RA12-017, Cycle 15 Startup Test Report Summary
| ML12124A334 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 04/23/2012 |
| From: | Rhoades D Exelon Nuclear, Exelon Corp |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| RA12-017 | |
| Download: ML12124A334 (11) | |
Text
LaSalle Generating Station www.exeloncorp.com Exeln.
2601 North 21st Road Marseilles, IL 61341-9757 RA12-017 April 23, 2012 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 LaSalle County Station, Unit 1 Facility Operating License No. NPF-1 1 NRC Docket No. 50-373
Subject:
LaSalle 1 Cycle 15 Startup Test Report Summary Enclosed for your information is the LaSalle County Station (LSCS) Unit 1 Cycle 15 Startup Test Report. This report is submitted in accordance with Technical Requirements Manual Section 5.0.b.
LaSalle County Station Unit I Cycle 15 began commercial operation on March 7, 2012, following a refueling and maintenance outage. The Unit I Cycle 15 core loading consisted of 296 fresh Global Nuclear Fuel GNF-2 fuel bundles, 320 once-bumed AREVA Atrium-10 fuel bundles, and 148 twice-burned AREVA Atrium-10 fuel bundles. Also installed in the Unit I Cycle 15 reactor were eight new GE/Reuter-Stokes NA-300 Local Power Range Monitors (LPRMs), seven new Westinghouse CR99 Control Rod blades, six new Westinghouse CR82M-1 control rod blades, forty-six new General Electric Ultra MD Control Rod blades, two used General Electric Duralife-215 Control Rod blades, and five used General Electric Marathon C+ Control Rod blades.
Attached are the evaluation results from the following tests:
- Reactor Core Verification
- Single Rod Subcritical Check
- Control Rod Friction and Settle Testing
- Control Rod Drive Timing
- Shutdown Margin Test (In-sequence Critical)
- Reactivity Anomaly Calculation (Critical and Full Power)
- Scram Insertion Times
- Core Power Distribution Symmetry Analysis
- Reactor Recirculation System Performance
April 23, 2012 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 All test data was reviewed in accordance with the applicable test procedures, and exceptions to any results were evaluated to verify compliance with Technical Specification limits and to ensure the acceptability of subsequent test results.
Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact Mr. Terrence W. Simpkin, Regulatory Assurance Manager, at (815) 415-2800.
Respectfully, David P. Rhoades Site Vice President LaSalle County Station Attachment cc: Regional Administrator - NRC Region III NRC Senior Resident Inspector - LaSalle County Station
ATTACHMENT Page 1 of 9 Reactor Core Verification Purpose The purpose of this test is to visually verify that the core is loaded as intended for Unit 1 Cycle 15 operation.
Criteria The as-loaded core must conform to the cycle core design used by the Core Management Organization (GNF & Nuclear Fuels) in the reload licensing analysis. Any discrepancies discovered in the loading will be promptly corrected and the affected areas re-verified to ensure proper core loading prior to unit startup.
Conformance to the cycle core design will be documented by a permanent core serial number map signed by the audit participants.
Results and Discussion Core verification was performed concurrently with core load and shuffle per NF-AA-330-1 001 "Core Verification Guideline." The Unit 1 Cycle 15 core verification consisted of a core height verification, assembly orientation, assembly location, and assembly seating check performed by reactor services and reactor engineering. Bundle serial numbers and orientations were recorded during the videotaped scans for comparison to the appropriate core loading map and Cycle Management documentation. On March 1 and 2, 2012, the core was verified as being properly loaded and consistent with the LaSalle 1 Cycle 15 Core Loading Plan, Revision 1. This was documented in Work Order (WO)# 01318479-01.
ATTACHMENT Page 2 of 9 Single Rod Subcritical Check Purpose The purpose of this test is to demonstrate that the Unit 1 Cycle 15 core will remain subcritical upon the withdrawal of the analytically determined strongest control rod.
Criteria In accordance with LTP-1 600-30 "Single Rod Subcritical Check," the core must remain subcritical with no significant increase in SRM readings, and with the analytically determined strongest rod fully withdrawn.
