NL-14-066, Withdrawal of Licensee Event Report 2013-006-00, Technical Specification Prohibited Condition Due to an Inoperable 33 Station Battery Caused by a Cell Crack.
| ML14149A242 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 05/19/2014 |
| From: | Ventosa J Entergy Operations |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| LER 13-006-00, NL-14-066 | |
| Download: ML14149A242 (2) | |
Text
Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway, GSB S0Entergy P.O. Box 249 Buchanan, N.Y. 10511-0249 Tel (914) 254-6700 John A. Ventosa Site Vice President Administration NL-14-066 May 19, 2014 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk 11545 Rockville Pike, TWFN-2 F1 Rockville, MD 20852-2738
SUBJECT:
Withdrawal of Licensee Event Report # 2013-006-00, "Technical Specification Prohibited Condition Due to an Inoperable 33 Station Battery Caused by a Cell Crack" Indian Point Unit No. 3 Docket No. 50-286 DPR-64 Reference 1: Transmittal letter for LER-2013-006 (NL-13-150), from John A. Ventosa to NRC dated December 5, 2013
Dear Sir or Madam:
On December 5, 2013, Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc. (ENO) Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) submitted Licensee Event Report (LER) 2013-006-00 for Unit 3 pursuant to 10 CFR 50.73(a)(1) (Reference 1). This LER reported under 10 CFR 50.73(a)(2)(i)(B), an event where there was a Technical Specification prohibited condition for an inoperable station battery 33 due to a crack in the battery jar of cell 14 which extended below the high level fluid line. The 33 battery was declared inoperable after its ability to perform its design function in a seismic event was questioned due to possible crack propagation that would allow electrolyte to escape from the battery. This condition was recorded in the Entergy Corrective Action Program as Condition Report CR-IP3-2013-04216.
Subsequent to submittal of LER-2013-006, IPEC received the results of a past operability evaluation of the jar of battery cell 14 in battery 33. The evaluation was performed by the independent consulting engineers LPI, Inc. The evaluation was a calculation to determine the past operability of the jar of battery cell 14 in battery 33 with the as-found cracks under plant design basis seismic loading.
Docket No. 50-286 NL-14-066 Page 2 of 2 The results of the evaluation determined that deformations at the crack are small compared to the crack size and that the stress intensification is well below the fracture toughness of the polycarbonate material of the jar. The evaluation concluded that battery cell 14 with the as-found cracks can sustain seismic loads with no concerns of crack instability (i.e., crack growth) demonstrating past operability of battery cell 14 with the as-found cracks.
Based on the engineering evaluation, the 33 battery was operable and was able to perform its safety function therefore, there was no TS prohibited condition. Based on the determination the 33 battery was operable, ENO hereby withdraws LER-2013-006. LER-2013-006 reported that a supplement to the LER was anticipated. This withdrawal eliminates the need for that supplement.
There are no new commitments identified in this letter. Should you have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact Mr. Robert Walpole, Manager, Regulatory Assurance at (914) 254-6710.
Sincerely, JAV/cbr cc: Mr. William Dean, Regional Administrator, NRC Region I NRC Resident Inspector's Office, Indian Point 3 Ms. Bridget Frymire, New York State Public Service Commission