ML20040E981
| ML20040E981 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/04/1982 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8202080159 | |
| Download: ML20040E981 (1) | |
Text
i FEB 4 1982 a
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3 MEMORANDUM FOR: Harold R. Denton 2
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Director
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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation E "$$$$ fit,jjm w
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Victor Stello, Jr.
'b Deputy Executive Director g
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Regional Operations and Generic Requirements
SUBJECT:
INSTRUMENTATION FOR DETECTION OF INADEQUATE CORE COOLING In the enclosed memo from Chairman Palladino to Mr. Dircks, the Chainnan suggests that the CRGR review the issue of instrumentation for detection of inadequate core cooling. When you judge that the staff has sufficient material on the safety benefits and costs of the proposed instrumentation, please submit the package for CRGR review.
We will generally schedule the meeting two weeks after receipt of the package.
OriS tel signed by i
gy st ell.ap Victor Stello, Jr.
Deputy Executive Director Regional Operations and Generic Requirements f
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Enclosure:
As stated 1
Distribution cc: Dircks VStello CRGR Members TEMurley
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UNITED STATES
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 January 19, 1982 CHAIRMAN MEMORANDUM FOR:
William Dircks, Executive Director for Operations I
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Nunzio J. Palladino
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SUBJECT:
INSTRUMENTATION FOR DETE ION OF INADEQUATE CORE COOLING Recently the Commission was briefed by the staff, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, and industry representatives on the subject of reactor vessel water level indication.
It is apparent from the meeting that there is continuing controversy surrounding this particular require-ment.
I request that you advise the Commission.soon on plans to address this issue and develop a recommended course of action for the Commission that will lead to resolution.
Attached is a letter from Dr. Lewis suggesting an approach which you may wish to consider.
Also, I presume your plans will include involvement of the Committee for the Review of G_eneric Requirements.
Attachment:
As stated cc:
Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Ahearne Commissioner Roberts SECY ACRS OGC l
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January 9, 1982 Honorable Nunzio J. Palladino Chairman U. S. Auclear Regulatory Commission Washin'g' ton,DC 20555
Dear Dr. Pallad.ino:
g At the end of' our_ sthn atino maeting on January 8,1982, Dr. Gilinsky'
. asked me for a constructive statement of what.I would like to see done at this time about " water-level" indicators, b' earing.in mind the fact
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that it has been nearly three years since the accident at THI-2 reem-
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phasize'd the Tieed for better instrumentation.
Since my answer was~ neces-sarily ad lib 1 feel that I owe it to you to state it ' clearly and con-ci sely.. This is an effort.to do so.
g To begin with, let there be no doubt that I support the twin goals of improved oo'erator trainino and innroved instrumentation aimed at the diag-nosis of accident conditions. My concern about the so-called water-level indicators is that the ones under consideration. simply do not do what they are elleged to do -- measure water level -- and it is not clear that what they do measure is appropriate to the most. likely future accidents.
(We '
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really must stop replaying TMI-2.)
Certainly, since the proposed CE and I
Westinghouse devices measure guite different things, they can't both be just right.
It is because I think that better instrumentation is important that. I'dJ1ike to see the job done right.
If I were emperor, I would proceed' as follows.
First. I would ask the PRA staff to produce an up-to-date list of the most probable accident seouenttui.
for the three principal tvoes of PWR.
This need not take more than a coup 1.e of months, since it would be based on work they're already doing.
These.'
sequences should then be annotated by NRR, PRA, and the relevant vendors (and perhaps others) tn identify the points of ambicuity in the manacement of the accident in which addi+4nnal information would be__ helpful, and to Tdentify-_iust what that information is.
This should be specific -- not Tne buzz words about detecting inadequate core cobling. 7n particular, if
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water level is on the list, they should think through whether collapsed level or real level is more useful, and where.
Perhaps cooling rate (heated thermocouples, for example) or' proliferated voidmeters would be best.
I don't believe this has yet been done, and don't know why.
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Honorable Nuzio J. Palladino January 9,1982 Then, having identified the necessary information, the laboratories and ',-
vendors (and DOE) should be put to work inventing c.d te: ting the best instrumentation package and then, and only then, shouid the instrumen-tation be required everywhere. There will, of course, be differences among the various breeds.
(1 have a few inventions of my own.)
If the " program were handled in this rational way, I believe it would be far more defensible.than is the present bandwagon.
I. hope that I don't need to emphasize that these are my personal views, not bindfng on ACRS, just as was my testimony on the 8th.
Sincerelf yours, 7(.
H. W. Lewis 4
cc:
Comnissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Ahearne Commissi.oner Roberts ACRS Members k
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