ML20199G382

Concludes No Immediate Nuclear Criticality Safety Concern Re Operation of Area 1,2 & 3 SE Pumps at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant,Based on New Info Provided Verbally by Usec

ML20199G382
Person / Time
Site:	Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Issue date:	01/20/1999
From:	Yawar Faraz NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Pierson R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 9901220279
Download: ML20199G382 (2)

Text

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January 20, 1999

-- " # '. MEMORANDUM TO: Robzrt C. Pierson, Chief Special Projects Branch {

l Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards FROM: Yawar H. Faraz, Portsmouth Project Manager Mg9f Enrichment Section Special Projects Branch i

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards

SUBJECT:

JANUARY 13,1999, CONFERENCE CALL

SUMMARY

PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT (PORTS) SEAL EXHAUST (SE) PUMPS On January 13,1999, Melanie Galloway, Jack Davis, Dave Hartland, Courtney Blanchard and myself had a conference call with Mark Smith, Ed Wagner, Al Stone, Mike Hone and Ralph Leming of the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) to discuss a nuclear criticality safety (NCS) concern the staff had related to the current operations of the SE pumps at i PORTS. Specifically, the staff was in possession of what it considered conflicting information regarding the internal volumes of the SE pumps which could become available for a UF6/ oil mixture following a compressor seat failure. For example, PORTS Safety Analysis Report Table 3.1.1.6-1 entitled " Seal Exhaust Pump Sizes," under the column entitled " Maximum Amount of Oil," indicates this maximum volume for the Area 3 Kinney 100-cfm to be 3 gallons.

In a phone conversation I had with USEC on January 7,1999, I was told that the maximum oil I volumes reflected in PORTS SAR Table 3.1.1.6-1 would be the maximum amounts that the l UF6/ oil mixtures could attain in the SE pumps with the oil overflows in place. However, USEC's l response dated February 20,1998, to our RAI on a related certificate amendment request,  !

indicates the maximum volumes for Area 3 pumps range between 6.7 to 7.45 gallons. In l

addition, an internal PORTS memorandum dated November 9,1995, from Jeremy Smith to David W. Thompson and Dave Ghearing provides a measured volume for the Kinney KT-170LP

{

SE pump to be 5.3 gallons with the oil overflows in place.

In the subject conference call, USEC stated that the volume of concern is the oil reservoir located above the pump cavity since the pump can only operate with a thin oil film on the internal surfaces of the cavity. During pump operation, oil diffuses from the reservoir to the cavity through a cap gland. Once the pump ceases to operate, the cap gland forms a barrier between the oil reservoir and the pump cavity, thereby ensuring that the only significant UF6/ oil mixture that could occur would be in the reservoir. Based on this new information provided l verbally by USEC, the NRC staff concludes that there is no immediate NCS concern regarding operation of the present day Area 1,2, and 3 SE pumps at PORTS. 1 Docket 70-7002 ,

cc: Steve 1 eile, USEC iU DISTRIBUTION: _

Docket 70-7002 NRC File Center PuBLIC NMss r/f FCss r/l sPB r/f KWinsberg,OGc DHartland, Rill Ko' Brian, Riti WTroskoski. FCOB PHiland. Rill CCox CBlanchard, Rill

• see previous concurrence c:\wo\wpdoes\gdp\s E telecon.PoA.wpd oFC sPB C *sPB *sPB sPB l

NAME YFaraz:ij DHoadley JDavis y DATE 1/ 6 /99 1/14/99 1/15/99 1/l /99 C = COVER E m COVER & ENCLOSURE N = No COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 9901220279 990120 PDR ADOCK 07007002 C PDR 44UU4U . _ , ,.,

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, c . . - . . - - - - -a v

, MEMORANDUM TO: Rob::rt C. Pierson, Chief Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards FROM: Yawar H. Faraz, Portsmouth Project Manager Enrichment Section Special Projects Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards

SUBJECT:

JANUARY 13,1999 CONFERENCE CALL

SUMMARY

PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT (PORTS) SEAL EXHAUST (SE) PUMPS On Ja ary 13,1999, Melanie Galloway, Jack Davis, Dave Hartland, Courtney Blanchard and myself h a conference call with Mark Smith, Ed Wagner, Al Stone, Mike Hone and Ralph Leming of th United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) to discuss a nuclear criticality safety (NCS) e cern the staff had related to the current operations of the SE pumps at PORTS. Specific ly, the staff was in possession of what it considered conflicting information regarding the intern volumes of the SE pumps which could become available for a UF6/ oil mixture following a co ressor seal failure. For example, PORTS Safety Analysis Report Table 3.1.1.6-1 entitled " al Exhaust Pump Sizes," under the column entitled " Maximum Amount of Oil," indicates thi maximum volume for the Area 3 Kinney 100-cfm to be 3 gallons.

In a phone conversation I had 'th USEC on January 7,1999, I was told that the maximum oil volumes reflected in PORTS SA able 3.1.1.6-1 would be the maximum amounts that the UF6/ oil mixtures could attain in the pumps. However, USEC's response dated February 20, 1998, to our RAI on a related certificate mendment request, indicates the maximum volumes for Area 3 pumps to range between 6.7 to 45 gallons. In addition, an internal PORTS i memorandum dated November 9,1995, from eremy Smith to David W. Thompson and Dave l Ghearing provides a measured volume for the .ey KT-170LP SE pump to be 5.3 gallons.  !

In the subject conference call, USEC stated that the v Jme of concern is the oil reservoir located above the pump cavity since the pump can only erate with a thin oil film on the internal surfaces of the cavity. During pump operation, oil uses from the reservoir to the cavity through a cap gland. Once the pump ceases to operate, e cap gland forms a barrier between the oil reservoir and the pump cavity, thereby ensuring th the only significant UF6/ oil mixture that could occur would be in the reservoir. Based on this ne 'nformation provided by USEC, the NRC staff concludes that there is no immediate NCS concer egarding operation of the present day Area 1,2, and 3 SE pumps at PORTS.

Docket 70-7002 DISTRIBUTION:

Docket 70-7002 NRC File center PuBLIC NMsS r/l FCss r/f sPB r/l KWinsberg OGC DHartland, Rlli ' Brian, Riti WTroskoski, FCOB PHiland, Rill Ccox CBlanchard, Rlil

• see previous concurrence c:\wp\wodoes\gdp\SEtelecon POR.wpd oFc sPB d.- sPB C sPB sPB NAME YFaraz:ij W D oadle JDavis MGalloway DATE 1/ N /99 1/ Id /99 1/ (( /99 1/ /99 C = COVER E m COVER & ENCLOSURE N = No copy OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 4

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