ML19345B568

Clarifies TMI-related Requirements for New Operator Licenses Re Training During Low Power Testing.Tests Should Demonstrate Length of Time Required to Stabilize Natural Circulation

ML19345B568
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	11/14/1980
From:	Tedesco R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Nichols T SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO.
References
NUDOCS 8012020081
Download: ML19345B568 (2)

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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j

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gv HOV 141980 Docket No. 50-395 Mr. T. C. Nichols, Jr.

Vice President & Group Executive Nuclear Operations South Carolina Electric & Gas Company P. O. Box 754 Columbia, South Carolina 29281

SUBJECT:

CLARIFICATION OF TMI-RELATED P,EQUIREMENTS FOR NEW OPERATING LICENSES REQUIREMENT FOR TRAINING DURING LOW POWER TESTING In our letter of October 23,1980 (R. Tedesco to T. Nichols) we outlined our requirements for the augmentcd low power startup test program for Virgil C.

Sunmer Nuclear Station, Unit No.1.

This letter is intended to amplify the requirements specified in that letter.

Your program, cs submitted for our review, should provide for the following:

Each licensed reactor operator (R0 or SR0 who performs R0 or SR0 duties, respectively) should experience the initiation, maintenance and recovery from natural circulation mode, using nuclear heat to simulate decay heat.

Operators should be able to recognize when aatural circulation has stabi-lized, and should be able to control saturation margin, RCS pressure, and heat removal rate without exceeding specified operating limits.

These tests should demonstrate the following plant characteristics:

length of time required to stabilize natural circluation, core flow distribution, ability to establish and maintain natural circulation with or without onsite and offsite power, and the ability to uniformly borate and cool down to hot shutdown conditions using natural circulation. The latter demonstration may be performed using decay heat following power ascension and vendor acceptance tests, and need only be perfomed at those plants for which the test has not been demonstrated at a comparable prototype pl ant.

Our approval of your program will be subject to conformance with the above requirements and the following criteria:

These tests should not pose an undue risk to the public.

The risk of equipment damage must be low.

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e T. C. Nichols The format for your procedures should be consistent with Regulatory Guide 1.68.

The procedures and your safety evaluation for your program should be submitted to I&E and NRR at least four weeks prior to the date of parforming the tests.

The results of the special low power tests should be documented as part of the "Startup Test Report" (see Regulatory Guide 1.16).

Sincerely, h dE dTA*o Robert L. Tedesco, Assistant Director for Licensing Division of Licensing

Enclosure:

As stated s

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3,.gg a p WAsumaTon o.c.2 ossa Vo/

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1 Docket No. 50-395 3 1980 I

Mr. T. C. Nichols, Jr.

Vice President & Grcup Executive Nuclear Operations South Carolina Electric & Gas Company P. O. Box 764 Columbia, South Carolina 29281

SUBJECT:

AUGMENTED LOW-POWER STARTUP TEST PROGRAM - VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 One result of the Three Mile Island accident studies is the requirement for operating license applicants to perform an aug.r.ented icw-pcwer startup-test program to provide operator training and design verification regarding natural circulation cL.:ditions.

and I.G.1 (Fuel load and full power requirement). Refer to NUREG-0694, items I.C.7 The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) proposed a program consisting of ten tests for the Sequoyah facility. There has been some uncertainty as to which of these tests should be performed by each of the other OL applicants at their facilities.

It is the NRC staff's. position that each OL applicant should perform tests similar to the tests proposed by TVA for Sequoyah prior to exceeding five 4

percent of rated thermal power except for Test 8, " Establishment of Neural

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Circulation From Stagnant Conditions," and Test 98, " Boron Mixing and Caoldown."

q Test 8 may be deleted if~ training for each operator is provided.

Training should include conducting a simulation of the event on a simulator that has u.

,f been updated as necessary using the Westinghesse and TVA test data collected at Sequoyah.

Test 98 must be performed. However, it may be modified and deferred until completion of the pcwer ascension program and manufacturer's acceptance test, provided that it is performed imediately following ca pletion of the manufacturer's acceptance test.

Chapter la of your FSAR should be modified as appropriate to reflect this condition if you elect deferral.

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Mr. T. C. Nichols, Jr. OCT 2 3 I980 The only other exceptions to the Sequoyah test program that will be considered will be those resulting from unique, plant specific differences that could cause one or more of the tests performed at Sequoyah to be unsafe if performed on another plant.

should be provided no later than OctoberTechnical justification for such exceptions, review and approval.

31, 1980, to the NRC staff for Sincerely,.

n-hW Robert L. Tedesco Assistant Director for Licensing Division of Licensing cc: Mr. William A. Williams, Jr.

Vice President South Carolina Public Service Authority 223 North Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, South Carolina 29461 J. P. Knotts, Jr., Esq.

Debevoise & Liberman 1200 17th Street, N. W.

Washingt.on, D. C.

20036 Mr. Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.

Group Manager - Nuclear Engineering & Licensing South Carolina Electric & Gas Company P. O. Scx 764 Columbia, South Carolina 29218

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Mr. Brett Allen Bursey a.-

Route 1, Box 93C Little Mountain, South Carolina 29076

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Resident Inspector / Summer NPS c/o U. S. NRC l',

Route-1, Box 64 u

Jenkinsville, South Carolina 29065

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Mr. T. C. Nichols, Jr.

Vice President & Group Executive Nuclear Operations South Carolina Electric & Gas Company P. 0.~ Box 764

-Columbia, South Carolina 29281 cc: Mr. William A. Williams, Jr; Vice President South Carolina Public Service Authority 223 North Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, South Carolina 29461 J. B. Knotts, Jr...Esq.

Debevoise & Liberman 120017th Street, N. W.

Washington, D. C.

20036 Mr. Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.

Group Manager.- Nuclear Engineering & Licensing South Carolina Electric & Gas Company P. O. Box ~764 Columbia, South Carolina 29218 Mr. Brett Allen Bursey Route 1, Box 93C Little Mountain, South Carolina 29076 Resident Inspector / Summer NPS c/o U. S. NRC Route 1, Box 64 Jenkinsville, South Carolina 29065 i

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