PNO-III-79-057, on 791209,draining Operation from Svc Water Header of Heat Exchanger Resulted in Unplanned Release of Radioactive Liquid from Primary Side When All Valves Feeding Instrument Header Were Opened

PNO-III-79-057:on 791209,draining Operation from Svc Water Header of Heat Exchanger Resulted in Unplanned Release of Radioactive Liquid from Primary Side When All Valves Feeding Instrument Header Were Opened

ML20125E304
Person / Time
Site:	Quad Cities
Issue date:	12/10/1979
From:	Chrissotimos N, Spessard R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-79-057, PNO-III-79-57, NUDOCS 8002060426
Download: ML20125E304 (2)

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PRELDi1 NARY NOTIFICATION

- . n. .- Data: December 10, 1979 -

PRELIMINARY NOTITICATION OF IVENT OR 11NUSUAL OCCtDOG31CE--FNO-III-79-57 Tb._is preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information presented is as

_ initially received without verification or evaluation and_is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.

Fucility: Co::::nonwe.al th F.diAnn Conipany Quad Citics 2 (DN 50-265) Cordova, TL \

dubie_ct: UNPLANNED 10'.11ASE Or IMDIOACTTVE .T.TQIITD h*TTHIN Tiit: SITE BOLTNDARY Tini t 2 im in a zufuellag outage, and at approximately 11:30p.m. on 12/9/79 a draintne, nparation involving an RHR heat exchanger was terminated when ir van wuspected that an unplanned release of radivuctive materini was involvAd.

We planned evolarinn involved isolating both the primary and se.condary sides of the heat exchanger, and then draining approximately 1000 gallous of nonradinactive water from the ucrvice water hende.Y via a 3/8 inch Instrument line, ro the innLrument line header cud into a .55 p,allon drun, incated la the basewenL uf the reactor building. The contents of the drum were then pumped chrough hoses and valvex via t.he reautur bitilding Icak rate rest connection ' ,

oCCo thc Davcht,si uniwide t he..ru;artnr_hni.'Ldira Vhy,..i.r,dDWMuid.%F. MAnW m.v.

,h rd" ,, M f4xfe Teen % .M ,4.

7 %.=tM. % . Cap % 4A4 %*,3:b v m g/.Il-is:Jsi&rp_ Q sf'ttref!::".33 rJJ" to diccharge InLo thw xpray canal.

The drainine, evnlorion had been terminated .)ust belure sblic change (about 6:30n.m.) on 12/9/79, and it was resiuned nomoritue later in the day. Apparentl y ,

all valven feeding the instrument header were opened by the equipment nttendnnt.

This allowed both the primry (rndinnetive) and shell sides of the heat axchancor en he drained simultaneously to the 55 callnn drum. The umuunt of water drained frnia the isolated heat exchanger is unknown, but is estiunted at n maximum or 4,000 gallons. The ratio of thic voluce, primary to secondary, has not honn de tercif ued. A sa::>1e of the water tro:n rho 55 galluu drum showed a concentration of 3.8 E-4 uC1/ctl, Thlu indicates a max 1 mon total activity of about 6 mci in the releutc.

There han been nu releuve to the river as' the spray canal has been operating on the clow.d cycle mde. The licensco is atteuspting to deLuuulue if any of this drainage reached the spray canal or whether it in contained withIn Lhe storm r,cuar-nil nepara tor AysLee (now isolated) . It the e.ntirA release eutered the spray canal , do ra c t a bili ty 12., doubtful duc to Lhe dilution i ncror invnived.

The revident inspector'1A following thia uaLLer, and u Heulth Phyulcist trom the reglunsi office will be onsite on 12/11/79 to review this event and the licenmeo's accions.

The licensee's plans concerning a press relenne are unlutuun. RIII does not plan to issue a press release al Lhis Limu.

The State of 1111nois is being notified.

PRELDfINARY NOTIFICATION OOO206 0 4 2(

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.. . - PyruMINARY NOTIFICATION -

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Page 7 Denamber 10, 19'/9 PKW111-79-57 T'acility: Quad Citics 2 (DN 30-265) Cordova, IL Subicet: UNFLENT.D HELEASI: OF HAlll0At:TTVK l.IQUTD WITRTN THE SITE BotJNDARY RIII was notified of this untter by the resident in><pactor at 7:15a.m. un 12/10/79 and additional informselon was received f rom hLm. *this informaLion g is current as et 10:30a.m. on 17/ LO/79. 1

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Cont.n et: N . .T . thrismorimon, Re. aidant Tnspector, 309/654-2227; R. I.,

h.Spessard.,

UII. 384-2547.

Distribution: Transmitted H St Chairman Hendrie Comissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, EECT Coccissioner Kennedy commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kannerer, CA Concissicner Cilinsky ACRS (For Distribution) l Transmitted: 1933 P. Bldt IE:IOOS (II: EQ Die.

l L. V. Gossick, EIo ,H. R. Denton, NRR E. L. Ornstein. EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR

- J. J. Touchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR I.andow (6 min /page)

I. M. Haller, tiPA D. Vasssilo, ERR J. J. Cusan.ngs , 01A

1. G. Rytn, OSP JI). Eisenhut, NRR E. I. Ehapar, ILD ,' 58 Bit.g ~

(MAIL)

W. J. Dircks. NiiSS R. Minogua, SD

-[S. Levine, RE.S IE X00$

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION b .

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