ML20031D806
| ML20031D806 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/23/1977 |
| From: | Ross D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Vassallo D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20031D800 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-81-236 NUDOCS 8110140232 | |
| Download: ML20031D806 (3) | |
Text
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DEC 2I P.El@RANDUM FOR:
D. B. Vassallo, Assistant Director for Light Water Reactors. DPM t
I FR0":
D. F. Ross, r., Assistant Director for Reactor Safety DSS
SUBJECT:
REQUESTS FOR B&W TCPICAL REPORTS I
I Over the past several conths we have requested that B&W prepare topical
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reports on (1) Mark C fuel asseebly fretting and wear, (2) P. ark C fuel assembly cycling and fatigue, and (3) B,C control rods (see nemoranda, i
Ross to Yassallo, l', arch 4 and Septer.ber 1,1977). B&W has responded to these requests via letters dated Septecber 13 and October 11, 1977.
In brief, B3W has stated that topical reports on these subjects are j
not warranted. Our position on each of these issues is provided j
individually below.
In addition, we note that the recent subrittal on D'I-2 BfC-grachtte burnable poison rods and Gd 0,-UO deraonstration i
y fuel rods indicate a potential need for topical reports on these subjects. Your assistance in conveying these needs to B&W is desired.
f Frettine and ear 1
In the Septer.ber 13, 1977 letter, B&W states that a topical report on Mark C assear.bly fretting and wear is not warranted because much of i
the information we requested is provided in the Mark C R&D progra semi-annual reports. These status reports are, however, very lean doc'5ents,. Containing a nodicum of infomation (of ten as a one-word description of test status; e.g. corplete). For example, in the t
f Septeober 6,1977 status report, the discussion of the assembly life and wear tests simply states, in atsence, that fuel rod fretting behavior " continued to be excellent" and the "results were as expected".
In contrast, our nerorandun of March 4,1977 contained a suggested report outline which was quite comprehensive and which included discussion of design linits, design description, etc. The depth i
of detail required for these report sections wa~ clearly indicated in our memorandum.
In short, the P. ark C R&D pryram status reports i
do not contain the infomation in the detail requested. Moreover, we wish to make the broader observation that seni-annual P1,3 status reports are not reviewable; i.e., they do not present infomation in a referenceable fom conducive to technical review. We still believe, therefore, that a topical report on itark C fuel assenbly fretting and wear is needed and request' that you infom B&W of our need.
J f
Contact:
H. Tokar, 27603 1
(8110140232 810906 J
- PDR FOI A BROWN 81-236 PDR j
23W LEC
'Cyclino and Fatihu' 4,
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e Regarding cycling and fatigue, B&W states in the September 13, 1977 letter that a topical report is not warranted because tnis'information.
will be provided in the TVA FSAR scheduled for submittal before the end of the year. 'In this particular case, because the information is, reportedly already included in the TVA FSAR, we can review it on that "
docket. Hence, we are withdrawing our request for a separate topical report. B&W should be advised, however, that we intend to ensure that all of the infomation requested in our March 4,1977 memorancum has been provided in sufficient detail in the TVA FSAR.
B./C Control Rods B&W states, in an October 11','1977 letter from J. H. Taylor to S. Varga, that it is not possible to submit a topical report on B/C control rods one year prior to the submittal of the FSAR on the first plant to use B t, (as we had requested in our September 12, 1977 memorandum to you).y The FSAR on the TVA Bellefonte Units, the first PAW 205 plants to utilize BjC control rods, was scheduled for submittal on December 1, 1977. Although we understar.d that the planned FSAR sub-cittal has slipped to January 1978, it is obvious that the review schedule will oblige us to resolve the use of Bf control rods on the TVA docket. Hence, no separate topical report will be required. B&W should be notified, however, that all the information requested in our September 12, 1977 recorandtra must be included in the Bellefonte FSAR, including plans for routine surveillance to assure that the reactivity invested in the control rods is not lost through some failure mechanism.
i e
Tooical P.eoorts on B/C-Graphite Burnable Poison Rods and Gd;0 -UOx Fuel Rods Recent letter submittals on Threo Itile Island Unit 2 have infomed us of B&W's proposed irradiation of soae. B.;C-C burnable rods (BRPs) and demonstration Gd 0 -UO 23 3 fuel rods. We believe, as a general rule, that it is desirable to enceurage the use of demonstrction rods and we are providing an SER supplement to T)i!-2 which approves of these tests. Before core-wide use of these new poisen designs can be approved, however, B&W should prepare a topical report on each design.
Please I
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request such reports. The topicai reports should address material -
properties and post-irradiation examination of these test rods.
OriginaI signed By D.F.Ross Denwood F. Ross, Jr., Assistant Director for Reactor Safety Division.of Systems Safety cc: w/o enciesure S. Hanauer P. Check R. Meyer Fuels Section F. Coffman R. Lobel S. Yarga J. Wilson C. Hann, PHL J.
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