ML20086G265

Environ RO 76-3:on 760109,Unit 2 Operated Above 20% Power W/All Cooling Towers Inoperable.Caused by Cooling Water Intake Temp Too Low to Facilitate Tower Startup W/O Causing Damage.No Corrective Action Required

ML20086G265
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	01/19/1976
From:	Cooney M PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC
To:	Stello V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RO-76-3, NUDOCS 8401100498
Download: ML20086G265 (5)

Text

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PHILADELPHI A ELECTRIC COM PANY ,

[2 2301 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHI A, PA.19101 I l d-(215)0414000 January 19, 1976 Mr. J. P. O'Reilly Director, Region 1 Cffice of Inspection and Enforcement U.S. fluclear Regulatory Comaission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19f t 06

Subject:

Environment a l Devi ation The following deviation was reported to Mr. Walt Baunack, Office of Inspect ion and Enforcement, Region 1, Uni ted States fluc lear Pegulatory Conraission on January 9, 1976.

l

Reference:

License Number DPR 1'4/56 4 Environmental Technical Specifications: 2.1 Report No.: 50-277/273-76-3 Report Date: January 13, 1976 Deviation Date: January 9,1976 Facility: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Units 2 6 3 R.D. 1, Delta, Pennsylvania 17314 Identification of Deviation:

Oper a t i on o f Un i t 2 above 20% power with all cooling towers inoperable.

Conditions Prior to Deviation:

l l

Both units shutdown. Severe cold weather and icing conditions, i

Description of Deviation:

Both Units 2 and 3 were out of service for approximately 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> on January 8,1976. Air temperatures during this period of time were well below f reezing and ice covering existed on large portions of the river and intake ponds. The water in the cooling tower suction ponds, theref ore, decreased in temperature to approximately 32 F.

l 8401100498 760119 PDR ADOCK 05000277 8 PDR m

Mr . J. E . O ' R e rTi y 50-277/273-76-3 January 19, 1976 Page 2 Because of the cold air temperatures and the cold water existing in the cooling tower suction ponds, startup of the ' B ' and ' C ' cooling t owers would have caused severe icing and serious potential for damage to the cooling tower structure with possible tower collapse. Startup of these towers was therefore delayed until a body of warm water could be accumulated in the plant discharge pend. In order to accumulate the warm water, Uni t 2 was placed in service and increased to approximately 45X power, using only I circulating water pump. This was done on the morning of January 9, 1976. At 4 p.m. on January 9,1976, during the war a: cst porticn of the day, both B & C cooling tower lift pumps were placed in service. Startup of the cooling tower fans was delayed until January 10, 1976, at approximately 4 p.m. in order to minimize ice formation on the cooling structurcs. The A cooling to.ver was inoperabic because of a previous failure of the cooling tower lift pump.

Desinnation of Apparent Cause of Deviation:

Cooling tcwcr water intake temperatures were too low to f acilitate tower startup without causing danage.

Analysis of Deviation:

Cold weather tower operation provides a minimal benefit to the envi ronmen t. Additionally, during the period in question, the total plant output ranged from approximately 23X to 33% power. The event therefore has minimal environmental impact.

C_orrective Action:

None required.

Failure Data:

No previous deviations of this type.

Very truly yours, M. J ooney Su rintendent Geieration Division-Nuclear cc: Mr. J . G . Dav i s , NR C Mr . W. G . Mc Don a l d, NR C l

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.o o PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY 2301 M ARKET STREET j

PHILADELPHI A. PA.19101 (215)041 40oo January 19, 1976 tir . J. P. O 'Rei l l y Director, Region 1 Office of Inspection and Enforcement U.S. fluclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406

Subject:

Environmental Deviation The following deviation was reported to tir. Walt Baunack, Of fice of Inspection and Enforcement, Region 1, United States Nuclear Regulatory Cor: mission on January 9,1976.

Reference:

License Number DPR-44/56 .

Environmental Technical Specifications: 2.1 Report flo.: 50-277/278-76-3 Report Date: January 19, 1976 Deviation Date: January 9,1976 Facility: Peach Dot tom Atomic Power S tation Units 2 & 3 R.D. 1, Delta, Pennsylvania 17314 Identi fication of Deviation:

Operation of Unit 2 above 20% power with all cooling towers inoperabic.

Conditions Prior to Deviation:

Both units shutdown. Severe cold weather and icing conditions.

Description of Deviation:

Both Units 2 and 3 were out of service for approximately 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> on January 8,1976. Air temperatures during this period of time were well below freezing and ice covering cxisted on large portions of the river and intake ponds. The water in the cooling tower suction ponds, therefore, decreased in temperature to approximately 32 F.

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l . . . , Mr . J . P . O ' R e Er y 50-277/278-76-3 l January 19, 1976 Page 2

! Because of the cold air temperatures and the cold water existing in the i cooling tower suction ponds, startup of the 'B ' and 'C ' cooling tavers would have caused severe icing and serious potential for damage to the cooling tower structure with possible tower collapse. Startup of these i towers was therefore delayed until a body of warm water could be accumulated in the plant discharge pond. In order to accumulate the 1

warm water, Unit 2 was placed in service and increased to approximately 45/, power, using only 1 circulating water pump. This was donc on the

! norning of January 9,1976. At 4 p.m. on January 9,1976, during the j warmest portion of the day, both B & C cooling tower lift pumps were placcd in service. Startup of the cooling tower fans was delayed until January 10, 1976, at approximately 4 p.m. in order to minimize ice  !

! formation on the cooling structures. The A cooling tower was inoperable l 1

because of a previous failure of the cooling tower lift pump.  !

i l Desinnation of Apparent Cause of Deviation:

f i

Cooling tower water intake temperatures were too low to facilitate taver startup without causing damage, f i

Analysis of Deviation:

Cold weather tower operation provides a minimal benefit to the environment. Additionally, during the period in question, the total plant output ranged f rom apprcximately 23/, to 334 power. The event therefore has minimal environmental impact.

Cor rec t i ve Ac t i on :

1 I

Nonc required.

l Failure Data: f No previous deviations of this type. l i

Very truly yours,  ;

I N

11 . Cooney Su rintendent

, Ge cration Division-Nuclear I cc: tir . J. G . Dav i s , NR C Mr . W. G. Mcdonald, NRC i

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