Information Notice 1995-41, Degradation of Ventilation System Charcoal Resulting from Chemical Cleaning of Steam Generators

Degradation of Ventilation System Charcoal Resulting from Chemical Cleaning of Steam Generators

ML031060234
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	09/22/1995
From:	Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-95-041, NUDOCS 9509180341
Download: ML031060234 (12)

K9J(UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 September

22, 1995 NRC INFORMATION

NOTICE 95-41: DEGRADATION

OF VENTILATION

SYSTEM CHARCOAL RESULTING

Addressees

All holders of operating

licenses or construction

permits for nuclear power reactors.

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) is issuing this information

notice to alert addressees

to the potential

degradation

of ventilation

system charcoal as a result of the charcoal's

exposure to chemicals

during the chemical cleaning of steam generators.

It is expected that recipients

will review the information

for applicability

to their facilities

and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.

However, suggestions

contained

in this information

notice are not NRC requirements;

therefore, no specific action or written response is required.Description

of Circumstances

On June 5, 1994, a chemical cleaning of the secondary

sides of the steam generators

at Surry Unit 2 was begun. During this cleaning, containment

purge was established

using train A of the auxiliary

ventilation

system, which contains a safety-grade

charcoal adsorber.

The chemical cleaning process involves the--use of ethylene diamine tetraacetic

acid (EDTA) as the cleaning agent and of various other chemicals

such as ethylenediamine (EDA), hydrazine, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen, and CCl-801, a proprietary

corrosion inhibitor.

During the chemical cleaning the steam generators

were isolated from the containment

atmosphere

and force-vented

to the outdoor atmosphere

through the atmospheric

steam dump relief valves. The steam generators

were rinsed to remove residual chemicals.

After the rinse, the steam generators

were opened for sludge lancing of the tube sheet region.On June 16, 1994, a strong odor of ammonia was reported in the Unit 2 containment.

Concentrations

were measured at 30 ppm (parts per million)ammonia and 6 ppm hydrazine.

Consequently, personnel

were evacuated

from the containment.

At the time of the evacuation, the chemical cleaning and rinse had been completed

on steam generators

A and C and the steam generators

were vented to the containment.

Because of the elevated levels of hydrazine

and ammonia in the containment, train B of the auxiliary

ventilation

system was started to assist train A in reducing the airborne concentrations.

Both trains operated approximately

8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> until chemical concentrations

in the containment

were reduced.950918034 t~q~gut II @

IN 95-41 September

22, 1995 -As a result of the exposure of the charcoal to the chemicals, in accordance

with the technical

specifications (TS), a sample of train A charcoal was taken and a laboratory

test of a sample of the sample was performed.

The results of the laboratory

test showed a methyl iodide removal efficiency

of 93.4 percent, which was below the TS limit. The charcoal was replaced.

A sample from train B was tested and the results of the laboratory

test of that sample showed a methyl iodide removal efficiency

of 90.7 percent. This value was also below the TS limit, and the train B charcoal was replaced.The failure of these samples was a surprise to the licensee.

At the time the charcoal was determined

to have failed, train A had operated for 657 hours0.0076 days <br />0.183 hours <br />0.00109 weeks <br />2.499885e-4 months <br />, while the train B had operated for 360 hours0.00417 days <br />0.1 hours <br />5.952381e-4 weeks <br />1.3698e-4 months <br />. In addition, the licensee had held discussions

with the charcoal supplier during which the supplier had indicated

that exposure of the charcoal to hydrazine

and ammonia in the above noted concentrations

should not have resulted in its degradation.

As a result of the experience

at Unit 2, when the steam generators

at Unit 1 were chemically

cleaned, the licensee arranged for the containment

flow to be diverted to a non-safety-grade

system containing

charcoal.

When the licensee completed

the cleaning operation, laboratory

testing of the charcoal in the non-safety-grade

system showed that the adsorber efficiency

was 3.3 percent less than its efficiency

before the chemical cleaning.

On the basis of these two experiences, the licensee concluded

that discharging

the air involved in steam generator

cleaning operations

through systems containing

charcoal was likely to degrade the charcoal.The licensee's

laboratory

tests of the charcoal were performed

at 30C [86°F]and a relative humidity of 95 percent with a face velocity of 24.4 meters per minute [80 feet per minute]. The laboratory

tests were conducted

using the 1979 version of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D3803, Standard Test Method for Nuclear-Grade

Activated

Carbon.' The licensee did not attempt to determine

the chemical compound responsible

for the degradation

of the charcoal.

