ML20126L706

Requests Listed Addl Info Re French Operating Experience W/ Nuclear Power Plants Similar to South Texas Project.Schedule for Response Requested

ML20126L706
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	07/19/1985
From:	Knighton G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
References
NUDOCS 8507310391
Download: ML20126L706 (4)

Text

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%.....# aOL 191985 Docket Nos: 50-498 and 50-499 Mr. J. H. Goldberg Group Vice President, Nuclear Houston Lighting and Power Company Post Office Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001

SUBJECT:

SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The staff has become aware of information regarding French operating experience with a nuclear power plant similar to South Texas Project. As a result, it is necessary to obtain answers to the questions listed below following the back-ground information.

Background:

The ACRS recently visited their French counterparts, the Group Permanent-Reacteur, for technical discussions. Included in the program was a tour of the Paluel Nuclear Power Station on Monday, May 20, 1985.

The Paluel Nuclear Power Station is a four-unit 1300 MWe PWR of the P-4 design.

This is the current 4-loop design series of reactors being built in France of which there are plans for 22 like-units to be constructed at 11 sites.

The Paluel Station is the first in this series to be constructed and begin operation. Unit 1 and 2 began power generation in 1984, Unit 3 is about to begin initial fueling, and Unit 4 is approximately 60-percent complete. The day of the visit, Unit I had been shut down due to a vibration problem; Unit 2 was operating at 80 percent power.

During the technical discussions at the reactor site, the Electricite de France (EdF) staff identified a problem that has developed in Unit 1. It has been discovered that vibration below the fuel assemblies in the lower portion of the reactor vessel is damaging the movable incore instrumentation probe thimbles. EdF believes this unexpected vibration is due to a design change that lengthened the fuel bundle assembly from 12 to 14 feet. This change reduced the void at the bottom of the reactor vessel for the coolant to circulate, thereby creating coolant turbulence. The situation is still being studied, and they did not identify if a fix had been decided on.

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NRC staff from the Mechanical Engineering Branch and the Licensing Project Manager were given the opportunity to discuss with Westinghouse during a meeting for South Texas Project on June 26, 1985, the relevance of the French experience. We request you to answer the following questions so that the record can accurately reflect the potential connection between the French experience and the South Texas Project.

Questions:

(1) Do you attribute the vibrational problems at Paluel Station to the 14 foot core design?

(2) Do you feel the same vibrational problems are possible at STP?

If you do then quantify the safety impact of such a problem. If you do not then explain any design differences between STP and Paluel that lead you to this conclusion.

(3) In light of the Paluel experience do you still believe that the vessel model ' low test data which you submitted in your FSAR is still valid?

Please inform us as to your schedule for responding. Please contact the ProjectManagerat(301)492-7272 if you have any questions, o e i&

George W. Knighton, Chief Licensing Branch No. 3 Division of Licensing cc: See next page Distribution

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Mr. J. H. Goldberg Houston Lighting and Power Company South Texas Project cc:

William S. Jordan, III, Esq. Brian Berwick, Esq.

Harmon, Weiss & Jordan Assistant Attorney General 2001 S Street, NW Environmental Protection Division Suite 430 P. O. Box 12548 Washington, D.C. 20009 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711 Mr. J. T. Westermeir Manager, South Texas Project Resident Inspector / South Texas Houston Lighting and Power Company Project P. O. Box 1700 c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Houston, Texas 77001 P. O. Box 910 Bay City, Texas 77414 Mr. H. L. Peterson Mr. G. Pokorny Mr. Jonathan Davis City of Austin Assistant City Attorney P. O. Box 1088 City of Austin Austin, Texas 78767 P. O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767 Mr. J. B. Poston Mr. A. Von Rosenberg Ms. Pat Coy City Public Service Boad Citizens Concerned About Nuclear P. O. Box 1771 Power San Antonio, Texas 78296 51C6 Casa Oro San Antonio, Texas 78233 Jack R. Newman, Esq.

Newman & Holtzinger, P.C. Mr. Mark R. Wisenberg 1615 L Street, NW Manager, Nuclear Licensing Washington, D.C. 20036 Houston Lighting and Power Company P. O. Box 1700 Melbert Schwartz, Jr., Esq. Houston, Texas 77001 Baker & Botts One Shell Plaza Mr. Charles Halligan Houston, Texas 77002 Mr. Burton L. Lex Bechtel Lorporation Mrs. Peggy Buchorn P. O. Box 2166 Executive Director Houston, Texas 77001 Citizens for Equitable Utilities, Inc.

Route 1. Box 1684 Mr. E. R. Brooks Brazoria, Texas 77422 Mr. R. L. Range Central Power and Light Company P. O. Box 2122 Corpus Christi, Texas 78403

9 Houston Lighting & Power Company South Texas Project cc:

Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Executive Director for Operations 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, Texas 76011 Mr. Lanny Sinkin Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power 3022 Porter Street, NW #304 Washington, D.C. 20008 ,

Mr. S. Head, Representative Houston Lighting and Power Company Suite 1309 7910 Woodmont Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814