ML20062D898

Submits Info Re Noninvasive Vessel Level Sys Results. Neutron Detector Assemblies Do Not Meet Stds & Are Not Compatible w/NUREG-0737,Item II.F.2.Review of Available Sys Initiated.Status Rept Expected by 830201

ML20062D898
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	08/03/1982
From:	Clayton F ALABAMA POWER CO.
To:	Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RTR-NUREG-0737, RTR-NUREG-737, TASK-2.F.2, TASK-TM NUDOCS 8208060260
Download: ML20062D898 (2)

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c Malling Address

[ Alabama Power Company 600 North 18th Street Post Office Box 2641 Birrningham Alabama 35291 Telephone 205 7834081 F. L. Clayton, Jr. b

='A';%d/"' AlabamaPower the southem ciwtnc system August 3, 1982 Docket Nos. 50-348 50-364 Director, Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Attention: Mr. S. A. Varga Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant Non-Invasive Vessel Level System Gentlemen:

In letters dated February 8 and June 29, 1981, Alabama Power Company provided a detailed plan for the development, installation, and testing of the FNP Units 1 and 2 prototype vessel level system utilizing excore neutron detectors. The final prototype test was committed for the first refueling outage of Unit 2 and was scheduled for October 1982. The results of these tests were to be used to determine system feasibility. If the system was proven feasible, final development and qualification would have been com-pleted in accordance with the plan provided in the aforementioned letters.

As stated in our letter of August 6,1980, if the system was determined not to meet performance expectations, Alabama Power Company would install a proven alternate system.

Testing of the vessel level systems for Units 1 and 2 was begun in April 1530 and has continued through November 1981. The results of these tests are documented in Alabama Power Company letter dated June 24, 1981 and EPRI Racort NP-2354 dated April 1982. As concluded by these tests, "the neutron detector assemblies used at Farley may be able to detect a sudden rise when the water level falls to within four feet of the top of the

/)g fi reactor core." Since such conclusions are not compatible with NUREG-0737, Section Ir.F.2, clarification (6), wnich required indication from normal operation (full vessel) to complete core uncovery, Alabama Power Company has determined that this system does not meet the required performance standards. Alabama Power Company does not plan to complete the final testing described above.

8208060260 820803 PDR ADOCK 05000348 P PDR

Mr. S. A. Varga August 3, 1982 Director, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 Alabama Power Company has initiated a review of available vessel level systems to determine their compliance with NUREG-0737 provisions.

This review will include compatability with existing plant systems, lead times, outage schedules, feasibility, etc. A status of this review and plans for complying with the inadequate core cooling criteria will be -

submitted to the NRC by February 1, 1983.

If there are any questions, please advise.

Yours very truly, hh F. L. Clayton, Jr(

FLCJr/RLG:lsh-D23 cc: Mr. R. A. Thomas Mr. G. F. Trowbridge Mr. J. P. O'Reilly Mr. E. A. Reeves Mr. W. H. Bradford

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