However, it and its charcoal supplier believe that the probable culprits were EDA and EDTA.The NRC staff held telephone

conversations

with charcoal suppliers

and testing laboratory

representatives.

Based upon these conversations, the parties concluded

that, although the ammonia did not contribute

to the degradation

of the charcoal, the breakdown

of hydrazine

in the charcoal may have contributed

additional

moisture to the charcoal resulting

in its degradation.

These discussions

also confirmed

that both EDA and EDTA could degrade the charcoal.

The staff also noted that, had the licensee performed the laboratory

tests in accordance

with the guidance in NRC Information

Notice 87-32, "Deficiencies

in the Testing of Nuclear-Grade

Activated

Charcoal," (Accession

No. 8707070003)

or in accordance

with the 1989 version of ASTM D3803, the measured degradation

of the charcoal would have been greater than that identified

by the licensee.

K..- V IN 95-41 September

22, 1995 Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in its degradation.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers

in their ventilation

systems during and/or after chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.'nn .1%ic I Division of Reactor Pr ram Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices A4e UQ FJLa

~1 <-J Attachment

1 IN 95-41 September

22, 1995 Referenced

Codes and Standards American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM D3803, "Standard

Test Method for Nuclear-Grade

Activated

Carbon,' Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

wXvachment

2 IN 95-41 September

22, 1995 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION

NOTICES Information

Date of Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to 95-40 95-39 95-38 95-37 Supplemental

Information

to Generic Letter 95-03,"Circumferential

Cracking of Steam Generator

Tubes" Brachytherapy

Incidents Involving

Treatment Planning Errors Degradation

of Boraflex Neutron Absorber in Spent Fuel Storage Racks Inadequate

Offsite Power System Voltages during Design-Basis

Events 09/20/95 09/19/95 09/08/95 09/07/95 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission

Medical Licensees.

All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.95-36 Potential Post-Fire Lighting Problems with Emergency 08/29/95 All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.95-35 95-34 93-83, Supp. 1 95-33 Degraded Ability of Steam Generators

to Remove Decay Heat by Natural Circulation

Air Actuator and Supply Air Regulator

Problems in Copes-Vulcan

Pressurizer

Power-Operated

Relief Valves Potential

Loss of Spent Fuel Pool Cooling After a Loss-of-Coolant

Accident or a Loss of Offsite Power Switchgear

Fire and Partial Loss of Offsite Power at Waterford Generating

Station, Unit 3 08/28/95 08/25/95 08/24/95 08/23/95 All holders of OLs or CPs for pressurized

water reactors (PWRs).All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.I OL -Operating

License CP = Construction

Permit

K>IN 95-41 September

22, 1995 Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.orig /s/'d by DMCrutchfield

Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: 95-41.IN*See previous concurrence

To receive a copy of this document, indicate In the box: C' = Copy without attachment/enclosure

'E' = Copy with attachmentlenclosure

'N' -No copy OFFICE TERB:DOTS

IC ADM:PUB IN OECB:DOPS

I E SC/TERB:DOTS

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LE NAME JJHayes* Tech Ed/MMejac*

RABenedict*

RLEmch* CLMiller*DATE 05/02/95 05/10/95 05/02/95 105/02/ 95 05/02/95.....-.I OFFICE 1SC/OECB:DOPS

IN IPECB:DRPM

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I NID/DR~1X, I 11 NAME EFGoodwin*

RKiessel*

el DATE 05/15/95 1 3909/14/95

09 95 UtiilLIAL

K-IUKU WURY

IN 95-xx September

xx, 1995 Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: S:\DRPM SEC\CHR91438

• See previous concurrence

-a_ An Ad_ try -.--- -ta~ rh otonl IF' .Cnnv with atnchmentlenclosure

• N' -No copy T o receive a copy 0? this cocunwnt, Indicate mn Xn. o:A; -s°Pqt wnn u--a........

o ---- -. -OFFICE TERB:DOTS

IC ADM:[PUB NOECB:DOPS

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NAME JJHayes* Tech Ed/MMejac*

