ML20071C903
| ML20071C903 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  |
| Issue date: | 03/01/1983 |
| From: | Clayton F ALABAMA POWER CO. |
| To: | Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8303080242 | |
| Download: ML20071C903 (2) | |
Text
Mailing Address Alabama Power Company 600 North 18th Street Post Offic; Box 2641 Birmingh1m. Alabama 35291
. Telephone 205 783-6081 F. L Clayton, Jr.
Rn"l'y;O;f;d'"'
Alabama Power the Southern electrC System March 1, 1983 t
Docket No. 50-348 Director, Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C.
20555 Attention:
Mr. S. A. Varga Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant - Unit 1 Rod Swap Methodology Gentlemen:
Westinghouse has submitted to the NRC for review " Rod Bard Worth Measurements Utilizing Bank Exchange - May 1982," WCAP-9863 (proprietary) and WCAP-9864 (non-proprietary), which describes a rod swap methodology.
This rod swap methodology is an improved method for measuring control rod worth over the present boron dilution method by:
- 1) reducing the amount of refueling outage time by approximately 24 to 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br />,
- 2) reducing the amount of water processing during startup, and 3) increasing the shutdown margin.
It is Alabama Power Company's understanding that the NRC will complete its review of WCAP-9863 and issue its final evaluation in early 1983.
Alabama Power Company has initiated the development of plant specific procedures and the performance of fuel-cycle specific calculations to utilize the rod swap methodology specified in WCAP-9863.
The methodology is intended to be followed for Cycle 5 at Farley Nuclear Plant - Unit 1 scheduled to startup in mid to late March 1083.
As discussed with Mr. E. A. Reeves, NRC Project Manager for the Farley Nuclear Plant, Alabama Power Company intends to proceed with the new rod swap methodology for Cycle 5, rather than wait for 1RC generic approval, to take advantage of the improvements offered by this methodology.
Additionelly, this methodology is currently in use at another operating nuclear plant similar in design to the Farley Nuclear Plant.
0303080242 830301 PDR ADOCK 05000348 P
F-m Mr. S. A. Varga March 1, 1983 Nuclear Reactor Regulation Page 2 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Alabama Power Company has reviewed the benefits of the new rod swap methodology and has determined that it offers a better and safer way to measure rod bank worth.
During measurement of rod bank worth, the capability for greater shutdown margin and thus an increased margin of safety at Farley Nuclear Plant is accomplished through the use of the rod swap methodology by maintaining greater concentrations of boron in the reactor coolant system.
Therefore, the application of the new methodology represents an improvement in overall plant safety at the Farley Nuclear Plant.
If there are any questions regarding this action, please advise.
Yours truly,
/
F. L. Clayto, Jr.
FLCJr/GGY:jc-D13 cc:
Mr. R. A. Thomas Mr. G. F. Trowbridge Mr. J. P. O'Reilly Mr. E. A. Reeves Mr. W. H. Bradford
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