ML20084U462

Provides Info on Traversing Incore Probe Sys Development program.Long-range Purpose Is to Redesign Sys Completely to Improve Flexibility,Redundancy & Availability to Meet Present & Future Use

ML20084U462
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	12/28/1973
From:	Hinds J GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
To:	Skovholt D US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20084U431	List: ML20084U446 ML20084U462 ML20084U499 ML20084U519 ML20084U551 ML20084U609 ML20084U662 ML20084U689 ML20084U853 ML20084U869
References
NUDOCS 8306290055
Download: ML20084U462 (2)

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GENERAL #y ELECTRIC NUCLE AR ENERGY DIVISION GENEnAL ELECTmC COMPANY,175 CUnTNEn AVENUE SAN JOSE, CALIFOnNIA 95114 Phone (408) 297-3000 TWX NO. 910-338-0116

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December 28, 1973 '41 ,

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(Q2 *n l-Li74 f1r. D. J. Skovholt c z y'.c, i; Aht,t Assistant Director for Operating Reactors Directorate of Licensing

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United States Atonic Energy Commission Washington, D.C. 20545

Dear IIr. Skovholt:

In a letter dated July 12, 1973 from Dr. D. F. Knuth to !!r. G. J. Stathakis, the AEC cited an incident at Brown's Ferry Unit - 1 in which there was a failure of the Traversing In-Core Probe (TIP) System caused by concurrent containment pressure tests. General Electric's action to prevent recurrence of such incidents was to provide instructions to Site Managers of sites in the pre-turnover phase and to owners of operating plants. In addition, in a letter from fir. J. A. Hinds to Dr. Knuth dated August 1,1973 General Electric advised the AEC of a pernanent long range fix which in-volved using a proximity suitch which was described as a product of a long range develootent program for the TIP System. Since the time of this series of letters the AEC has requested further information on the TIP System development program.

The basic purpose of the development program now in progress is a long range effort which approaches a complete redesign to improve system flexibility, redundancy and availability to meet present and future needs. The present design which is adequate for its intended purpose, was reviewed in terms of function and perfornance by Muclear Energy Divisien experts covering areas of systems engineering, field experience, computer software and applications, and electronics design engineering. In addition, custoner comments were solicited concerning operating experience and reconnended improverents.

As a result of this broad technical survey, a design and performance specification is being developed which will redefine the functions of the TIP systen. Redesicned clenents, as they are developed, will be introduced in new product designs and appropriate changes will be recommended to operating plants as back-fitted product inprovenents.

0617 REGULATORY OPERATIONS

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G Ell E R A L ( ECTRIC fir. D. J. Skovholt December 28, 1973 At this tire it is intended that the progran will encompass the following cenceptual clerents:

1. Alternate nnterials and/or processes for guide tube fatrication.

2. Alternate drive systen components.

3. A study of guide path and detector lubricants.

4. Upgrade the systen electronics to inprove systen interfaces, interactions and data acquisition.

5. Develop a proxicity switch to replace the existing gravity actuated switch which stops the TIP detector when it is in the proper stored position in the chanber shield.

6. The present indexing systen which restricts the use of any particular TIP detector to a particular set of instrument tubes (except for one common calibration position) nay be replaced with a systen which could direct the TIP detector to a greater number of in-core positions.

While this is a long range progran, the fifth iten above has been noved forward more quickly and is currently in the hardware stage. It will be made available separately as a product inprovenent in the second quarter of 1974.

In sunnary, the Ger.eral Electric Cocoany considers that the existing design is adequate to perform its intended function. In the interests of product improvetent, General Electric has enbarked on the described program to determine ways to develop improved reliability, more flexibility and additional redundancy.

I trust this description of the TIP Systen development progran provides you with s6fficien6;inforcation to answer your questions on this matter.

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