ML20043A768

Responds to NRC Bulletin 90-002, Loss of Thermal Margin Caused by Channel Box Bow. Channel Boxes Not Reused After First Lifetime.Methodology Developed by Ge,Vendor for Plant, Used to Account for Channel Bow

ML20043A768
Person / Time
Site:	FitzPatrick
Issue date:	05/16/1990
From:	Brons J POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
IEB-90-002, IEB-90-2, JPN-90-038, JPN-90-38, NUDOCS 9005230097
Download: ML20043A768 (2)

Text

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c j i et 123 Main Staet -

. 0E White Plains, NewWrk10001 N v s ,

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[ John C. Brons Executin %ce President N Nuclear Generation May 16,1990 -

JPN-90438

.' U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -

, ATTN: Document Control Desk

& Washington, D.C. 20555

SUBJECT:

James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant-Docket No. 50-333 Response to NRC Bulletin 90-02

REFERENCE:

NRC Bultatin No. 90-02, " Loss of Thermal Mar 9ln Caused by Channel Box Bow," dated March 20,1990. *

Dear Sir:

NRC Bulletin 90-02 requested that utilities which operate boiling water reactors (BWR), determine whether any channel boxes are being reused after their first bundie lifetime.' If so, the utility should take immediate action to ensure that the effects of channel box bow on the critical power ratio (CPR) calculation are properly taken into account. In addition, utilities which use channel boxes for only a sing!e bundle lifetime

-are requested to account for the eff6 cts of channel box bow in analyses supporting their next fuel reload.

The Authority does not reuse channel boxes after their first bundle lifetime at the-FitzPatrick plant. The General Electric Company, the fuel vendor for the FitzPatrick plant, has developed a methodology to account for expected channel bow effects on CPR. The Authority will use this_ methodology which adjusts the operating CPR to-account for channel bow.

The FitzPatrick plant is currently shutdown for the' Reload 9/ Cycle 10 refueling

- outage and is expected to start up in early June,1990.- The GE methodology will be J Implemented for. Cycle 10 through adjustments to the fuel data bank in the FitzPatrick plant process computer. Since no approved methodology exists to account for, channel bow, the Authority discussed its plans to implement the GE methodology with the -NRC staff. The staff has agreed that this approach is acceptable pending completion of a formal review. <

Should you or your staff have any questions regarding this matter, please cod.act Mr. J. B. Elliners of my staff.-

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Very truly yours,

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i 4 w l-6hn . Brons L

ecutive Vice President uclear Generation l

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i STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER

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Subscribed and sworn to before me this /EHI day of kf9 1990.

harbaAct, b M Notary Public VU >

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ec: Regional Administrator:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission  ;

475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office of the Resident inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission '

P.O. Box 136 Lycoming, NY 13093 Mr. David E. LaBarge Project Directorate I-1 Division of Reactor Projects 1/II l U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Co6imission Mail Stop 14 B2 -

Washington, D.C. 20555 l

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