ML19345E455
| ML19345E455 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 12/20/1967 |
| From: | Palladino N Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Seaborg G US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19345E454 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8101190363 | |
| Download: ML19345E455 (4) | |
Text
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mn ADVISORY C0tEITIEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS
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UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY C0tMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C.
20545 December 20, 1967 Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg Chaiman U. S. Atomic Energy Comission Washington, D. C.
Subject:
REPORT ON BIG ROCK POINT NUCLEAR PIANT
Dear Dr. Seaborg:
At its eighty-ninth meeting, September 7-9, 1967 and ninety-second meeting, Dece:rber 7-9, 1967, the Advisory Cct:mittee on Reactor Safeguards considered the application by Consumers Power Company for authorization to install six high perfomance develognental fuel assemblies in the Big Pock Point Reactor.
During its review, the Comittee had the benefit of discussions with repre-x sentatives of Consumers Power Company, General Electric Company, and the AEC g
Regulatory Staff and of the documents referenced. Subcomittee meetings were held in L'ashington, D. C. on September 6,1967 and Decerrber 5,1967.
The six developmental assemblies are designed to obtain infomation concern-ing fuel rods operating with central melting. Two of the six assemblies will contain fuel rods with a 0.57 inch outside diameter designed for incipient center melting during full power operation of the reactor. The fuel rods in the other four asse.mblies have an outside dianeter of 0.70 inches and are to operate with considerable center melting. Consumers Power Company plans to install the test fuel assemblies during the next refueling period, currently scheduled for January 1968. After a peak exposure of 3000 MWD /T has been m ached in the test fuel, the reactor will be shut down and the test fuel removed for examination. These fuel rods will be subjected to nondestructive examination. After a three-month decay period, four fuel rods will be shipped to Vallecitos Nuclear Center for destructive tests. During continuation of the irradiation program, the reactor will be shut down for periodic fuel exa.'rination.
1 DotIg634,&
e COPY Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg December 20, 1967 Because experience with high perfomance fuels, particularly those in which some of the fuel is in the molten state, is limited, the Comittee recomends The Com-that the applicant use caution in prosecution of the test program.
mittee recomends that extra caution be given to operations if signs of failum of the experimental fuel appear. To this end, the Comittee urges that work be done to develop improved methods for prompt detection of gross failure of an experimental fuel element.
As a further precaution, the Comittee recomends a more conservative approach to returning of the 0.70-inch center melt lods to the reactor after the first irradiation period. Specifically, it recomends that, after the first inspection period (at approximately 3000 %f/T burnup),
the 0.70-inch diameter rods not be retumed to the reactor until the re-sults on the four rods selected for destructive examination have been obtained and show to the satisfaction of the AEC Regulatory Staff that the rod themal conditions and perfomance during irradiation are essential-ly as predicted and that additional irradiation may be undertaken safely.
The applicant reported that, as additional protection against core meltdown in the unlikely event of rupture of the core spray line, means will be pro-vided for prmpt delivery of water from the fire protection system to the reactor pressure vessel. The Comittee reccmnends ccr:pletion of this system before the experim2ntal assemblies are operated.
In recognition of the safety aspects of the operation, Consumers Power Company has several programs in progress to improve the safety character-istics of the Big Fock Point Reactor. These include installation of another external power line (nearly ocepleted); examination of the safety instru-mentation system for possible negation of safety action through single faults; installation of a nozzle support system to protect against red ejection in the unlikely event of control red nozzle failure; and modification of the emergency core cooling system to improve its protective capacity (within a year or two). The Comittee approves of these steps, and urges expedition of their ccupletion.
The applicant is also planning a detailed inspection program for the primary system piping and cceponents. It was stated that the inspection is hampered by the radioactivity in the primary system, so that special arrangements and fixtures will be required. The Cmmittee recumiends that the in-service inspection program be expedited, and that consideration be given to a hydro-static test of the primary system, before the developnental assemblies are installed, at a pressure only slightly lower than the pressure-relief valve settings.
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I 3-Decer k 20, 1967 l
Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg l
The Comrittee believes that, in view of the femrable characteristics of the Big Pock Point site, and subject to the recome.%itions stated above, the reactor can be operated with the high perfomance test asse:rblies with-out undue risk to the health and safety of the public.
Sincerely yours, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY N. J. PALLADINO N. J. Palladino Chaiman Refererces Attached.
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Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg December 20, 1967
- ' References - Big Rock Point Reactor 1.
Consumers Power Company letter, dated May 26, 1967, with Proposed Change No. 13 to the Technical Specifications for the Big Rock Point Paactor.
2.
Consumers Power Company letter, dated May 29, 1967, with Errata Sheet and Figure 25 for Proposed Change No. 13.
3.
Consumers Power Company letter, dated August 15, 1967, with Answers to Additional Information Requested Regarding Proposed Chango No.13.
4 4
General Electric 'IWX, dated August 24, 1967, to Division of Reactor Licensing re Results of 2-Pump Trip frun Rated Power.
i 5.
Consumers Power Company letter, dated November 10, 1967, with Additional Information Required in Support of Proposed Change No.13.
6.
References Associate 1 with Answer to Question 2 of Answers to 5dditional Information Requested Regartling Proposed Change No.13.
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