NRC Bulletin 88-07, Power Oscillations in Boiling Water Reactors
Power Oscillations in Boiling Water Reactors
June 15, 1988
text
Bulletin 88-07: Power Oscillations in Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs)
OMB No.: 3150-0011
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
June 15, 1988
NRC BULLETIN NO. 88-07: POWER OSCILLATIONS IN BOILING WATER REACTORS (BWRs)
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for boiling water
reactors (BWRs).
Purpose:
The purpose of this bulletin is to request that holders of operating licenses
or construction permits for boiling water reactors ensure that adequate
operating procedures and instrumentation are available and adequate operator
training is provided to prevent the occurrence of uncontrolled power
oscillations during all modes of BWR operation.
Description of Circumstances:
On March 9, 1988, LaSalle Unit 2 underwent a dual recirculation pump trip
event. After the pump trip, the unit experienced an excessive neutron flux
oscillation while it was on natural circulation. The event is described in
NRC Information Notice No. 88-39, "LaSalle Unit 2 Loss of Recirculation Pumps
With Power Oscillation Event" dated June 15, 1988. Additional details of the
event have been documented by the NRC augmented inspection team (AIT) in Inspection Report Nos. 50-373/88008 and 50-374/88008.
After investigation of the event by the licensee and further review by the
NRC, the staff concluded that this event has significant generic safety
implications because (1) past licensing calculations are not a reliable
indicator that a core will be stable under all operating conditions during a
fuel cycle; (2) instrumentation for detection and suppression of neutron flux
oscillations and recording instrumentation for evaluation of limit cycle flux
oscillations may not be adequate; (3) operating procedures and training may
not be adequate to respond to this kind of transient; (4) the magnitude and
power peaking of the resultant neu-tron flux oscillations may be greater than
previously experienced for in-phase limit cycle oscillations during special
stability tests and foreign operating reactor events; and (5) there is a
question of compliance with General Design Criterion 12, "Suppression of
Reactor Power Oscillations," 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A.
Foreign reactor experience has indicated that there are conditions other than
the natural circulation condition that existed during the LaSalle event, such
as loss of feedwater heaters, which can lead to power oscillations. Further-
more, the power oscillations may be asymmetric and lead to high local neutron
flux levels without detection and automatic scram. Therefore, power
oscillations are of safety concern because they may result in fuel damage.
Some characteristics of the LaSalle neutron flux oscillation have led to concerns about the applicability of previous safety analyses. The magnitude of
in-phase limit cycle oscillations previously observed on the APRMs during
special stability tests and operating reactor events were typically in the
range of 5% to 15% (peak-to-peak) of rated power, and as high as 25%. This
compares to peak-to-peak values of about 100% at the time of the 118% neutron
flux trip for LaSalle. The implications, if any, on the bounds for neutron
flux oscillations considered in previous safety analyses, including peak power
resulting from asymmetric oscillations and the effects of recirculation pump
trip actions for ATWS events, require further study. The NRC will pursue
these issues with the BWR Owners Group in parallel with utilities taking the
actions specified below.
Requested Actions:
Operating Reactors:
1) Within 15 days of receipt of this bulletin, all BWR licensees should
ensure that any licensed reactor operator or Shift Technical Advisor
performing shift duties has been thoroughly briefed regarding the March
9, 1988 LaSalle Unit 2 event.
2) Within 60 days of receipt of this bulletin all BWR licensees should
verify the adequacy of their procedures and operator training programs to
ensure that all licensed operators and Shift Technical Advisors are
cognizant of:
a) those plant conditions which may result in the initiation of un-
controlled power oscillations
b) actions which can be taken to avoid plant conditions which may
result in the initiation of uncontrolled power oscillations
c) how to recognize the onset of uncontrolled power oscillations, and
d) actions which can be taken in response to uncontrolled power oscil-
lations, including the need to scram the reactor if oscillations
are not promptly terminated.
Addressees should also verify the adequacy of the instrumentation which is
relied upon by operators within their procedures.
It is expected that all BWRs will have procedures and operator training
programs to address uncontrolled power oscillations regardless of calculated
decay ratios.
Construction Permit Holders:
Prior to scheduled fuel load date, construction permit holders should complete
actions 1 and 2, above.
Reporting Requirements:
Within 30 days of completion of the actions requested above, all holders of
operating licenses and construction permits shall confirm by letter that the
requested actions have been completed and implemented. Licensees and permit
holders shall document and maintain at the plant site for a period of at least
two years an evaluation of the adequacy of their procedures, training programs
and the instrumentation relied upon within their procedures.
The written reports required above shall be addressed to the U. S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington, D.C. 20555,
under oath or affirmation under the provisions of Section 182a, Atomic Energy
Act of 1954, as amended. In addition, a copy shall be submitted to the appro-
priate Regional Administrator.
This requirement for information was approved by the Office of Management and
Budget under blanket clearance number 3150-0011. Comments on burden and
duplications should be directed to the Office of Management and Budget,
Reports Management, Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.
20503.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the
technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the
appropriate regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts: L. Phillips, NRR
(301) 492-3235
P. C. Wen, NRR
(301) 492-1172
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Bulletins