ML20085F941

Reviews Short Periods of Heated Discharge Reported in AOs75-006,75-007 & 75-013.Temp Increases Associated W/Condenser Cooling Sys Will Be Reported in Semiannual Operating Rept If More than 20% Over Limit & of More than 12 H Duration

ML20085F941
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	07/11/1975
From:	Sewell R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
To:	Knighton G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML20085F925	List: ML20085F924 ML20085F927 ML20085F941 ML20085F950 ML20085F960
References
NUDOCS 8308230669
Download: ML20085F941 (2)

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V b Consumers Power Company o.ne.. o,,,ce. 2i2 weu u.cn.gan Avenue, Jac%on Mechegan 40201+ Area Code SQ W OSSO July ll,1975 ,

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-g Dr George W. Knighton ,~h '

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Division of Reactor Licensing U3 Nuclear Regulatory Commission

@ 6 Washington, DC 20555 DCCKET 50-255, LICENSE DPR-6 PALISADES PLANT, HEAT REJECTED TO THE LAKE

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Following initial operation of the closed y % cooling system at out Palisades Plant, Abnormal Occurrences- 75-6, 75-7 a d 75-1 , vere reported. These occur-rences, which were associated with short pe s of heated discharge above 5 F and/or 0.5 billion Btu (British thermal uni o) per hour, have been examined with respect to our Palisades license and other docketed information. This examination involved a review of the heated discharge from the Palisades Plant to determine which of the above limits apply and to determine the type of re-porting required when these limits are exceeded. Based cn this review, we have concluded that .iome'of the recently reported abnormal occurrences were incor-rectly classified and were not reportable. The conclusions drawn from this review are summarized as follows:

1. Heated discharge controlled by the Technical Specifications.

Technical Specifications Paragraph 3 9 9 and the Special Technical Specifica-tions concerning the 5 F temperature increase and the 0 5 billion Btu per hour heat rejection rate apply only to the closed cycle (condenser) cooling system.

They do not apply to the service water system or other discharges.

Early in the planning and discussion of the closed cycle condenser cooling system, it was recognized that the service water system must perform certain safety functions and operate when the condenser cooling system is shut down.

Therefore, it vas concluded that, service water should not be dependent on the condenser closed cycle cooling system fc. operation.

During design of the closed cycle co'oling system provisions were made to use as much service water as practical as cooling tower makeup water (thereby minimizing heat rejected to the lake). This has resulted in mixing of the service water with the closed cycle cooling system water in the makeup basin with some of this mixture being discharged to the lake. We intend to continue this mode of operation, thereby minimizing the heat rejected to the lake.

However, the heat content of the service water will be subtracted from the total heat discharge for the purpose of showing compliance with the plant heat discharga limits.

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2. Reporting requirements when heat rejected to lake exceeds the limita specified in the Technical Specifications.

We have concluded that, while the heat rejection specifications are currently located in Section 3 (limiting condition of operation), they were placed there as an expediency and that they should appropriately be placed in a separate appendix devoted to environmental consideration (presently being suggested by the NRC).

Our reasons for arriving at this conclusion are based on the AEC Regulatory Staff's August 30, 1974 Environmental Evaluation associated with Amendment 6, Technical Specifications Change 10. The following is extracted from Page 8 of the Environmental Evaluation:

"In the event one of the cooling tower blowdown dilution pumps is out of service, the temperature measurements shall be recorded con-tinuously. In the event the increase in temperature exceeds the maximum limit of 5 F for the temperature differential of the blow-down water specified.in Specification 3 9 9 by more than 20% for more than 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />, the temperature of the blowdown water shall be recorded continuously and the AT of the discharge water temperature over the dilution water intake temperature shall be determined hourly and the results reported in the Semiannual Operating Report.

Action shall be initiated by the licensee to determine the cause of any temperatur,e excess and the expected resolution of the condition.

Appropriate corrective action, including power reduction, will be taken by the licensee if the limits specified in Specification 3 9.9 are exceeded for any period of more than 2h hours. Furthermore, the licensee shall notify the AEC of the problem and the course or action taken to resolve the problem."

From this statement, we have concluded that we are required to report any in-crease in teenperature associated with the condenser cooling system, which occurs for more than 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> and is more than 20% over the 5 P limit, in the Semiannual Operating Report. In addition, if the limits specified in 3 9 9 are exceeded for more than 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />, an appropriate power reduction will be made and the NRC will be notified. Thus in the future, we will report in this manner rather than that of Abnormal Occurrences 75-6, 75-7 and 75-13.

The Palisades Plant heated dischargers are also controlled by the Michigan Water Resources Commission under,the National Pellution Discharge Elimination i System (NPDES). These limits apply ,to all discharge and the plant will con-tinue to meet the requirements of this permit.

Ralph B. Sewell (Signed) 1

! l Ralph B. Sewell i

Nuclear Licensing Administrator '

CC: JGKeppler, USNRC RAPurple, USNRC File

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