NOC-AE-000499, Forwards Relief Request RR-ENG-2-3,proposing to Perform Alternative Ultrasonic Examination from Outside Surface of Skirt Attachment Weld as Described in Encl,In Lieu of Surface Examination from Inside Pressurizer Skirt

Forwards Relief Request RR-ENG-2-3,proposing to Perform Alternative Ultrasonic Examination from Outside Surface of Skirt Attachment Weld as Described in Encl,In Lieu of Surface Examination from Inside Pressurizer Skirt

ML20195G657
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	06/09/1999
From:	Jordan T HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NOC-AE-000499, NOC-AE-499, NUDOCS 9906160133
Download: ML20195G657 (6)

Text

{{#Wiki_filter:7 N ma m r sam mmmparawecawamysman sa arm newst ram 7/m

               .                                                                                               m June 9, 1999 NOC-AE-000499 File No.: G09.16 10CFR50.55a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention Document Control Desk Waslington, DC 20555 SouthTexas Project Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN,50-499 Request for Relief from ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI Reauirements (Relief Reauest RR-ENG-2-31

References:

1) Correspondence from M. A. McBurnett, South Texas Project, to NRC Document Control Desk, dated May 11,1989 (ST HL-AE-3084)

2) Safety Evaluation of the Inservice Inspection Program Plan for the First Ten Year Interval, South Texas Project, Unit 1, dated February 22,1990 In accordance with the provisions of 10CFR50.55a(a)(3)(1), the South Texas Project requests relief from the ASME Section XI code nondestructive exannnation requirements applicable to a portion of the South Texas Project Unit I and Unit 2 pressurizer support attachment welds. The South Texas Project proposes 1 to perform an alternative ultrasonic examination from the outside surface of the skirt attachment weld, as I described in the attached relief request, in lieu of surface examination from inside the pressurizer skirt. The South Texas Project believes this alternative ultrasonic examination provides an acceptable level of quality and safety. -

The attached relief request includes a discussion of the basis andjustification for the relief request as well as an implementation schedule. This relief request is applicable to the second inservice inspec lon interval

                                                                                                                           /

of South Texas Project Unit 1 and Unit 2. A similar South Texas Project relief request (reference 1) was submitted for tie first inservice inspection interval and approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Conunission

                                                                                                                           /3   .j (reference 2).
                                                                                                                              /

The South Texas Project requests NRC review and approval of this relief request by February 1, 2000, to i support development and submittal of the Unit I and Unit 2 Ten ' Year Inservice Inspection Plan for the secondinterval. 1 If there are any questions, please contact either Mr. C. A. Murry at (512) 972-8285 or me at (512) 972-7902. w a

                                                                                      . . Jordan g                             Manager,

(,1i e Systems Engineering PLW/

Attachment:

     ' Request for Relief from ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI Requirements (Relief Request RR-ENG-2-3) l 9906160133 990609 PDR       ADOCK 05000498 ;

G PDR

w NOC-AE-000499 File No.: G09.16

          ,        .                                                  Page 2 Ellis W. Merschoff                      Jon C. Wood Regional Administrator,RegionIV         Matthews & Branscomb U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission     One Alamo Center
          ~ 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400         106 S. St. Ma'ry's Street, Suite 700 Arlington, TX 76011-8064                San Antonio,TX 78205-3692 Thomas W. Alexion                       Institute ofNuclear Power Project Manager, Mail Code 0-13 D18     Operations - Records Center U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission     700 Galleria Parkway Washington, DC 20555-0001               Atlanta, GA 30339-5957 Cornelius F. O'Keefe                    Richard A. Ratliff Sr. Resident Inspector                  Bureau of Radiation Control c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Texas Department of Health P. O. Box 910                           1100 West 49th Street Bay City, TX 77404-0910                 Austin, TX 78756-3189
          'J. R. Newman, Esquire                    D. G. Tees /R. L. Balcom Morgan, Lewis & Bockius                 Houston Lighting & Power Co.

1800 M. Street, N.W. P. O. Box 1700 Washington, DC 20036-5869- Houston,TX 77251 W. C. Gunst/M. T. Hardt ' Central Power and Light Co,mpany City Public Service ATTN: G. E. Vaughn/C. A. Johnson ' P. O. Box 177: P. O. Isox 289, Mail Code: N5012 San Antonio,TX 78296 Wadsworth,TX 77483 A. Ramirez/C. M. Canady U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission City of Austin Attention: Document Control Desk Electric Utility Department Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 721 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX . 78704 ~

                                                                                           'l

      '                                                                                       Attachment NOC AE-000499 File No.: G09.16 Page 1 of 4 SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT
                                                   . UNITS 1 AND 2 REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE SECTION XI REQUIREMENTS (RELIFF REOUEST RR-ENG 2-3)

