ML20054G795
| ML20054G795 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 06/14/1982 |
| From: | Fay C WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO. |
| To: | Clark R, Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20054G796 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-48538, TAC-48539, NUDOCS 8206220307 | |
| Download: ML20054G795 (3) | |
Text
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l Wisconsin Electnc rowea cournur 231 W. MICHIGAN, P.O. B0X 2046, MILWAUKEE, WI 53201 June 14, 1982 CERTIFIED MAIL Mr. H.
R.
Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.
S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Washington, D. C.
20555 Attention:
Mr.
R. A. Clark, Chief Operating Reactors Branch 3 Gentlemen:
DOCKET NOS. 50-266 AND 50-301 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGE REQUEST NO. 80 TURBINE STOP AND GOVERNOR VALVE TESTING POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 In accordance with 10 CFR Part 50.59, Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Licensee) requests amendments to Facility Operating Licenses DPR-24 and DPR-27 for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, respectively.
The purpose of these amendments is to permit changes to the plant Technical Specifications regarding the monthly testing of turbine stop and governor valves near the end-of-cycle core life.
The Point Beach Nuclear Plant Technical Specifications, at Item 18 of Table 15.4.1-2, require a monthly functional test of the turbine stop and governor valves.
This test requires a reduction in unit power level to approximately 60% to permit the appropriate valves to be properly exercised.
As a unit approaches end-of-cycle core life, the low primary system boron concentration make load swing operations difficult because of xenon transients and flux tilt conditions experienced during the power reduction.
Near end-of-life swings are also very costly in terms of primary system water throughput and deborating resin consumption which results in subsequent increased radioactive waste for burial.
Prudent operating practice and radwaste volume reduction are sound reasons for minimizing reactor power cycling under end-of-life conditions. )[
8206220307 820614 PDR ADOCK 05000266 P
PDR W
e Mr. H.
R.
Denton June 14, 1982 For the foregoing reasons, Licensee proposes the following change to the Point. Beach Specifications.
A new footnote 9 to Table 15.4.1-2 should be added to read, "during periods when reactor coolant system boron concentration is less than 100 ppm, a power reduction specifically to test these valves is not required".
At normal full power operations, a Point Beach unit can be expected to reduce primary system boron concentration at the rate of approximately 100 ppm boron each month.
- Thus, enactment of this change to the Specification could have the potential of postponing the turbine stop and governor valve functional test from'as little as a few days to as much as four to six weeks depending on the need to stretch operation beyond the zero ppm boron condition.
During each of the past several operating cycles for both Point Beach units, we have requested one-time waivers of the turbine stop and governor valve testing to preclude the testing problems noted above.
The NRC has accommodated these requests in the past and approved these one-time waivers.
- However, to preclude the necessity for these periodic requests, we believe the change proposed in this application is appropriate.
As you know, other licensees whose turbine stop and governor valves must be tested under similar circumstances have had their Technical Specifications amended to include this proposed change.
In over ten years of operation, the monthly turbine stop and governor valve functional tests have not identified any recur-ring problems which affect the operation of these valves or which would prevent the valves from performing their designed function of preventing a turbine overspeed situation.
On the several occasions when waivers of the test were granted prior to a refueling outage, the valves performed as required during the subsequent unit shutdown and were tested satisfactorily upon unit restart for the next operating cycle.
We believe, therefore, that the waiver of a monthly functional test in a given fuel cycle of the turbine stop and governor valves is not a significant safety consideration.
Should the unit power level have to be reduced to less than 60% for other reasons, the turbine stop and governor valve would be tested at that time.
In accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR Part 170.11, we have determined that this license amendment application should be classified as a Class III amendment because it involves a single issue for which an NRC position has been previously identified.
A duplicate amendment for the second Point Beach unit would be classified as a Class I amendment.
Accordingly, we have enclosed a check drawn in the amount of $4,400 for the amendment approval fees.
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R.
Denton June 14, 1982 In accordance with the Commission's regulations, enclosed are three signed originals and, under separate cover, 40 copies of this application.
We have also prepared and ac,. ached to each application a proposed Technical Specification replacement page with the subject change identified by a margin bar.
Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this application.
Very truly yours, u
g!! vl' /
r f
Assistant Vice President C. W.
Fay Enclosures (Check No. 678492)
Copy to NRC Resident Inspector Subscribed and sworn to before me this /F26 day of June 1982.
otAPtdR$$o YI Notary PigT31ic, State of Wisconsin My Commission expires M<7/,///ff.
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