Results and Discussion The analytically determined strongest rod for the Beginning of Cycle 15 for Unit 1 was determined by Nuclear Fuels to be Control Rod 14-15 per TODI# NF1200044, Revision 0. On March 2, 2012, with a Unit 1 moderator temperature of 86.5 OF, Control Rod 14-15 was withdrawn to the full out position (48) and the core remained subcritical with no significant increase in SRM readings. This information is documented in WO# 01318451-01.
ATTACHMENT Page 3 of 9 Control Rod Friction and Settle Testing Purpose The purpose of this test is to demonstrate that excessive friction does not exist between the Control Rod blade and the fuel assemblies during operation of the Control Rod drive (CRD) following core alterations.
Criteria Appropriate acceptance criteria are provided in LOS-RD-SR7 "Channel Interference Monitoring" and include limits on rod settle time (less than 7 seconds), and if necessary, full stroke insertion time criteria (dependent on seal leakage and normal insertion time).
All control rods were tested.
Results and Discussion CRD friction testing commenced after the completion of the core load verification and single rod subcritical check. All 185 control rods met the appropriate acceptance criteria (the settle times of all rods were less than or equal to 3.0 seconds). The testing was completed on March 5, 2012 and is documented in WO# 01318487-05.
ATTACHMENT Page 4 of 9 Control Rod Drive Timing Purpose The purpose of this test is to check and set the withdrawal speeds of the Control Rod Drives (CRDs).
Criteria The UFSAR maximum allowed withdrawal speed for a control rod is 6.0 in/sec, which corresponds to a full stroke withdrawal time of 24 seconds.
Results and Discussion Procedure LOS-RD-SR5 "Control Rod Drive Timing" was performed for all 185 CRDMs on March 2-6, 2012 and is documented in WO# 01318487-04. All of the rods met the UFSAR allowed withdrawal speed.
ATTACHMENT Page 5 of 9 Shutdown Margin Test Purpose The purpose of this test is to demonstrate, from a normal in-sequence critical, that the core loading has been limited such that the reactor will remain subcritical throughout the operating cycle with the strongest worth control rod in the full-out position and all other rods fully inserted.
Criteria In accordance with LTS-1 100-1 "Shutdown Margin Determination" and Technical Specifications, if a shutdown margin (SDM) of 0.38% Ak/k + R cannot be demonstrated with the strongest worth control rod fully withdrawn, the core loading must be altered to meet this margin. R is the reactivity difference between the core's beginning-of-cycle SDM and the minimum SDM for the cycle. The R value for Cycle 15 is 0% Ak/k per the LaSalle Unit 1 Cycle 15 Cycle Management Report, Revision 0, so a SDM of 0.38% Ak/k must be demonstrated.
Results and Discussion The beginning-of-cycle SDM was successfully determined from the initial critical data. The initial Cycle 15 critical occurred on March 7, 2012, on Control Rod 38-35 at position 08, using an A sequence. The moderator temperature was 171 OF and the reactor period was 461 seconds. Using rod worth information, moderator temperature reactivity corrections, and period reactivity corrections supplied by Nuclear Fuels in the Li C1 5 Cycle Management Report, Revision 0, the SDM was determined to be 1.889% Ak/k. This was documented in LTS-1 100-1, Attachment A and WO# 01318463-01. The SDM exceeded the 0.38% Ak/k that was required to satisfy the Technical Specifications.
ATTACHMENT Page 6 of 9 Reactivity Anomaly Determination Purpose The purpose of this test is to compare the actual and predicted critical rod configurations to detect any unexpected reactivity trends.
Criteria In accordance with NF-AB-715 "Critical Predictions with Powerplex II," NF-AB-760 "Reactivity Anomaly Determination," and Technical Specifications, the reactivity equivalence of the difference between the actual critical control rod configuration and the predicted critical control rod configuration shall not exceed 1% Ak/k at full power steady state conditions. If the difference exceeds 1% Ak/k, the cause of the anomaly must be determined, explained, and corrected for continued operation of the unit.
Results and Discussion Two reactivity anomaly calculations were successfully performed during the Unit 1 Cycle 15 Startup Test Program. One reactivity anomaly calculation is from the in-sequence critical and the other is from steady state, equilibrium conditions at approximately 100% full power.
