ML20154B283

Forwards Procedure for Prevention & Correction of Steam Binding of Auxiliary Feedwater Pumps in Response to IE Bulletin 85-001

ML20154B283
Person / Time
Site:	Kewaunee
Issue date:	02/25/1986
From:	Hintz D WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE CORP.
To:	James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
References
CON-NRC-86-20 IEB-85-001, IEB-85-1, NUDOCS 8603040272
Download: ML20154B283 (4)

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NRC-86-20 0

pf WISCONS:N PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION

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February 25, 1986 4

Mr. J. G. Keppler, Regional Administrator Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 799 Roosevelt Road Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Dear Mr. Keppler:

Docket 50-305

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Operating License DPR-43 Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant IE Bulletin No. 85-01: Steam Binding of Auxiliary Feedwater Pumps The subject bulletin requested that. we develop procedures for the prevention and correction of steam binding of auxiliary feedwater pumps. The attachment to this letter provides a sumary report of- our acti' ns.o The item numbers are con-sistent with the numbering of the bulletin. If any other questions arise, please feel free to contact either myself or my staff.

Very truly yours, D. C. Hintz Manager - Nuclear Power Subscribed and Sworn to Before Me,This d 514 Day i DJM/jms of fi/Guorm; 1986 Attach.

JAs11s lO

1. 6tary Public, State Wf Wisconsin cc - Mr. Robert L. Nelson, US NRC Mr. G. E. Lear, US NRC My Commission Expires:

Director, Office of I&E, US NRC June 28, 1987 s lgg3Ogo 5 5 '

600 North Adams

• P.O. Box 19002

• Green Bay, WI 54307-9002 FEB 2 81986

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N1-108.2 Attachment 1 Mr. D. C. Hintz to Mr. J. G. Keppler February 25, 1986

" Steam Binding of Auxiliary Feedwater Pumps"

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Mr. J. G. Keppler N1-108.3 February 25, 1986 Page 1 STEAM BINDING OF AUXILIARY FEEDWATER PUMPS

1. " Develop procedures for monitoring fluid conditions within the AFW System on a regular basis during times when the system is required to be operable.

This monitoring should ensure that fluid temperature at the AFW pump discharge is maintained at about ambient temperature. Monitoring of the fluid conditions, if used as the primary basis for precluding steam binding, is recommended each shift."

RESPONSE

The Equipment Operator monitors the discharge piping of the three auxiliary feedwater pumps when the Reactor Coolant System is greater than 350*F. The moni-toring is accomplished by touching the pipe at'the pump discharge. The fre-quency of the monitoring is twice each eight-hour shift on normal rounds. The Operations Superintendent issued a letter on July 9, 1984 with instructions for the Equipment Operator to check the auxiliary feedwater pumps' discharge piping on their rounds. The " Turbine-Generator and Auxiliary Equipment Log" was revised in November, 1985 for more formal documentation of the equipment opera-tor's inspection. The completed log is stored in the plant QA vault.

2. " Develop procedures for recognizing steam binding and for restoring the AFW System to operable status, should steam binding occur."

RESPONSE

The procedure for recognizing steam binding is performed by the Equipment Operator when he makes his rounds twice a shift. Abnormal Operating Procedure, A-FW-05B, " Auxiliary Feedwater System Abnormal Operation," has no automatic action for a hot pipe. However, the subsequent actions (step 4.3) specifies the recovery steps for greater than ambient temperature or hot discharge piping.

The recovery for a pump with its discharge piping greater than ambient tem-perature, but not hot is accomplished by feeding a steam generator with the affected pump. When the discharge piping is hot, the affected pump switch is placed in pullout, the pump discharge is isolated and a drain valve is opened.

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Nr. J. G. Keppler February 25, 1986 Page 2 When the pump is cooled down, the drain valve is closed and the pump discharge valve is opened. The pump is started and left running until the discharge piping is cooled down. This procedure revision was completed December 17, 1985.

Another revision is currently pending to address the potential for water hamer when restoring a hot auxiliary feedwater line. This revision will include starting the pump on recirculatior, and slowly opening the discharge valve to admit the auxiliary feedwater to the discharge piping. Following the occurrence of any steam leakage into the AFW System, and the corrective actions for system restoration, an evaluation would be performed to ensure system operability.

3. " Procedural controls should remain in effect until completion of hardware modification to substantially reduce the likelihood of steam binding or until superseded by action implemented as a result of resolution of Generic Issue 93."

RESPONSE

Procedures and inspections will remain in effect until the issue of Steam binding in auxiliary feedwater pumps is resolved.

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