ML20053A640
| ML20053A640 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000000, Sequoyah |
| Issue date: | 05/12/1981 |
| From: | Rathbun D NRC OFFICE OF POLICY EVALUATIONS (OPE) |
| To: | Bradford P, Gilinsky V, Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20053A638 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8205270051 | |
| Download: ML20053A640 (2) | |
Text
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Vqrtav UNITED STATES c.
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j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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W ASHINGTON, D. C. 20SSS
- 8 May 12, 1981 9,
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Ahearn A M E.-
FROM:
Dennis K. Rathbun
SUBJECT:
TVA RESEARCH PROGRAM ON HYDROGEN COMBUSTION AND CONTROL
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TVA as a condition of the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Unit 1 ope ~r'ating ' license is re, quired to continue its research program on hydrogen control measures and the effects of hydrogen burns on safety functions and to submit to OPE's consultant on the NRC quarterly reports on that research program.
hydrogen control matters, Dr. Strehlow, has conducted an ev luation on 16, 1981.
His evalu-
.TVA's Second Quarterly Progress Report dated March ation is attached.
(Dr. Strihlow provided a draft of his evaluation t.o OPE on April 29, 1981.
Other than additional dTplanation on needed res5 arch t' asks, there are no major changes in th'e final evaluation from the draf t ev'aluation.)
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Dr. 5trehlow's evaluation addresses the adequacy of the TVA Quarterly Report and summarizes Dr. Strehlow's views relative to an adequate overall research program. His major comments of the TVA report incitde the following:
. For many research projects, not enough information is presented in the TVA Quarterly Report to make a meaningful evaluation.
. Some tests, if conducted as described in the report, may not be useful for drawing generalizations.
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. Some tests appear unnecessary.
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. Additional research is needed in certain areas -- long term behavior of a glow plug in a hydrogen-air environment; deflagration to detonation transif. ion; limits of detonation of various hydrogen-air-steam mixtures.
The staff reviewed Dr. Strehlow's draft evaluation and a meeting was held with the staff and Dr. Strehlow on April 30, 1981 to discuss his evaluation.
In addition, the staff provided TVA a copy of Dr. Strehicw's. draft evalu-On May 6, 1981 the staff met with TVA/AEP/ Duke on the subject of ation.
Dr. Strehlow's draft evaluation the research program on hydrogen control.
was one of many items' covered in this meeting.
TVA has comitted to provide the staff with a written response to Dr. Strehlow's draft evaluation.
820527006l resion.a carcini, can (OPE) d 05-3295
I For the Commission -
General Comments Observations resulting from OPE's review of Dr. Strehlow's evaluation, discussion with the staff, and attendance at the May 6, 1981 meeting o'n hydrogen control are.as follows:.
. The NRR staff is mo'ving, forward in its evaluation of researc'h nE6ds
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and, in my op' inion,.is making good progress in~a very difficult area.
Dr. Strehlow's evaluation complements NRR staff review ~of the TVA research The NRR staff was very responsive in trying to obtain resolution program.
of Dr. Strehlow's comments.
Resolution of his comments should result in better quarterly reports by TVA, but more importahtly should result in a more comprehensive research program.
.,The decision on selection of the " permanent hydrogen tontr.ol system"
'for present ice condenser plants is being driven by the January 31, 1982 Commission directed date for reaching a decision for confirming that an adequate hydrogen control system is installed at Sequoyah and will perform its intended function in a manner that provides adequate Because of the January 31, 1982 date the choice of the safety margins.
system has to be made shortly since procurement, installation, and testing must be done within the next nine months. This tight time -
frame will lead to a system that utilities ~are convinced-is an adequate system with adequate safety margins, not n,ece%&arfly the _optjmum systtm..
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It appears that an igniter system will be the choice f'o'rthe permanent
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system for Sequoyah, Cook, and McGuire.
. The research program being conducted by the utilities is also being 31,1982 date.
In this regard, the TVA research driven by the January program is directed at obtaining results to support the choice of the permanent hydrogen control system. While it appears the research program may yield sufficient data to arrive at a decision by January 31, 1982, there will still be questions to be answered.
I do not believe January 31, 1982 should be regarded as a date for completion of all research. Additional research beyond January 31, 1982 should be encouraged by the Commission.
Enclosure:
As stated l __
cc: L. Bickwit S. Chilk W. Dircks H. Denton R. Minogue R. Fraley i
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