ML24268A109
| ML24268A109 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/23/2024 |
| From: | Jesse Seymour NRC/NRR/DRO/IOLB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24268A109 (1) | |
Text
2024 SimTech Conference NRC Update Presented by Jesse Seymour Sr. Reactor Engineer (Examiner)
Operator Licensing and Human Factors Branch September 23, 2024
NRC Update on Current Topics of Interest Disclaimer: the contents of this presentation do not necessarily indicate the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions views.
Agenda
- Endorsement of ANS-3.5-2018 / Draft Regulatory Guide 1.149 (Rev. 5)
- Proposed 10 CFR Part 53 Rulemaking Status
- Industry performance trends
- Questions
ANS-3.5-2018 Endorsement &
RG 1.149 Considerations
- Endorsement of ANS-3.5-2018 via Draft Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.149 revision 5 is now moving forward o Endorsement process had been paused due to other rulemaking activities to avoid multiple revisions of RG 1.149 being needed
- NRC staff development work on draft RG 1.149 Rev. 5 includes endorsement of ANS-3.5-2018, but other areas that the staff are considering clarifying may also include:
o Addressing partial scope/part-task simulators o Guidance for Commission-approved simulators (CAS) o Core load modeling at multi-unit SMR facilities
- The revised RG 1.149 will have a public comment period
Proposed 10 CFR Part 53 Rulemaking
- The proposed Part 53 includes a new framework for staffing, operator licensing, human factors engineering, and training
- Includes simulation facility requirements for licensed operator training and examination programs; key aspects are:
- Incorporates improvements based upon lessons learned
- Would allow that a reference plant may not be constructed
- Full-scope simulators are not mandated; partial scope simulators may be acceptable if adequate to meet needs
- Provides a flexible simulation facility definition for compatibility with plants having limited on-site facilities
- Prior to initial fuel load, simulator models would be allowed to replicate the intended initial core loads
Part 53 Rulemaking (contd)
- Current status of the Part 53 rulemaking is available via:
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/rulemaking-ruleforum/active/ruledetails.html?id=1108
- As mentioned, Part 53 envisions that alternatives to full-scope simulators might be appropriate in certain cases
- Includes the potential use of alternative simulation facilities (e.g., partial scope simulators or the plant itself) provided that all associated requirements can be demonstrated to be met o However, it is not the NRCs intention to allow initiation of transients on the actual plant for these purposes o Rather, use of the actual plant for training and examination purposes is envisioned to be restricted to techniques including, in part, simulated tasks, use of augmented reality technology, and similar approaches that provide value while avoiding operation of plant components
2023-2024 Performance Trends
- Overall trend of simulator programs continues to be good with no recent inspection findings
- Examination reports have documented some minor issues
- 2023 BWR observations (gathered from exams at 3 facilities) o Fuel thermal limit monitoring software/computer system was nonfunctional for more than a year o Rod Worth Minimizer touchscreen locked up o Monitor displaying power-to-flow map would blank out o Recirculation pump touchscreen went into sleep mode o Valve number incorrectly listed on a temperature recorder o A feedwater/reactor recirculation system digital control system connection to the simulator was lost
2023-2024 Performance (contd)
- 2024 BWR observations (gathered from exams at 4 facilities) o Multiple simulator issues during one exam including breaker spuriously tripping, mismatch between Plant Computer display and control board pump indication, Reptile crashes both during simulator reset and during a scenario, and Core Model dropping out during a scenario o Flow indication being present on a Standby Gas Treatment System exhaust flow recorder that should have had none o A pump switch that slipped down when taken to pull-to-lock and made up the contacts for the off light.
o A Reactor Feedwater Pump that continued to run with no suction pressure until control switch was taken to trip
Recent Performance Trends (contd)
- 2023 PWR observations (gathered from exams at 4 facilities) o Master Simulator Tasking system caused simulator to stop running computing processes/components to not operate o Residual Heat Removal flow did not respond as expected o Steam generator pressures diverged by 100 psig o Hard drive recognition errors occurred in the simulator o An unexpected power increase occurred during a scenario o An abnormal containment spray pump indication occurred due to a malfunctioning switch o Inconsistent rod Control Motion Inhibit indications were noted when an associated bypass button was depressed
- No PWR observations in reports thus far in 2024
Questions?
Jesse Seymour Jesse.Seymour@nrc.gov