ML20079E215
| ML20079E215 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch  |
| Issue date: | 01/09/1984 |
| From: | Gucwa L GEORGIA POWER CO. |
| To: | Stolz J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NED-84-020, NED-84-20, NUDOCS 8401170172 | |
| Download: ML20079E215 (3) | |
Text
Georg:a Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue 8-Atlanir, Georgia 30308 Telephone 404 5266526 MaMg Address:
Post Off.ce Box 4545 Atlantz. Georgia 30302 L
Georgia Power L T. Gacwa tre southern ekttrc system Marager Nuclear Engineenng NED-84-020 and Chiet Nuclear Engirwr January 9, 1984 Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Attention: Mr. John F. Stolz, Chief Operating Reactors Branch No. 4 Division of Licensing U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Carmission Washington, D. C.
20555 NRC DOCKETS 50-321, 50-366 OPERATING LICENSES DPR-57, NPF-5 EDWIN I. HA'ICH NUCLEAR PLANT UNITS 1, 2 FAST COLD STARTS OF DIESEL GENERA'IORS Gentlenen:
In response to your letter of Decenber 16, 1983, Georgia Power Canpany sutmits the following information for Plant Hatch on diesel generator quick starts and our opinion of their effect on reliability.
The record of cold starts of the Plant Hatch diesels for 1983 is stmnarized in the following table:
! Diesel Generator MPL#
Starts Fran 12/1/82 to 12/1/83
- Surveillance ! Maintenance **
! Actual Denand R43-S001A 1
30 1
6 1
0 R43-5001B*
44 1
13 1
0 R43-S001C 32 1
5 0
1 2R43-S001A 23 10 1
0 2R43-S001C 25 16 0
1 1
-1 B diesel serves both Hatch units.
Estimate based on maintenance requests fran 1982.
1983 maintenance records are not yet availate on the records managenent systen.
8401170172 840109 th PDR ADOCK 05000321 ge7 p
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!GeorgiaPowerI
-Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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. U.S.' Nuclear Regulatory Ocumission Washington, D.C.
20555 i-January 9, 1984
- Page 2 DISCWiSION:
Plant - Hatch procedures require that the engine be pre-lubricated prior to starting for. surveillance or maintenance. % e diesels are being equipped with a
continuous lubrication-systs to eliminate-the requirement for pre-lubrication and to protect the engine fra a dry start in the event of an-
. actual mergency.
Se. pre-lube' syste installaticn is expected to be cepleted in early 1984. -
p
-Georgia Power Capany studied the effect of frequent starts 'on engine
(
reliability as part of a task force investigation into repeated bearing
. failures experienced on the diesels.
%e engine manufacturer reviewed the Plant Hatch technical specifications and precedures for practices which may degrade engine reliability. Based on the manufacturer's opinion and operating I
experience, Georgia Power has concluded that frequent starts and subsequent rapid loading of the engine was. degrading the reliability of the diesel I
generators.
Accordingly, we have revised the Plant Hatch procedures to the extent allowed by the technical specifications and are pursuing technical
' specification changes with the goal of eliminating - abusive or unnecessary
. testing of the diesels.
An exmple. of an abusive test is the technical specification requirement for ' annual testing of the air start systs which'
' requires that the engine be started and stopped five times in succession.
%e manufacturer recamended that two weeks is an optime test frequency to assure reliability of the engine.
Testing. frequency based on the individual engine's failure - history ' is appropriate.
However, the manufacturer took exception. to the practice, required by technical specifications, of frequent testing (every 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br />) ' of all operable diesels when a diesel or any ECCS caponent becmes inoperable.
Testing frequency greater than once every two weeks will' not improve the performance of a normally reliable _ generator and-therefore is munterproductive.
l l
-During surveillance testing, the engine should.be loaded gradually and run for l
' at : least 1one ' hour at greater than 50% load.
%is practice has several L
benefits:
- 1).all parts of the ~ engine are brought to full opercting taperature, thereby reoving condensed moisture fra the crankcase; 2) microscopic d aage-sustained by the bearings during the start is polished away and seating of other wear caponents is continued; and 3) the exhaust manifold is heated to a temperature which vaporizes any oil deposits near - the manifold or in the insulation. - If oil is allowed to accmulate, there is a fire hazard t
. when ~ the diesel is loaded and the' manifold becmes hot enough to ignite the oil.
700??5 -
... -, _,, - - - - ~,.. _, _ _. _,
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Georgia Power d Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Cmmission Washington, D.C.
20555 January 9, 1984 Page 3 Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into your diesel generator reliability progran.
Based on our experience, there is potential for reliability improvenent along with a decrease in the burden for the plant operator.
We hope these coments will be useful as you make licensing decisions.
Please contact Mr. Paul Springer at (404) 526-7010 if you need additional information.
Yours very truly, fS &
L. T.
Gucwa PLS/ps xc:
J. T. Beckham, Jr.
H. C. Nix, Jr.
J. P. O'Reilly Site Resident Inspector 700775
- - -.