ML20248A685
| ML20248A685 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crystal River  |
| Issue date: | 04/26/1989 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Graham B SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20248A688 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 8906080180 | |
| Download: ML20248A685 (2) | |
Text
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April 26, 1989 The Honorable Bob Graham United States Senator Post Office Box 3050 Tallahassee, Florida 32315
Dear Senator Graham:
I am responding to your letter of itarch 24, 1989, in which you noted that one of your constituents, lir. Lee Ball, expressed concerns about the extent and cost of shutdowns and repairs, particularly. repetitive repairs, at Crystal River Unit 3.
Even though public hetith and safety, not consideration of cost, are our principal concerns, we do monitor various measures of plant availabi-lity and plant outeges, as these may affect our assessment of safety at a t
particular plant.
Mr. Ball identified a maintenance situation at Crystal River Unit-3 that, although it does not represent a serious safety problem, is of some concern; namely, failures of reactor coolant pump "A."
This pump's shaft failed initially in January 1986, resulting in a 6-month shutdown during which the shafts and other components of all fcur reactor coolant pumps were replaced and improved vibration monitoring instrumentation insta11ea.
In November 1988, as a result of increased vibration readings pump "A" was secured and plant operation contir,ued at approximately 75 percent of full power on three reactor coolant pumps.
In' December 1988, the plant was shut down. A careful exami-nation of the pump revealed only that there was extensive cracking in the
-1cwer motor shaft bearing support. This cracking was thought to be the cause of the vibration and was repaired. From a safety standpoint, the NRC staff had no objection to plant restart. As plant pcwer was slowly increased, monitoring continueo to indicate that vibration was normal. However, on January 18, 1989, after some anomalous vibration indications, the "A" reactor coolant pump shaft again failed. The plant continued operating with three reactor coolant pumps until late February 1989, when it was again shut down so that the failure could be evaluated and the pump repaired.
The licensee has carefully and extensively examined the "A" pump and motor 6nd identified damaged and discrepant components that could have ccused or resulted from the shaft failure. These con.ponents are being corrected, repaired, or replaced, and a shaft of improved design has been installed in pump "A."
The other three pumps were examined and appropriate repairs r;ade.
Further enhanced vibration monitoring instrumentation is being acced to all four pumps. All repairs are scheduled to be completed by late April 1989 ano the plant restarted at that time.
While the 11RC does not review the appropriateness of maintenance cost of nuclear power plants, I can assure you that for the plant to operate above 75%
power safely, repairs to the "A" pump were necessary.
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'.'*The Honorable Bob Graham -
I' hope that th_is letter addresses Mr. Ball's concerns.
If I can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely, 1
O Victor Stel o, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations
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