ML20116N692
| ML20116N692 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 05/02/1985 |
| From: | Fay C WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO. |
| To: | Harold Denton, John Miller Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| TAC-57627, TAC-57628, NUDOCS 8505070312 | |
| Download: ML20116N692 (3) | |
Text
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4-I WNSCORSin Electnc m come 231 W. MICHIGAN, P.O. BOX 2046, MILWAUKEE, WI 53201 May 2, 1985 Mr.
H. R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Washington, D.
C.
20555 Attention:
Mr.
J. R. Miller, Chief Operating Reactors, Branch 3 Gentlemen:
DOCKET NOS. 50-266 AND 50-301 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATION OF PRESSURIZER SAFETY VALVE DIRECT POSITION INDICATORS AND INCORE THERMOCOUPLE CONNECTORS POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 This letter will inform you of the current status of the environmental qualification (EQ) programs for the Crosby lift indicating switch assemblies (LISA's) which have been installed on the pressurizer safety valves and for the Veam thermocouple (T/C) connectors which have been installed on the incore thermocouples at Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.
This letter also requests an extension of the EQ deadline to August 31, 1985 for the LISA's and the thermocouple connectors pursuant to paragraph (g) of 10 CFR 50.49.. The current EQ deadline for these two items had been established as-June 7, 1985 in Mr. J. R. Miller's letter to Mr. C. W. Fay dated November 1, 1984.
A LISA test' specimen using a Wisconsin Electric electrical interface design is currently undergoing loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA) testing, the final phase of the EQ test sequence.
We have
-experienced a test problem with the sealed flexible conduit interface installed on the LISA.
Moisture entered the conduit and temporarily shorted out the electrical conductors.
We believe that the test problem was due to improperly tightened fittings and a LOCA chamber overpressure of 132 psig versus the required 66 psig.
Crosby is drying out the conduit, tightening the fittings, and rerunning the LOCA test to verify this hypothesis.
In addition, testing had been~ halted by Crosby's Quality Assurance Manager to correct deficiencies in the LISA EQ test program recently identified by Wisconsin Electric's Quality Assurance personnel.
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- l{g P
m LMr. H. R. Denton May 2, 1985 Testing is expected to resume at the beginning of May andfshould be completed by the middle of June.
The final test
- report then has.to be prepared, reviewed, and approved by Crosby.
In order.for Wisconsin Electric to properly review the test report.and prepare the associated plant-specific EQ documentation, we-request an extension of the deadline to complete qualification of the LISA's until August 31, 1985.
In the meantime, the LISA's have.been~ installed in both Point Beach units so that when qualifi-cation'is complete the LISA's can be put in service immediately.
L The upgrade of the incore thermocouple system at Point Beach has been completed with the exception of environmentally qualifying the connectors-used_to interface the mineral-insulated cables at the reactor vessel head.to the organically-insulated cables that~ carry the signals to the containment electrical penetration assemblies.
As discussed in Mr. R. W. Britt's letter to'you dated August 2, 1984, the connectors have satisfactorily completed seismic qualification.
EQ testing has been proceeding, but the irradiation phaseaof the program encountered technical difficulties which 4
have' introduced a significant delay.
Specifically, the radiation i
facility was unable to attain an adequate dose rate for several weeks.
This problem has now been overcome and the samples are completing this phase of the test.
LOCA testing is expected.to commence in mid-May-and..should be complete in mid-June.
- Again, in order to allow time for the vendor - to prepare a final test report and adequate review and documentation time for Wisconsin Electric, we request..the deadline to complete qualification.of the thermocouple connectors be extended to August' 31, 1985.
~-
We believe.these requests:are timely in that the problems have developed'during testing in April.
As soon as test; schedules were established, which precluded meeting the current June 7, 1985lEQ deadline, wezhave informed.you of_the l
situation.
We believe;that these requests show good cause in that testing is progressing andithe delay is due onlyfto actual test complications.
i We believe<the continued safe' operation of Point' Beach,
[
Units 1 and 2, is justified without undue risk-to the health and
[
safety ofithe public.:.Forrthe'LISA's,ithis-is based on the fact thattthe' purpose of.the LISA is to' assist-in identifying a small-break
. loss-of-coolant accident (SBLOCA)1due tcr a stuck lopen relief. valve.
~
The Point Beach Emergency Operating Procedures do,not require-operator' knowledge of'a'SBLOCA's location _-in. order:to mitigate its.effect.
Also, the LISA's provide no safety-related_ function, are not required-to achieve'or maintain safe shutdown, and.are not
~
- necessary to mitigate design-basis accidents at Point Beach.
Failure:ofLthe'LISA's.will'not1 mislead the operator-because they 7will not 'be: placedlin service until they are documented as qualified.
1 InLaddition; nan ' acoustical monitorEsystem'is"available to the
~
~ operators to verify safety _ valve operation.
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,,. - + -.
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Mr. H. R. Denton May 2, 1985 4
In the case of the thermocouple. connectors, continued safe operation without undue risk to public health and safety is justified by the fact that adequate alternative indication of core outlet temperature is provided.
The reactor coolant system hot leg: loop resistance temperature detectors (RTD's), which are environmentally. qualified, provide temperature indication to the operators, as well as input to the subcooling monitor.
- Hence, failure of the' thermocouple connectors will not mislead the operator.
The thermocouple system also provides no active safety-related function, is not required to achieve or maintain ~ safe shutdown, and is not.necessary to mitigate design-basis accidents at Point Beach.
We would be pleased to answer any questions you may have regarding this information or these requests for extension of the EQ deadline.
i Very truly yours,
&d./
Vice President-Nuclear Power i
i i
C. W. Fay Copy to NRC Resident Inspector 4
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