ML20196A846
| ML20196A846 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 11/24/1998 |
| From: | Alexion T NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Cottle W HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| References | |
| TAC-MA1472, TAC-MA1473, NUDOCS 9811300166 | |
| Download: ML20196A846 (4) | |
Text
._- -. -
=.
.4 Mr. William T. Cottis Novembsr 24, 1998 l
- l-President and Chief Executive Officer
[
STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P. O. Box 289 Wadsworth,TX 77483
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON NEW FUEL DESIGN, i
SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (STP) (TAC NOS. MA1472 AND MA14,3) i i
Dear Mr. Cottle:
l The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing STP Nuclear Operating Company's (STPNOC's) March 31,1998, response to NRC's March 11,1998, questions regarding the potential for irregular fuel rod bowing to occur with the new fuel design (P+ fuel (ZlRLO with protective bottom grids)} due to the placement of fuel rods near the bottom nozzle. Based on its review, the staff has determined that additionalinformation is needed, as discussed in the enclosure.
This request was discussed with Ms. Kathleen Work of your staff on November 3,1998, and a mutually agreeable target date of a response to the enclosure within 60 days was established.
The staff appreciates the efforts expended with respect to this matter.
Since-OR ML SIGNED BY:
Thomas W. Alexion, Project Manager l
Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects Ill/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499
/
Enclosure:
Request for Additional Information cc w/ encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
1 TDocket Filel PUBLIC PD4-1 r/f SWu p
.EAdensam (EGA1)
JHannon CHawes JZwolinski y)
TAlexion OGC ACRS TGwynn, RIV TCollins MChatterton Document Name: STPA1472.RAI OFC PM]9Ed LA/PD4-1 BC/SRXB PD/PD4-1.
TAlexIck CHawe TCollinsk JHannh NAME II M $98 DATE M/98 I) / 0 /98 fl/1b/98
/
[fEh/NO COPY YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO OFFTCIAL RECORD COPY 3)g.
g,,,,,.,,,,,,,
fok % $ 7 M 9e
" U k '- S e-W i
P pm
}
kmarrug p
- 4 UNITED STATES f'
g Ij NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i
e WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066 0001 4
D o
November 24, 1998 i
l l
Mr. William T. Cottle l
President and Chief Executive Officer STP Nuclear Operating Company l
South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P. O. Box 289 l
Wadsworth, TX 77483
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON NEW FUEL DESIGN, SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (STP) (TAC NOS. MA1472 AND MA1473)
Dear Mr. Cottle:
The Nuclear Rege'. tory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing STP Nuclear Operating Company's (STPNOC's) March 31,1998, response to NRC's March 11,1998, questions regarding the potential for irregular fuel rod bowing to occur with the new fuel design (P+ fuel l
(ZlRLO with protective bottom grids)j due to the placement of fuel rods near the bottom l
nozzle. Based on its review, the staff has determined that additionalinformation is needed, as discussed in the enclosure.
This request was discussed with Ms. Kathleen Work of your staff on November 3,1998, and a mutually agreeable target date of a response to the enclosure within 60 days was established.
The staff appreciates the efforts expended with respect to this matter.
l Sincerely,
{
v& W
~U d
l' Thomas W. Alexion, Project anager Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects Ill/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50 498 and 50-499
Enclosure:
Request for Additional Information cc w/ encl: See next page 4
i
1
,e,-
~
Mr. William T. Cottle STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Mr. Cornelius F. O'Keefe Jack R. Newman, Esq.
Senior Resident inspector Morgan, Lewis & Bockius U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1800 M Street, N.W.
- P. O. Box 910 W.:shington, DC 20036-5869 Bay City, TX 77414 Mr. La wrence E. Martin A. Ramirez/C. M. Canady Vice Piesident, Nuc. Assurance & Licensing City of Austin STP Nuclear Operating Company Electric Utility Department P. O. E;ox 289 721 Barton Springs Road Wadsworth, TX 77483 Austin, TX 78704 Office of the Governor Mr. M. T. Hardt ATTN: lohn Howard, Director Mr. W. C. Gunst Environmental and Natural City Public Service Board Rescurces Policy P. O. Box 1771 P. O. Box 12428 San Antonio, TX 78296 Austin, TX 78711 -
Mr. G. E. Vaughn/C. A. Johnson Jon C. Wood Central Power and Light Company Matthews & Branscomb P. O. Box 289 One Alamo Center Mail Code: N5012 106 S. St. Mary's Street, Suite 700 Wadsworth, TX 74483 San Antonio, TX 78205-3692 INPO Arthur C. Tate, Director Records Center Division of Compliance & Inspection 700 Galleria Parkway Bureau of Radiation Control Atlanta, GA 30339-3064 Texas Department of Health 1100 West 49th Street Regional Administrator, Region IV Austin, TX 78756 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Jim Calloway Arlington, TX 76011 Public Utility Commission of Texas Electric Industry Analysis D. G. Tees /R. L. Balcom P. O. Box 13326 Houston Lighting & Power Co.
Austin, TX 78711-3326 P. O. Box 1700 I
Houston, TX 77251 i
I Judge, Matagorda County Matagorda County Courthouse 1700 Seventh Street.
Bay City, TX 77414 y,
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMLTION 1.
NRC's March 11,1998, letter asks that data or analysis be provided that addresses fuel rod bowing for the new fuel design. It furthers asks if none is available, propose a plan for confirmatory post-irradiation examination (PIE).
a.
if no data is available, please so state.
b.
If no analysis is available, please so state.
c.
If there is only partial analysis, please indicate what is covered by analysis. In addition, please provide a summary of the partial analysis (i.e., assumptions, codes used, and results).
d.
The PIE should verify the results of analysis.
e.
The PIE should supplement those areas not covered by analysis.
f.
The PIE should address fuel rod growth, assembly growth and fuel rod bowing.
Please address all of the above.
2.
The second paragraph on page 2 of the March 31,1998, response makes comparisons between the 14-foot fuel design at South Texas and the Westinghouse 12-foot design. It states that when comparing the 14-foot fuel to 12-foot fuel, the 14-foot fuel has a greater diameter, which presumably makes the fuel rod stiffer and less susceptible to bowing.
However, also as discussed on page 2, when comparing the 14 foot fuel to 12-foot fuel with intermediate flow mixers, the 14-foot fuel has an increased grid span length, which presumably makes the fuel rod more susceptible to bowing. Therefore, comparisons between the 14-foot fuel and the 12 foot fuel are inconclusive unless these two competing factors can be quantified to determine which one has the greater effect.
Please explain.
3.
Please address the above questions for both the Phase 1 Zirlo-clad fuel in Unit 1 and the Phase 2 Zirlo-clad fuel planned for Unit 2 during the October refueling outage. (Note that NRC's March 11,1998, questions were inadvertently limited to the Phese 1 fuel).
ENCLOSURE