RABenedict*

RLEmch*DATE 05/02/95 105/10/95

105/02/95

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DATE 05/15/95 109/13/95

--9/1/95 099 UOFICIIAL

KLLUKU HUrY

IN 95-xx September

xx, 1995 Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: G:\IN\CHR91438

• See previous concurrence

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RABenedict*

RLEmch* CLMiller*DATE 05/02/95 05/10/95 05/02/95 05/02/95 05/02/95.M. a.(FF FIC SCIFECR:DOPS

I N I PECB:DRPM I E I UPLUB; WPM IA/IUUKrfi

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lDATE 105/15/95

109/J3 /95 1fj1 T 09/.5 /95 09/ /95^rIrY 0 TAiI nrffnn% n glf OFF lVlAL KcvuKu vuri

IN 95-xx May xx, 1995 Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Project Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: G:\IN\CHR91438

• See previous concurrence

To receive a copy of this document, Indicate In the box: C" = Copy without attachmentlenclosure

'E' = Copy with attachment/enclosure

ON' -No copy OFFICE TERB:DOTS

C A M:PUB 1 N [OECB:DOPS

E SC/TERB:DOTS

lE C/TERB:DOTS

K E NAME JJHayes* Tech Ed/MMejac*

RABenedict*

RLEmch* ICLMiller*

DATE 05/02/95 05/10/95 105/02/95

105/02/95

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SUB BKGrimes DATE 05/15/95 05/ /95 05/ /95 105/ /95 nrchIrTAI

nrv'nnn fflV 01-1-11,1AL

KELUKU ,Ur 1 IN 95-xx May xx, 1995 Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Project Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: G:\IN\CHR91438

• See previous concurrence

To receive a copy of this document, Indicate In the box: ACT -Copy without attachmentlenclosure

'E'

• Copy with attachmentlenclosure

SNH -No copy OFFICE TERB:DOTS

IC ADM:PUB [ OECB:DOPS

I E SC/TERB:DOTS

I E C/TERB:DOTS

I E NAME JJHayes* Tech Ed/MMejac*

[RABenedict*

IRLEmch* CLMiller*DATE 05/02/95 05/10/95 105/02/95

05/02/95 05/02/95 IIOFFICE 1SC/OECB:DOPS

I I C/OECB:DOPS

I D/DOPS I 1I NAME EFGoodwin

X 1AEChaffee

% 5b I mKGriImes DATE 105/16E/9505/

/95 05/ /95 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

-0 '"?;4 -Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Project Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

A -...-

Technical

Contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: G:\IN\CHR91438

• See previous concurrence

To receive a copy of this document, Indicate In the box: "C' a Copy without attachmentenclosure "F = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" -No copy-_ _ _ _ -_ .l OFFICE ITERB:DOTS

IC ADM:PUB I OECB:DOPS I E ISC/TERB:DOTS

I E IC/TER.B:DOTS

I E 11 NAME JJHayes* j ITech Ed 1 A!ndJRABenedict*

IRLEmch* --_- CLMiller*DATE 105/02/95

105/1o /95 105/02/95

105/02/95

105/02/95 A- -A _ A __OFFICE ISC/OECB:DOPS

l C/OECB:DOPS

I D/DOPS I l1 NAME EFGoodwin

JAEChaffee

BKGrimes DATE 05/ /95 105/ /95 05/ /95:.UIIILIAL KtLUKU COPY 7,,, A; -..

K>~Exposure of charcoal to chemical compounds

can result in a degradation

of the charcoal.

With such degradation, in the event of an accident, the charcoal may perform at an efficiency

less than that assumed in the staff's safety evaluation.

Therefore, if licensees

divert air flow through charcoal adsorbers in their ventilation

systems during and/or following

chemical cleaning, they may find it appropriate

to perform a laboratory

test of the charcoal to ensure that the charcoal has not degraded below its TS surveillance

requirements

limit.This information

notice requires no specific action or written response.

If you have any questions

about the information

in this notice, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the appropriate

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Project Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: John J. Hayes, NRR (301) 415-3167 Attachments:

1. Referenced

Codes and Standards 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices DOCUMENT NAME: G:\IN\CHR91438 To rSceive a copy of this document, Indcate In the box: 'C' Copy without attachmenUt/enclosure

'E' -Copy with attachment/enclosure

'N'

• No conp OFFICE T TECH ED l OECB 14F 1 SC:TERB ,,Jir-C:TERB/DOTS

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