreed to make such system changes as are determined to be necessary.

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(h The potential effects of fuel performance and LOCA-related phenomena for the possible spectrum of break sizes on acceptable linear power ratings for the North Anna Units No. 3 and No. 4 require further study.

In addition, the Committee believes it important that improvements in i

ECCS effectiveness be investigated and included, as practical. The Committee recommends that the final design of the ECCS be reviewed by the Regulatory Staff and the ACRS prior to fabrication and installation y

of major components.

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T 1E applicant has under study means to mitigate the consequences of f

ossible rupture of the main steam lines and feedwater lines outside q

the conta'. ament building. This matter should be resolved to the 1

satisfacci.on of the Regulatory Staff; the Committee wishes to be

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kept informed.

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The applicant has indicated that the design of the reactor vessel and -

k internals will have the benefit of experience obtained. In the Oconee

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Nuclear Power Station Unit No.-l. as well as other Babcock & Wilcox data.

y The applicant will perform a prototype-plant vibration test program on the North Anna Unit No. 3.

The Committee wishes to emphasize the

.'3 desirability of using the available technology to monitor-for excessive

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vibrations, loose parts, or other anomalous effects in the primary Jr.

system during operation.

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Honorable Dixy Lee Ray M r,ch 13, 1973 t.

The Committee' believes it desirable for the applicant and 1he Regulatory Staff to review further North Anna Power Station Units No.' 3 and No. 4 for design features that should reduce the possibility and consequences of sabotage, in accordance with Safety Guide No. 17, " Protection Against Industrial Sabotage."

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The applicant is reviewing the quality group classification of portions (g

of the component cooling system relative to Safety Guide 26, " Quality iy Group Classifications and Standards." This matter should be resolved j!

in a manner satisfactory to the Regulatory Staff.

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The F.cgulatory Staf f is reviewing the pressure margins used by the

• Mc applicant in the design of containment sub-compartments to withstand the ef fects of pressure transients. This matter should be resolved in a manner satisfactory to the Regulatory Staf f.

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A review of the proposed environmental survei? ' ance program revealed several unresolved questions with respect to sample collection and analysis, particularly as to the usefulness of the resulting data for f{c estimating population dose.

This matter should be resolved in a manner satisfactory to the Regulatory Staff.

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Studies are in progress relating to the effects of a failure to scram during anticipated transients and of design features which would make tolerable the results of such an event. These studies should be expedited and the matter resolved during construction in a manner f

satisfactory to the Regulatory Staff and the ACRS.

The Committee believes that, unicas the applicant can demonstrate that the probability of a serious accident arising from turbine missile

..g j]p generation is acceptably low, further measures both to reduce the i,lT probability and the potential consequences of turbine missile genera-

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tion, including considerations of overspeed, be studied and implemented, l.8 Analytical and experimental work on the penetration of reinforced

, 3, concrete by missiles of the type of interest is an example of the kinds t A.

of data important to evaluation of this problem.

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Other problems relating to large water reactors, which have bee'n

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.i identified by the Regulatory Staff and the ACRS and cited in previous

'1 reports,should be dealt with apprnpriately by the Regulatory Staff and the applicant as suitable approaches are developed.

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The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards believes that the items mentioned above can be resolved during construction and that, if due

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v Honorable Dixy Lee.. y March 13, 1973 m.

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consideration is given to the foregoing, the North Anna Power Station, l,[

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Units No. 3 and No. 4 can be constructed wi.th reasonabic assurance that they can be operated withou't undue risk to the health and safety of the public.

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Sincerely yours,

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' VL F.I, H. G. Mangelsdor

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Chairman

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References:

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1) Virginia Electric and Power Company Application for License to Construct and Operate Nort51 Anna Power Station, Units No. 3 and

' ', f No. 4, with Volumes 1 through 4, Preliminary Safety Analysis y

Report, and Volumes I and II, Supplementary Preliminary Safety

,. 3 Analysis Report l

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2) Amendments 1 through 15 to the Application F j.)

3) Virginia Electric and Power Company letter to DL dated December 27, 1972 re: General Information Required for Consideration of the Effects of a Piping: System Break Outside Containment

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4) Virginia Electric and Power Company letter to DL dated December 27, 1972 re: construction permits for North Anna Units No. 3 and No. 4

5) Virginia Electric and Power Company letter dated December 29, 1972 M

furnishing information regarding the Safety Evaluation Position on i Z the service water reservoir for North Anna Units No. 3 and No. 4 a

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DL Safety Evaluation, received December 29, 1972 g ;, o

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7) Virginia Electric and Power Company letter to DL dated January 2, y

1973 re: analysis of the effects of fuel densifts ation

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8) Virginia Electric and Power Company Ictter to DL dated January 10, "4!

1973 re:

Safety Evaluation Position concerning application for a Ii f$

construction permit m-f.)

9) Virginia Electric and Power.,mpany letter dated January 16, 1973 3( 2 re: exemption request m

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10) Virginia Electric and Power Ccmpany letter dated January 23, 1973 r

report entitled, " Mixing of Combustible Cases in the Containment re:

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Subcompartments Following a LOCA for North Anna Units No. 3 and No. 4

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o Honorable Dixy Lee Ray * :.

March,.13, 1973

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References (Cont'd):

.5 11)

Virginia Electric and Power Company letter dated January

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25, 1973

. to DL re:

function of active valves under normal system operation l:

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Virginia Electric. And Power Company' letter to DL dated February 2 1973 re:

report entitled "Radiolodine Releases" y,

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Virginia Electric and Power Company letter dated February 9,1973 g,

Q to DL furnishing information regarding turbine rotor and disc inspection at the North Anna No. 3 and No. 4 14)

Virginia Electric and Power Company letter to DL dated February 16 1973 re:

application for construction permits for North Anna No. 3 9;

and No. 4 y

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Virginia Electric and Power Company letter dated February 15 to DL re:

1973 additional information on the construction permits k

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Virginia Electric and' Power Company letter dated February 16 W

to DL re:

1973 additional information on the construction permits 17)

Virginia Electric and Power Company letter dated February 21 g ;t",

to DL re:

1973 intentions and conditions which must be met i h

application for construction permits n the 18)

DL Supplement No.

I to the Safety Evaluation dated February 21, 1973 19)

Virginia Electric and Power Company letter dated March 7

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radioiodine releases and the service water system at Nor'th' Anna 1973 re:

No. 3 and No. 4 l

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