ML20037B676

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RO 80-069/01X-0:on 801007,w/reactor at 96% Steady State Power Operation,Reactor Vessel Relief Valve Rv 203-3A Opened.Caused by High Nitrogen Pressure Resulting in Leakage Into Diaphragm of Valve.Pressure Reduced
ML20037B676
Person / Time
Site: Pilgrim
Issue date: 10/10/1980
From: Mcloughlin M
BOSTON EDISON CO.
To:
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
RO-80-069-01X, RO-80-69-1X, NUDOCS 8010310501
Download: ML20037B676 (2)


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30STc'( ZCISON C:'MPAi,t f

TI:.ZCOPY MESEA02 4

215-337-5326 nate/T w. Oct. 10.

L980 7

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Telephone.husner i

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Dirce or, Re6 on I

? rom:

Pi** grim !fuclear Power Station l

1 Office of Inspection and Enforcement SSD #1 Rocky 'Ifit Road i

t'. S. Nuclear Regu'.accr r C ::::ission PlytnouLh, MA C2360 631 ? ark Avenue Kla3 o f P r.:s s :.A, PA 19406 ubj act:

?RCMPY RI20R-A3*.E rCCRGCE Docksc Number 10-293 ; 1icense O??.-35 i

30-069/01X-0 (3,=po r ted se r Tac.hnical Specificatisc 6.9.5a Assigned a h be:.

l 0a October 7, 1980 at 0103 hours0.00119 days <br />0.0286 hours <br />1.703042e-4 weeks <br />3.91915e-5 months <br /> with the reacter at 96 percent ateeY v mt.

Description:

stata power oceration, the-reac tor ve'ssel relie f' ralve RV 20'l-3A coened.

I'ne re ac to l-

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wna subsequenclr' stnually scraw-d and an investigacion to determine the cause of the ralief valve -acricion i ni r1:4end-i l".auca and Co rrective Action:

vestigation r,1ve ale d that high nicrogen pressure af 160 pai resulted. in leakage sas: the seat o f the valve's :hree vay, selenoid cen ernt va q.e

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__ into the diaphrac: of the relief valve caus2.ng it :: lift.

Nttreuen pras.eure was rodm=

to 110 p s t.

oc11 icy Sr.atus:

96 % T.t a r=n1 MW c) Routine Scar:up g) Shutdown d) Routine Shutdown h) Refueling c) Ste:dy State v

i) Other f) Load Ch.angiag j) Not Appi:.caple i v:-inten follow-up reJor: A.11 de sent v:.:nin :wo weeks.

GLC p:rson notified Mr. Jchn Johnson Prepared by Mr.

M. Stems Mc'.p[n".in uil (2) copies c:

DirerFor Off ;-o of Management Infor:n.acion and Megrs= Contrei U.

... Eclear Regula tory t.;c==: sntor_

Woc. ington. D.C.

205.55 803037o601 g

l 305705 C-[O CY-A 7

- PILCF.1 ~ :C*C1F..P F T:EE IT47-"

SOC E".

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50 -2 K-a At t ac hm er.- te LII. 80-069/ 01X-0 Description 5

t' At 040.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> on October 7, 1980 with the seit in Eteady state operation at 96% power and reactor pressura. approximate!y equal te 1023 psi Safecy Re'.ief Vclve (S. R.V. ) 203-3A openec.

Station procedures were foll:ved and unit taken off line.

All indik;ations are that the valve retnained open until' the vessel deores surized.

Ope rat ions oe r-stnnel tried rmany ti:nes during the pressure reductien, to cycle the' valve using controls on control panel 903.

Unit was taken te cold shutdown, the drvvel; inerted, and an er.t e pade at a p--

proximately 1700 hours0.0197 days <br />0.472 hours <br />0.00281 weeks <br />6.4685e-4 months <br /> the sace day.

i Cause and_ Corrective _ Action Investiga tion revealed enat tne inadvertent ope nin.; cf the 5.R.V. v,as caused by oxtessive Nitrogen supply pressure.

Nitregen preuure at the tim b f the etent was app r:nmately 160-163 ps1 insteac of the 110 ps. ind.:sted in the desiEL specification.

This excessive pressure resulted in sc ne leakaze throuzh the scienald valve into the dimohram of the S.R.V.

j The design of the 5.R.V.,

is such that the air pressure on the diap ara =.needed to cause the S.R.V.

to open reduces as the nain steam pressure increases.

This explains why the valve did not open until this parti:ular reactorpkessure level was re ali zed.

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s The analysis indicates that the F.R.V. shoul? have closed as the zala stean pressure decreased as long as the leakage throuch the solencii contkui vsive rs=ained constant.

However, operating practices dic:a:e that wheneke r a S.R.V.

does open or is cause d to open. attengts will be made tc closc it vka centrols em panel 903.

This was done repectedi. during the tim the vessel kas de-prosaurizinc.

When the centrol for "A" 5.R.V. was placed first in k.'te "open" position and then in the "closc" nsitirn, the sciencid contrcl valke energized and opened.

The desi gn o f the centr:

valv6 1s s ue;- that tt canneti close with either air or nitroger pressure s:re a :e r than 135 psi.

'Ihc 160 psi fitregen pressure therefore, re s ul t ed in the con t r:.

valve stayir.g en the oppn positien which prevented the S.R.V.

fre= closinz.

I Until a permanent redesign of the N2 supply syste-can be 1:r=l emen tf d, the fel-loving cc rrective tneasures have beer initiated:

1.

N2 supply pressure will be mair.:ained at 110 psi as inditated a t P1 43%.

2.

S tation procedure No. 2.1.15 "".,+.12 :- S u r ve RAr. :.- Lor" vill be rt' vi sed to reauire an ope ra to r m r2 fi ca ::." chech e' nitremt pressure onc&fshift.

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