Reference Code: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section XI,1989 Edition A. Components for Which Exemption is Requested; (a) Name and Identification Number: Pressurizer support skirt attachment weld for Unit 1 (pressurizer l A, 1RlllNPZ101 A) and Unit 2 (pressurizer 2A, . 2R112NPZ201A) pressurizers (b) Function: Refer to UFSAR Section 5.4.10 (c) Class: ASME Code Class 1 B. Code Requirement from Which Reliefis Requested: ASME Section XI Table IWB-2500-1, Examination Category B-H, and Figures IWB-2500-13, -14, and -15 require surface (i.e., magnet % particle) examination of the interior surfaces of the support skirt attachment weld and adjacent base material located inside the i pressurizer support skirt. l C. Basis for Requesting Relief from Code Reauirements In accordance with the provisions of 10CFR50.55a(a)(3)(i), the South Texas Project requests relief from the ASME Section XI requirement for a surface examination of the inside surface of the Unit 1 and Unit 2 pressurizer support skirt attachment weld. This i relief request proposes application of an ultrasonic examination as an alternative approach to surface examination of the subject weld. ASME Section XI requires that integral attachments to Class 1 vessels be examined by either a surface or volumetric examination method, depending on the specific design of the attachment. The configuration of the skirt attachment welds most nearly resembles that of Figure IWB-2500-13 of Section XI (Figure 1). This figure requires surface examination of both the exterior (A-B) and interior (C-D) surfaces of the attachment weld and adjacent base materials. However, the configuration of the South Texas Project pressurizers (see UFSAR Figures 5.4-10 and -15) does not permit adequate access to the interior examination area to perform the specified magnetic particle examination. Pressurizer heaters, located approximately 13 inches from the inside surface of the support skirt, restrict access to this area.

p P ., Attachment l'* NOC-AE-000499 File No.: G09.16 Page 2 of 4

          . . = D. l . Alt rnative Framinatinn:

In lieu of the magnetic particle examination of the inside surface of the skirt attachment weld, the South Texas Project proposes to perform an ultrasonic examination from the outside surfaces of the attachment weld and adjacent base materials. The extent of the ultrasonic examination coverage is shown on the attached sketch (Figure 2). This uinasonic examination will provide coverage of the interior surfaces that would have been examined by the internal magnetic particle exammation. Furthermore, this ultrasonic examination will provide coverage of the attachment weld and portions of adjacent base material volumes not obtainable by magnetic particle examination. A magnetic particle examination.will be conducted on the exterior surfaces of the attachment weld and adjacent base materials (examination surface A-B) in accordance with Section XI. E. Justificatinn for Granting Relief: The South Texas Project requests relief from the requirement for magnetic particle examination of the inside surface of the pressurizer support attachment weld and proposes an alternative ultrasonic examination as described above in accordance with 10CFR50.55a(a)(3)(i). . The proposed ultrasonic examination is expected to provide results at least comparable to those from a magnetic particle surface examination, as well as cover a wider area. Consequently, the South Texas Project believes the proposed -{ alternative ultrasonic examination will provide an acceptable level of quality and safety. F. Implementatinn Schedule: The South Texas Project requests relief from ASME Section XI inservice inspection examination requirements for the interior portion of the required magnetic particle i examination of the pressurizer support skirt attachment weld for the second ten-year inservice inspection interval of Units 1 and 2. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is j requested to review and approve this relief request by February 1, 2000, to support i development and submittal of the Unit I and Unit 2 Ten Year Inservice Inspection Plan for the second interval.

r. Attacilment

  ,_                                                                             NOC-AE-000499               i File No.: G09.16 Page 3 of 4 f

Figure 1 REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS I COMPONENTS Pressure retalning cornponent , i B 1/2 in.

                                                                    /?ll/l
                                                                  / / / ', /
                                                            /     /     #

j /j / y_ 1/2 in.

                                                      /'// //     /  /jbd
                                                                             ^

h f/ 1/2 in.

                 #                        D           C                                                      )

6 4-- Integral ettechment g t lWB Boundary 1f , T surf. exam. areas A 5 and C. D FIG. IWB-2500-13 INTEGRAL ATTACHMENT WELD

Attachment

 ,,                                                                     NOC-AE-00(M99 File No.: G09.16 Page 4 of 4 O

Figure 2 1 n en l i

                               .j       g                        ouwa na va n m e <<r:" n a

e o t n so muss as esm av en

                   .-            \                                  IH2.tCES llUo0M MCKNES$

n a L .i

                                      \

8

                                        \
                                          \
                                            \

38 E N W ms \ F g ', \ r s N

                               ,A
                                           ,{

108 t=S.7'

                                   - 3" .

N t I 1 l L}}