PNO-IV-88-024, on 880330,reactor Trip & Safety Injection Occurred Due to Loss of Offsite Power.Caused by Troubleshooting Work on Main Generator Control Circuits to Determine Cause of Main Generator Output Breaker Trip

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PNO-IV-88-024:on 880330,reactor Trip & Safety Injection Occurred Due to Loss of Offsite Power.Caused by Troubleshooting Work on Main Generator Control Circuits to Determine Cause of Main Generator Output Breaker Trip
ML20150F028
Person / Time
Site: South Texas STP Nuclear Operating Company icon.png
Issue date: 03/31/1988
From: Constable G
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-88-024, PNO-IV-88-24, NUDOCS 8804040240
Download: ML20150F028 (2)


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\ March 31, 1988 giMMINARYNOTIFICATIONOFEVENTORUNUSUALOCCURRENCE--PN0-IV-88-24 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or eva kation, and is basically all that is known by the Region IV staff on this date.

FACILITY: Licensee Emergency Classification:

Houston Lighting & Tower Co. X Notification of Unusual Event Sovth Texos, Unit #1 Alert ON: 50-498 Site Area Emergency General Emergency Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

REACTOR TRIP AND SAFETY INJECTION OUE TO LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER At 9:13 p.m. on March 30, 1988 with the plant at 8 percent power steaning to the main condenser via the turbine bypass valves, a reactor trip occurred due to a series of main generator lockout and main transformer lockout relays tripping when a test signal was incorrectly inserted into the generator control circuits. This was folicwed by switchyard breakers opening which removed offsite power to non-vital busses and the "A" train vital bus. This series of events was inadvertently initiated by troubleshooting work being performed on main generator control circuits. Earlier in the day, at about 9:30 a.m.

while generating about 100 megawatts electrical to the grid for the first time, the main gererator output breaker tripped open. The troubleshooting was to determine and ccrrect the catse. The loss of power to the control rod drive MG sets caused the rods to unlatch, and then the high rate of neutron flux decreasing tripped the reactor. The reactor trip coupled with low decay heat in the new core caused reactor coolant temperature to decrease which in turn initiated safety injection on the low-low T-cold compensated rate. No water was injected because reactor coolant system pressure was maintained. The "A" train emergency diesel started and assun.ed loads upon loss of power to the "A" train vital bus, and satisf actorily supplied power to the bus for about two hours until offsite power was restored. The "B" and "C" train diesels started satisfactorily upon initiation of the safety injection signal. All other systems appear to have responded normally.

At 9:22 p.m. a NOUE was declared. At 9:38 p.m. , the NOUE was teminated.

At 9:29 p.m., the state of Texas was informed. At 10:15 p.m. the NRC Headquarters duty officer was inforced. The licensee plans to issue a press release today.

The resident inspectors will followup. The licersee expects to be shut down at least 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> to corp,ete the evaluation of the event and trouble shoot j and repair the original problem.

The licensee plans to issue a press release. {

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The state of Texas will be informed.

Region IV received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the Headquarters Duty Officer at 10:40 p.m. (CST) on March 30, 1988. Region IV has informed NRR/PA.  !

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( PNO-IV-88-024 DCD

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This infomation has been confirmed with a licensee representative.

CONTACT: G. L. Constable (Ext 151)

DRP 4 LJCallan:cnm RA h RDMarrTn 3/4;//88 3/ /988 DISTRIBUTION:

H. St. MNBB OWF MAIL: DCS (Original IE 34)

Chairman Zech XEM W UOT(Trans only)

Com Roberts ED0 OGC Conm. Bernthal ARM FAX: INP0 Com. Ca: NL O!A NSAC Com. Rogers RES 01 RRI SECY NMSS NRC OC CA NRR LICENSEE (ReactorLic.)

PDR SLITP OGC-H GPA ACRS 5520: 8/ 31/88 0 REGIONS & HQ

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