ML13197A095

7/11/13 Meeting Slides - Implementation of STAR Program and Replacement of the 2/3 Cycle Mtc Measurement

ML13197A095
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	07/11/2013
From:	Arizona Public Service Co
To:	Division of Operating Reactor Licensing
Rankin J
References
TAC MF1932, TAC MF1933, TAC MF1934
Download: ML13197A095 (23)

Text

Implementation of STAR Program and Replacement of the 2/3 Cycle MTC Measurement Pre-Submittal Presentation to the NRC Date: 07/11/2013

Purpose

• Present and discuss with the NRC planned licensing changes

- Implementation of the Startup Testing Activity Reduction (STAR) Program at PVNGS

- Replacement of the 2/3 Cycle Moderator Temperature Coefficient (MTC) Measurement 2

Topics

• STAR

• Replacement of the 2/3 Cycle MTC Measurement

• Licensing Approach

• Conclusion and Discussion 3

STAR

• Objectives

- Alternate method to validate core design

- Minimize the time the plant is in an abnormal configuration 4

STAR

• Overview

- Approved by NRC in WCAP-16011-P-A

• Participating plants only

• Successfully implemented at 8 CE units

- Incorporated into Improved Standard TS

• NUREG-1432, Rev 4

• TSTF 486 5

STAR

• Overview

- Adds

• Credits Pre-Operational Checks

• New Beginning of Cycle (BOC) Hot Zero Power (HZP) MTC surveillance methodology

• Applicability Requirements

- Replaces

• BOC HZP Isothermal Temperature Coefficient (ITC) Measurement 6

• CEA Worth Measurement

STAR

• Current Methodology

- CEA worth measurement

• Require operation outside the normal TS LCOs

• Presents operational challenges

- Unit 3 LER 2012-001

- Unit 1 LER 2011-005

- Measure ITC at HZP with use of reactivity computer 7

STAR

• Proposed Methodology

- Replacement of CEA Worth Measurements

• Use applicability requirements

• Replacement will reduce the occurrence of problems associated with testing and minimize time in abnormal operating configuration 8

STAR

• Proposed Methodology (cont.)

- Alternate MTC verification

• Adjust predicted HZP MTC based on measured Critical Boron

• Increase availability of the control channels

• Align PVNGS with Improved Standard TS 9

STAR

• Applicability Requirements

- Found in Table 3-4 of WCAP-16011-P-A

- Compliance evaluated on a reload cycle-specific basis

- STAR only applied to cycles when compliance verified

- Maintain the effectiveness of the STAR Program in problem identification 10

STAR

• Applicability Requirements (cont.)

- Core design methods have a defined set of uncertainties based on a benchmark of predictions to actual plant measurements

- Core, fuel, CEA design are similar to that of a benchmarked core

- Cycle specific predictions independently verified by

• Comparison of 2 independent neutronics codes 11

STAR

• Applicability Requirements (cont.)

- Implementation of CEA Lifetime Program

• Limit CEA life within operation experience base

- Pre-operational checks verify core and CEA loading are consistent with design

- CEA Coupling checks performed during reactor restack

• Many favorable PVNGS unique design feature 12

STAR

• Benefits

- Minimize the time the plant is in an abnormal operating configuration

- Increase the availability of the control channels

- Operationally focused improvement 13

STAR

• WCAP 16011-P-A approach

- Compare STAR Program to Generic Program

• Generic Program based on ANSI/ANS 19.6.1-1997

• Identify set of core problems

- Design Predictions

- As-Built Core

- Test Performance 14

STAR

• WCAP 16011-P-A approach (cont.)

- Concluded STAR Program is as effective in detecting the Problems as the Generic Program

- STAR is an NRC approved and implemented alternative to current testing methodology.

15

STAR

• PVNGS Application

- Compared

• Design differences between PVNGS and original participating plants

• Differences in current PVNGS startup program and Generic Program

• Operating Experience since original STAR

- NRC and INPO

- PVNGS

- Implementing plants 16

STAR

• Results of Evaluations

- Contained in plant specific justification

- CASMO/SIMULATE as applied at PVNGS is acceptable for STAR

- The PVNGS STAR Program is as effective as the approved STAR Program and is an acceptable alternative to the current PVNGS startup testing program.

17

Replacement of 2/3 Cycle MTC Measurement

• Objective

- To replace the 2/3 cycle MTC measurement with alternate verification

• Overview

- Approved for all CE plants in CE NPSD-911-A and Amendment 1-A (TSTF 406)

- No measurement at 2/3 cycle if 40 EFPD measurement is within acceptance criteria 18 - Already implemented at many PWRs

Replacement of 2/3 Cycle MTC Measurement

• Current Topical only applicable for ROCS

& ANC

• PVNGS will demonstrate applicability of SIMULATE

• Conclusions

- SIMULATE is acceptable for use

- Replacement of the 2/3 cycle MTC measurement is acceptable at PVNGS including 19 STAR Cycles

Licensing Approach

• Submit one LAR

- Application of STAR to PVNGS

- Replacement of 2/3 cycle MTC Measurement 20

Licensing Approach

• Technical Specification 3.1.4 MTC

- SR 3.1.4.1 (HZP verification)

• Add note allowing use of alternate BOC HZP MTC surveillance method (TSTF 486)

- SR 3.1.4.2 (At power verifications)

• Add note allowing replacement of 2/3 cycle at power MTC Measurement (CE-NPSD-911 & TSTF 406) 21

Licensing Approach

• Proposed Schedule

- Submit November 2013

- Requesting NRC Approval in November 2014

- First use in Spring of 2015 22

Conclusion and Discussion

• Acceptable to implement the STAR Program at PVNGS

• Acceptable to replace the 2/3 cycle at power MTC measurement

• Submit both under a single LAR November 2013

• Requesting NRC approval November 2014 23