ML20084D237

AO 3-73-10:on 731018,review of Chemistry Analysis Log Sheets for Boric Acid Storage Tanks & Boron Injection Tanks Indicated Boric Acid Storage Tank a Concentration in Excess of Tech Spec Limits.Caused by Personnel Oversight

ML20084D237
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	10/26/1973
From:	Schmidt A FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	Oleary J US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
References
AO-3-73-10, NUDOCS 8304110013
Download: ML20084D237 (3)

Text

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October 26, 1973 j .

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Mr. John F. O' Leary, Director hB

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U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 7 }{QM 1 .b l Washington, D. C. 20545 F u..['"2,y..W

Dear Mr. O' Leary:

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TURKEY POINT UNIT NO. 3 n '>

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ABNORMAL OCCURRENCE NO. 3-73-10 HIGH BORON CONCENTRATION l IN THE BORIC ACID STORAGE TANKS AND THE BORON INJECTION TANK i

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I. Introduction l

l This report is submitted in accordance with Technical l Specification 6.6.2a, Operating License No. DPR-31.

l This Abnormal Occurrence Report No. 3-73-10 describes j an abnormal' occurrence identified on October 18, 1973.

l The Directorate of Regulatory Operation, Region II, was i notified on October 18, 1973.

II. Description cf Occurrence l On October 18, 1973, a plant review of the Technical l Specification was conducted with supervisory personnel reminding them of the upper limit on boron concentration.

Subsequently, a review of the October 18, 1973 chemistry l analysis log sheets for the boric acid storage tanks and t

the boron injection tanks indicated that "A" boric acid storage tank had a boron concentration of 22,671 ppm.

This boron concentration is in excess of the Technical Specification upper limit of 22,500 ppm. Further review

! of the chemistry logs revealed that all three boric acid j storage tanks had exceeded the upper specification on boron concentration on several occasions over the past few months, and that the Unit No. 3 boron injection tank had also exceeded the upper specification of 22,500 ppm boron on two occasions. A maximum boron concentration of 24,309 ppm was recorded for the "B" boric acid storage tank on May 16, 1973.

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Mr. John F. O' Leary October 26, 1973 III. Investigation and Analysis of the Occurrence Both Unit Nos. 3 and 4 piping and components associated with the boric acid storage tanks and the Unit Nos. 3 and 4 boron injection tanks were checked for indications of boric acid crystallization that might have been caused by the high boron concentrations. No such indications of boric acid crystallization were found.

The nuclear operator logs were reviewed for the dates that the high boron concentrations occurred and the logs showed that the boric acid storage tanks and boron injection tank temperatures were at least 154 F, which corresponds to the saturation temperature for a solution of approximately 26,000 ppm boron. The average temperature for these tanks was about 160 F which corresponds to the saturation temperature for a solution of approximately 29,500 ppm boron. l The cause of the abnormal occurrence was an oversight by chemistry laboratory and supervisory personnel with respect t6 the maximum allowable boron concentration. The oversight stemmed from the laboratory personnel's preoccupation with maintaining the lower limit on boron concentration which had recently been exceeded on the boron injection tank and the safety injection accumulator tanks.

IV. Corrective Action c <

The immediate corrective action consisted of sampling the

- "A" boric acid tank with the intention of returning it to

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a boron concentration within the Technical Specification l limits. However, the analysis showed the boron concentration

( was now 260 ppm lower at 22,411 ppm and was within the spec-i ified limits. Because the second sample was taken on the

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day following the out of specification sample, the tank contents had been slightly diluted as a-result of recir-culation with the boron injection tank. The boron in-jection tank contained a solution'of lower boron concen-tration than the boric acid storage tank but was still within the specifications.

The permanent corrective action instituted to prevent re-currence is as follows:

a. The Technical Specification limits associated with the various plant chemistry analyses have been printed on the Laboratory Results Cards as'a con-stant reminder to the laboratory technician per-forming the analyses.

b. All laboratory and supervisory personnel involved have been instructed to make a thorough review of

( all chemistry specifications emphasizing the po-

.tential hazards of exceeding the high_ limit'as well as the low limit.

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.O O October 26, 1973 V. Evaluation of Safety Implications of the Occurrence The main consideration of the occurrence was the potential for precipitating boric acid out of solution with the pos-sibility of creating flow blockages in the concentrated

, boric acid system. However, all checks indicated that no Without significant precipitation of boric acid occurred.

precipitation, the increased boric acid concentration is in the favorable direction of improving the safety function of negative reactivity addition.  %

VI. Conclusions

a. The cause of the abnormal occurrence was an oversight by chemistry laboratory and supervisory personnel with respect to maintaining the boron concentration below the high limit prescribed by the Technical Specifications.

b. The corrective action taken will reduce the probability of having similar incidents in the future.

c. The high boron concentration did not result in any danger to the public health and safety nor was the safe operation of the reactor jeopardized.

Very truly yours,

. D. Schmidt Director of Power Resources cc: Mr. Norman C. Moseley, Director Region II Directorate of Regulatory Operations U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Suite 818 230 Peachtree Street, N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303 I

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