ML20212N207
| ML20212N207 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 08/21/1986 |
| From: | Esposito V PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP. |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20212N194 | List: |
| References | |
| OL-1, NUDOCS 8608280128 | |
| Download: ML20212N207 (4) | |
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Dated August 21, 1986 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGL'LATORY COMMISSION before the ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD In the Matter of:
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PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF
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Docket Nos. 50-443-OL NEW HAMPSHIRE, et al.
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Docket Nos. 50-444-OL
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(Seabrook Station, Units
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On-Site Emergency Planning 1 and 2)
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and Safety Issues AFFADAVIT OF VINCENT J. ESPOSITO I, Vincent J. Esposito, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1.
I am Ma' nager of the Core Engineering Section of the Nuclear Fuel Divisions Business Unit of Westinghouse.
I have been responsible for nuclear fuel and reactor safety and engineering activities for over eighteen years.
I joined Westinghouse in 1968 and was responsible for development of analytical models used in analyzing reactor cores.
From 1968 to the present, I have managed a succession of technical activities for Westinghouse, encompassing nuclear fuel design; thermal hydraulic analysis; material design; and reactor safety analysis and testing.
2.
I am a 1964 graduate f rom Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
I later earned a D.Sc. degree in Nuclear Engineering f rom the University of Virginia.
I have taught graduate courses in the Nuclear Enginering Department of Carnegie Mellon University.
8608280128 860822
{DR ADOCK 05000443 PDR E 4 e+i s iT R
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3.
I am submitting this affidavit in support of Public Service Company of New Hamsphire's Motion for Authorization of Fuel Loading and Precritical Testing.
As explained in the af fidavit of George S.
Thomas, Public Service Company of New Hampshire will operate Seabrook Unit 1 under tne authority.
bein'g requested in a manner such that the concentration of boron within the reactor vessel will be maintained at or above 2000 parts per million (ppm) tnroughout the fuel loading process and precritical testing sequence without relying on the proper functioning of any electrical systems or circuitry.
The purpose of my affidavit is to show that if this concentration of boron is maintained there will be no physical means of the reactor core becoming critical, and. therefore no electrical systems 'or circuitry will be required under accident and transient conditions.
4.
The reactor core becomes critical when the number of r.eut rons generated in the core is in equilibrium with the number of neutrons absorbed or lost.
The reactor remains subcritical when more neutrons are absorbed or lost than generated.
Neutror.s that are lost cannot thereafter affect criticality.
There are two forms of neutron absorbers --control rods and dissolved boron in the reactor coolant.
The ef fect.f the neutron absorbers '
is influenced by changes in the reactor coolant system temperature.
Standard
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design calculations taking into account these temperature effects have demonstrated that with all control rods withdrawn f rom the core, the boron concentration would have to be. reduced to less than 1300 ppm for the core to become critical over the range of reactor coolant system temperatures which y
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will occur during the precritical testing sequence.
These standard ~
criticality calculations are part of the core design for Seabrook and were performed by nuclear core design engineers within my area of resp' nsibility.
o 5.
For the core to become critical, the excess neutron absorbers would have to be removed.
This can only be done by withdrawing control rods and/or reducing the boron concentration.
Given the Public Service Company of New Hampshire, commitment to maintain the concentration of boron in the reactor coolant system at or above 2000 ppm, substantial'ly above the 1300 ppm shown necessary by the Westinghouse calculations, the withdrawal. of all of the control rods cannot cause the reactor to become critical.
Only dilution of the baron concentration in the reactor coolant,could cause the reactor to become critical.
Such dilution will be precluded by the measures discussed in the affidavit of George S. Thomas.
6.
The generation of neutrons is dependent upon the presence of reactor coolant (water).
If reactor coolant is lost f rom the core, both the neutron generation capability of the fuel and the neutron absorption capability of the
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boron dissolved in the water will be reduced.
Evaluations perf ormed by Westinghouse under my area of responsibility'show that the ef fect on neutron generation dominates the ef fect on neutron absorption, making the core even more subcritical.
In addition, a loss of heat removal capability f rom the core is unimportant under the limited operation comtemplated by Public Service Company of New Hampshire because the reactor core will never'become critical and is therefore not a heat source. --.
5 7.
In conclusion, under the conditions that Public Service Company of New Hampshire will maintain, Seabrook Unit 1 will remain in a subcritical state under accident and transient conditions without any. reliance on electrical systems or circuitry.
Maintaining the boron concentration in the reactor coolant system at or above 2000 ppm alone will assure the subcritical state of the reactor.
It follows, of course, that because, the reactor will never become critical during either the fuel loading. process or precritical testing, no fission product source term will be generated, and consequently, no question will arise as to the protection of the public health and safety.
Further af fiant sayeth not.
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Vincent J.
osito SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to bef. ore me this 21 day of August
,1986.
C' M M.
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NOTARY PUBLIC LO2RAINE M. PIPLICA. NOTARY PUBLIC MONROEVILLE BORD. ALLEGHENY COUNTY MY c0MMIS$10N EXPlRES DEC 14.1987 Member. Pennsylvania Association of Notaries S
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