ML19329A182
| ML19329A182 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 11/12/1976 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19329A181 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912300210 | |
| Download: ML19329A182 (5) | |
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NOV 121976 EVAI11ATION OF TE C0hTAllEENT IEAK TESTING PROGRAM FOR TE
_OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT NOS.1. 2. AND 3 IhTRODUCTION By our letter, dated August 4,1975, the Duke Power Company (DPC) was requested to review the Oconee Nuclear Stations in terms of the current containment leak testing program, and the associated Technical Specifica-tions, for compliance with the requirements of Appendix J to 10 CFR 50 As part of this request, DPC wa.s to determine the planned actions and the associated schedule for attaining conformance with the above cited regula-tion.
Appendix J to 10 CFR 50 was published on February 14, 1973. Since many operatinE nuclear plants had either received an operating license
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or were in advanced stages of design or construction at that time, some f nts may.not now be in full compliance with the requirements of this regulation.
Therefors, beginning in August 1975, requests for review of the extent of compliance with the requirements of Appendix J were made of each licensee.
Following the initial responses to these requests, NRC staff positions were developed which would provide assurance that the objectives of the testing requirements of the regulation were satisfied.
These staff positions have since been applied in our review of the sub-mittal filed by the Oconee licensee and the results are reflected in the following evaluation.
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NOV 12 B75 EVAWATION Section III.D.2 of Appendix J requires that airlocks be leak tested at six month intervals. However, airlocks which are opened during such intervals are to be leak tested after each openin6 In a submittal dated Septenber 5,1975, DPC indicated that:
hatch outer door seals are (a) the personnel hatch and emergent" being tested at four month intervals, except when the hatches are not opened during that interval and (b) in no case shall the test intervals be longer than 12 months.
DPC has requested an exemption from the requirements of Appendix J to allow a continuation of the current airlock leak testir:g frequency.
However, DPC has not provided sufficient justification to support the difference between its proposed airlock leak testing frequency and that required by Appendix J.
In order to assure that the testing of air locks on all operating reactors be dealt with in an equitable manner we have prepared and set forth in Attachment A what the staff considers to be acceptable approaches.
Enclosed is a copy of Attachnent A which may be of assistance in preparing i
responses to the above comments.
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NOV 12 s76 ATTACHMENT A CONTAINMENT AIRLOCKS k
Appendix J to 10 CFR 50 requires.that reactor containment airlo (Pa) at six -
'be leak tested at the peak calculated accident pressure Further, should the air locks be opened during such month intervals.
Appendix inter rals, the airlocks will be leak tested af ter each opening.
J calls out these specific requirements for airlocks,because they repre i
hunan error sent a potentially large leakage path that is more subject to i
than other isolation barriers.
h The objectives of the airlock leak testing requirements are (1) t a leakage rate for the entire integrated the six month test will provide an tions, the airlock assembly, including elee ;rical and mechanical penetra d other airlocks cylinder, hinge assemblies, weldad connections, an "af ter each opening" test
? chat the potential leakage paths; s the door seals have not been will provide a means of assuring that damaged or seated improperly during airlock use.
For those operating facilities that were designed and constructe f Appendix J, consideration has been given to
. prior to the' issuance o hich will meet the alternatives to the specific testing requirements w Listed below are a number of guidelines the provisions of Appendix J.
t airlock leak which may be useful when considering or revising curren testing programs.
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4 A
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s NOV12 1976 1.
At six month irtervals the entire airlock assembly shall be e
If the test pressure leak tested at the peak pressure, Pa.
will lif t the inner airlock door off its seat, strongbacks or other mechancial devices should be used so that meaningful test results can be o.
ined at Pa.
Should the airlock be opened during the interval between the 2.
six month tests, the airlock door seals shall be leak tested 1
This within 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> of every first of a series of openings.
relaxation in the "after each opening" test requirement of Appendix J recognizes that a significant amount of time is required to conduct these intermediate tests in relation to the frequency of use of the airlock. These tests would be conducted whenever containment integrity is required.
For those plants which require the use of.stron.gbackt or 3.
clamps to leak test the door seal: et a preSP**Te 78, O lower pressure (e.g., manufacturer's recommended pressure, which would not require the use of such clamping devices)
The should L used to conduct the intermediate tests.
results of leakage tests at the lower pressure shall be
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conservatively extrapolated to a leakage rate at the accident pressure Pa to determine acceptabi?ity.
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SY l 2 576 'In lieu of the intermediate tests,an acceptable alternative would 4.
As in the case of be the use of a continuous monitoring system.
reduced pressure intermediate tests,it must be demonstrated that the leakage rate using a continuous pressurized monitoring system is suf ficiently sensitive, and can and will be conservatively extrapolated to the leakage rate that would be experienced under 1
accident conditions (i.e., at a pressure of Pa).
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