ML20236N447

Responds to 961003,request from Region II for Technical Assistance Re Interpretation of Sequoyah TS 3/4.3.1, Specifically Items 10 & 11 on Table 3.3-1

ML20236N447
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	10/01/1997
From:	Hebdon F NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Jerrica Johnson NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
Shared Package
ML20236J990	List: IA-98-155, Responds to 980513 Request from Duquesne Light Co to Provide Written Interpretation of Beaver Valley Power Station,Unit 1 & 2 TSs Requirements for Channel Calibration of Rtds & Thermocouples IR 05000482/1991021 ML20236J987 ML20236K746 ML20236K751 ML20236K780 ML20236K784 ML20236K803 ML20236K816 ML20236K840 ML20236K853 ML20236K883 ML20236K902 ML20236K916 ML20236K936 ML20236K963 ML20236L549 ML20236L558 ML20236L563 ML20236L580 ML20236L584 ML20236L590 ML20236L597 ML20236L653 ML20236L921 ML20236L955 ML20236L971 ML20236M014 ML20236M020 ML20236M034 ML20236M057 ML20236M117 ML20236M138 ML20236M148 ML20236M911 ML20236M924 ML20236M966 ML20236M983 ML20236M996 ML20236N007 ML20236N047 ML20236N052 ML20236N066 ML20236N221 ML20236N240 ML20236N257 ML20236N271 ML20236N288 ML20236N323 ML20236N333 ... further results
References
FOIA-98-155 TAC-M97293, NUDOCS 9807150130
Download: ML20236N447 (4)

Text

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WAsNING7oN. D.C. Sette et M October 1,1997

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MEMORANDUM TO: Jon R. Johnson, Director Division of Reactor Projects 4 Region ll l

1 FROM: Frederick J. Hebdon, Director Project Directorate ll 3 J Division of Reactor Projects -t/Il Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation J,l l

SUBJECT:

NRR RESPONSE TO TIA 9618 SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 -INTERPRETATION OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 3/4.3.1 ON PRESSURIZER PRESSURE TRANSMITTERS (TAC NO. M97293)

By memorandum dated October 3,1996, Region 11 requested technical assistance regarding interpretation of Sequoyah Technical Specification (TS) 3/4.3.1,* Reactor Trip Systein Instrumentation,'specifically items 10 and 11 (pressurizer pressure) on Table 3.3-1 (same title). The table requires at least three of four channels to be operable during Modes 1 and 2.

Action 6 in the Action column of the table requires the following:

With the number of OPERABLE channels one less than the Total Number of Channels, STARTUP and/or POWER OPERATION may proceed provided the following conditions are satisfied:

s. The inoperable channelis placed in the tripped condition within 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br />,

b. The Minimum Channels OPERABLE requirement is met [i.e.,3 channels); however, the inoperable channel may be bypassed for up to 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> for surveillance testing of other channels per Specification 4.3.1.1.1.

At Sequoyah, as with other plants designed by Westinghouse, there are only three sets of penetrations in the pressurizer vessel for the purpose of measuring pressurizer level and pressure. Two pressurizer pressure transmitters (PT48 334 and PT48-342C) share a common reference leg, normally kept full by a condensate pot, with the safety related pressurizer jtMal transmitter (LT48-335) and the non-safety-related cold-calibrated pressurizer level transmitter (LT48 321). See Attachment. The other two pressure and level transmitters

, have their own penetrations, sharing a common reference leg. Because of drihing indicated on pressurizer level transmitter 1 LT48 335 on Unit 1, the licensee elected to place one of the two r pressure instruments that share a common reference leg in bypass and the other pressure instrument in trip in order to refill (backfill) the common reference leg. The backfill operation l j was performed with the plant in Mode 1 and was completed within the 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> specified in the ,

TS. The licensee considered the tripped channel to be operable and the bypassed channel to be inoperable. NRR does not disagree with the licensee's determination.

