ML20205L944

Safety Evaluation of Topical Rept CENPD-289-P, Use of Inert Replacement Rods in Abb C-E Fuel Assemblies. Rept Acceptable

ML20205L944
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/08/1999
From:	NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:
Shared Package
ML20205L942	List: ML20205L938 ML20205L944 ML20205Q317
References
NUDOCS 9904150013
Download: ML20205L944 (2)

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ENCLOSURE 1 SAFETY EVALUATION OF ABB COMBUSTION ENGINEERING TOPICAL REPORT CENPD-289-P "USE OF INERT REPLACEMENT RODS IN ABB CENF FUEL ASSEMBLIES" 1 INTRODUCTION In a letter dated September 30,1993, from S. A. Toolle, ABB Combustion Engineering (ABB-CE), to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), ABB-CE submitted Topical Report CENPD-289-P, "Use of inert Replacement Rods in ABB CENF Fuel Assemblies," for' NRC review.

CENPD-289-P describes a methodology of using inert replacement rods (solid stainless steel rods) to replace failed or damaged fuel rods including bumable poison rods during.

reconstitution of fuel assemblies for core reloads. The reconstitution methodology is divided into two configuration categories, Class A and non-Class A, for reconstituted fuel assemblies.

The inert replacement rods, either Class A or non-Class A configuration categories, require mechanical, neutronic, and thermal-hydraulic analyses to demonstrate that the inclusion of the inert replacement rods la fuel assemblies with the specific configurations and core locations chosen for a specific fuel cycle is acceptable with respect to the overall fuel performance and '

safety conclusions. This methodology applies to ABB-CE designs of 14x14 and 16x16 fuel assemblies.

The NRC staff was supported in this review by its consultant, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Our consultant's technical evaluation report (TER), which is attached, provides technical findings relative to its review.

2 EVALUATION The staff has reviewed the enclosed TER, and concludes that the TER provides an adequate technical basis to app;ove CENPD-289-P. However, this approval of CENPD-289-P is limited to the Class A configuration categories only. The Class A configuration categories are described in Table 2-1 and Figure 2-1 of CENPD-289-P. The approval does not cover the non-Class A conf;guration categories because ABB-CE failed to adequately address the staff concerns of (1) the applicability of the CE-1 critical heat flux (CHF) correlation (TER Sec-tion 4.3), and 12) the impact on peak cladding temperature (PCT) during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) (TER Section 5.1) for the non-Class A configuration categories. Therefore, the staff agrees with PNNL's conclusion that the reconstitution methodology described in CENPD-289-P, is acceptable for reconstituted fuel assemblies with Class A configuration .

categories in reload licensing applications. Based or' our review, the staff adopts the findings in the attached TER.-

9904150013 990408 PDR TOPRP EMVC-E

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2 3 CONCLUSIONS The staff has reviewed the ABB-CE's reconstitution methodology described in CENPD-289-P, snd finds that the methodology is adequate and thus acceptable for reconstituted fuel assemblies with Class A configuration categories in reload licensing applications. The staff does not approve any reconstituted fuel assemblies with non-Class A configuration categories for reload licensing applications because of the staff concems raised above in Section 2 of the evaluation.

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