PNO-III-92-058, on 921022,licensee Identified 7 Inch Long Crack at Weld Interface Between First 18 Inch Weldlet & 30 Inch Condensate Header for Number 4 Direct Contact Feedwater Heater.Licensee Decided to Commence Plant Shutdown

PNO-III-92-058:on 921022,licensee Identified 7 Inch Long Crack at Weld Interface Between First 18 Inch Weldlet & 30 Inch Condensate Header for Number 4 Direct Contact Feedwater Heater.Licensee Decided to Commence Plant Shutdown

ML20203G188
Person / Time
Site:	Perry
Issue date:	10/26/1992
From:	Lanksbury R, Ring M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-92-058, PNO-III-92-58, NUDOCS 9712180072
Download: ML20203G188 (2)

_ _ __

f f hHm l f 9 \ff g Date: October 2C, 1992

,_ PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURREhCE PN 39258 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POS3IBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region III staff on this date.

Facility: Licensee rmeroenev classification Perry Nuclear Power Plant General Emergen:y Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. Site Area Emergency Perry, OH Alert Unusual Event

- Docket No. 50-440 X N/A

Subject:

PLANT SHUTDOWN DUE TO CRACK IN CONDENSATE /FEEDWATER HEATER PIPE On October 22, 1992, the licensee identified a 7 inch long crack at the weld l

! interface between the first 18 inch weldlet and the 30 inch condensate header i for the number 4 direct contact feedwater heater. Leakage from the crack was i estimated at 5 gpm with a small steam plume. Condensate at this location is at about 250 degrees and 105 psig.

The plant was at 100 percent power atjhg time of the event.

• The licensee initially set up a camera to allow the crack to be monitored and

! established criteria on allowable crack growth. In parallel, the licensee was l also working on designing and manufacturing a clamp device that they planned on installing and sealing to stop the leakage. Permanent repairs were planned for the next refueling outage (September 93). The licensee's initial evaluation did not indicate any basis for concern for further crack propagation or increase in the leak rate.

On October 23, 1992, several conference calls were held between Region III, the Office of Nuclear Roactor Regulation, and the licensee to discuss the

! licensee's evaluation and plans. Subsequently, the licensen decided to commence a plant shutdown to allow a root cause determination to be made and f to affect permanent repairs. -

At 5:10 p.m. (EDT) on Octobar 23 the itcensee commenced a plant shutdown in /

accordance with normal plant procedures. At approximately 22Y, power the operators manually scrammed the reactor after reaching a step in a surveillance procedure for demonstrating operability of the Red Pattern Control System that could not be performed due to plant conditions. The resulting shrink in water level caused an automatic scram signal to be generated. The lowest point to which reactor water level decreased was 163 inches above the top of the active fuci:

During the forced outage the licensee plans to modify the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling system and Reactor Water Cleanup system outboard containment isolation valves per a commitment to a temporary waiver of compliance currently in effect. The licensee currently plans to start up on October 27.

9712180072 921026 -

, 3 .

r' l

Date: October 26 1992 -

)- _ PRELININARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN 39258 The State of Ohio was notified. The information in this Preliminary Notification has been rwiewed with Itcensee management, Region III was notifled of the cracked weld by the resident inspectors at 7:00 a.m. (CDT) and of the plan to shut the plant down by the licensee at 5:18 p.m.

, (EDT) on October 23. 1992. This information is current as of 8:30 a.m. on October 26, 1992.

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