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l The TIA asks 'Does TS 3.3.1 allow the simultaneous bypassing of one PZR pressure channel and tripping of another PZR pressure channel to perform a corrective maintenance activity i rather than a testing activity?" l NRR has completed its review of this issue a. J has developed the following position with l regard to interpretation of the subject Technical Specification. Although perhaps acceptable l from a reactor safety standpoint, the licensee's action wi s not in comoliance with the Technical Specification as written. Action 6 in Table 3.3-1 specifically allows one channelin bypass when a second channelis inoperable Dnly while performing surveillance testing per Specification

4.3.1.1.1, which in turn refers to Table 4.3-1. This table covers only channel checks, channel l l

calibrations, and channel functional tests, not refilling reference legs, which NRR agrees is corrective maintenance. The licensee would be required to submit, and receive approval of, a Technical Specification amendment to make their actions acceptable. Another questionable l

, aspect of the licensee's rationale is that it is not clear how one channel of pressurizer pressure cou!d be declared inoperable due to the backfilling operation but not the other (i. e., the one that was placed in trip). The backfill operation would affect both channels in the same manner.

If you have any questions regarding the above determination, please contact the Sequoyah Project Manager, Ron Heman, at (301) 415 2010. i Docket No. 50-327 and 50-328 original by F.Hebdon l

Attachment:

Instrument Diagram cc w/attachmer.t; R. Crienjak, Region I W. L. Axelson, Region lli J. Dyer, Region IV Distribution:

Docket File SQN Reading l BBoger JRoe AChaffee MBoylo (e-mail only MLB4) l SBloom (e-mail only SDB1) MOprendek, Region i TLiu, DRPE MShannon, Ril DOCUMENT NAME: P\97293.TIA To receive a ecy, of tnis document. indk:ste in the box C= Copy w/o attachment /endosure E= Copy with riachment/endosure N = No copy

• See previous concurrence OFFICE PM:PD2 3, 5 1.A:PD2-3 i BC:TSB BQ:HICS 6 D:PD2 0 C DD:hE kDRPg NAME RHeman BClayto WBeckner* J l h el FHebb JZwolinski BB r DATE 9/ 7 9/ 'h/97 9/4/97 l 9/f/97 9/l3 /97 g/ I/97 /97\

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

i i '

J. Johnson The TIA asks 'Does TS 3.3.1 allow the simultaneous bypassing of one PZR pressure channel

and tripping of another PZR pressure channel to perform a corrective maintenance activity rather than a testing activity?'

NRR has completed its review of this issue and has developed the following position with regard to interpretation of the subject Technical Specifici!M. Although perhaps acceptable from a reactor safety standpoint, the licensee's action was not in comoliance with the Technical Snecificatien as written. Action 6 in Table 3.3-1 specifically allows one channelin bypass when a second channelis inoperable only while performing surveillance testing per Specification 4.3.1.1.1, which in tum refars to Table 4.3-1. This table covers only channel checks, channel calibrations, and channel functional tests, not refilling reference legs, which NRR agrees is corrective maintenance. The licensee would be required to submit, and receive approval of, a Technical Specification amendment to make their actions acceptabloc Another questionable aspect of the licensee's rationale is that it is not clear how one channel of pressurizer pressure .

could be declared inoperable due to the backfilling operation but not the other (i. e., the one that I was placed in trip). The backfill operation would affect both channels in the same manner.

l If you have any questions regarding the above determination, please contact the Sequoyah Project Manager, Ron Heman, at (301) 415-2010. l l

Docket No. 50 327 and 50 328

Attachment:

Instrument Diagram ,

cc w/ attachment: R. Crienjak, Region I W. L. Axelson, Region 111 J. Dyer, Region IV i

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9 SQN BACKFILLING SENSfMG LINES ON SnitM os 1-PI-IFV-068-443.0 PRESSURIZER PRESSURE AND LEVEL Rev. 0 1 TRANSMITTERS PROTECTION SET II Page 1 of 1

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