The initial Cycle 15 critical occurred on March 7, 2012, on Control Rod 38-35 at position 08, using an A sequence. The moderator temperature was 171 OF and the reactor period was 461 seconds. The expected keff supplied by Nuclear Fuels was 0.995. The actual keff was 0.99849. The resulting anomaly was 0.349% Ak/k. The anomaly determined is within the 1% Ak/k required for BOC conditions as stated in NF-AB-715. This was documented in NF-AB-715, Attachment 3 and WO# 01318456-01.
The reactivity anomaly calculation for full power steady state operation was performed on March 12, 2012. The data used was from 99.8% power at a cycle exposure of 93.4 MWD/MT at equilibrium conditions. The expected keff supplied by Nuclear Fuels was 1.00586. The actual keff was 1.0085.
The resulting anomaly was 0.262% Ak/k. This value is within the 1% Ak/k criteria of Technical Specifications. This was documented in NF-AB-760, Attachment 1, and WO# 01318452-01.
ATTACHMENT Page 7 of 9 Scram Insertion Times Purpose The purpose of this test is to demonstrate that the Control Rod scram insertion times are within the operating limits set forth by the Technical Specifications.
Criteria In accordance with LOS-RD-SR1 2 "Scram Insertion Times" and Technical Specifications, the maximum scram insertion time of each Control Rod from the fully withdrawn position (48) to notch position 05, based on de-energization of the scram pilot valve solenoids as time zero, shall not exceed 7.0 seconds. Also, no more than 12 operable control rods shall be "slow" in accordance with the below table. In addition, no more than 2 operable control rods that are "slow" shall occupy adjacent locations.
When the scram insertion time of an operable control rod from the fully withdrawn position (48), based on de-energization of the scram pilot valve solenoids as time zero, exceeds any of the following, that Control Rod is considered "slow":
Notch Position Scram Time to Notch Indicated (seconds) 45 0.52 39 0.80 25 1.77 05 3.20 Results and Discussion Scram testing was completed on March 8, 2012 per WO# 01317798-01. 184 rods were scram timed during the reactor pressure vessel leakage testing (Hydro) prior to startup, and the remaining one rod prior to 25% power. The testing resulted in no slow control rods. Results of testing are given below.
Notch Position Core Average Scram Times of all CRDs (sec) 45 0.296 39 0.586 25 1.283 05 2.318 These results also meet the "Option B" Scram Speeds referenced in the Unit 1 Cycle 15 Core Operating Limits Report (TRM Appendix I).
ATTACHMENT Page 8 of 9 Core Power Distribution Symmetry Analysis Purpose The purpose of this test is to verify the core power symmetry.
Criteria In accordance with NF-AB-716 "TIP Measurement Uncertainty for Powerplex Ill," the X2 value of the total measured TIP uncertainty must be less than the critical value at the 1% confidence level, i.e.,
36.19 for 19 TIP pairs.
The gross check of the TIP signal symmetry should yield a maximum deviation between symmetrically located pairs of less than 25%.
Results and Discussion Core power symmetry calculations were performed based upon data obtained from a full core TIP set (OD-1) performed on March 21, 2012, at approximately 100% power. The TIP set was performed with all TIP machines operable. All traces were obtained. The X2 value was 6.47, which satisfies the test criteria of 36.19 for 19 pairs. The maximum deviation between symmetrical TIP pairs was 4.29%,
which is within the 25% acceptance criteria. This was documented in WO# 01524022-01.
ATTACHMENT Page 9 of 9 Recirculation System Performance Purpose The purpose of this procedure is to collect sufficient baseline data at the beginning of cycle to establish the following relationships:
- core thermal power vs. total core flow
- recirculation total drive flow vs. total core flow
- core plate flow vs. total core flow
- recirculation flow control valve position vs. loop drive flow
- jet pump readings vs. loop drive flow Criteria In accordance with LTP-1 600-13 "Reactor Recirculation System Performance" and Technical Specifications, the performance curves used in conjunction with reactor recirculation system flow and differential pressure data will establish baseline data to determine if possible jet pump or recirculation pump degradation exists.
The established baseline performance curves will also be used to verify jet pump operability to determine if jet pump anomalies exist.
Results and Discussion Reactor Recirculation (RR) data was collected during the LIC15 startup. Data was obtained from computer points for all the points of interest to evaluate the RR System performance. No significant changes from LIC14 were noted in the LIC15 RR performance curves. This was completed on March 29, 2012 and is documented in WO# 01328224-01.