ML20148J442

Ack Receipt of Reporting Damage to Fuel Element on 721030.Matter Will Be Examined During Next Insp

ML20148J442
Person / Time
Site:	Yankee Rowe
Issue date:	12/05/1972
From:	Kruesi F US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	Minnick L YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC CO.
References
NUDOCS 8011240105
Download: ML20148J442 (1)

Text

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Yankee Atomic Electric Co:npany R "

THIS D0CUMENT CONT

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) This will acknowledge receipt of the letter from :1 8 Ur. Herbert A. Autio dated November 20, 1972, k reporting damage to a fuci element on October 30, j 1972. This matter vill be exe.ined during the g next inspection of your facility.  ;;y 3 y 4

Your cooperation with us is appreciated.

Very truly yours, cp A

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Et F. E. Kruesi, Director of f Regulatory Operations 4 pl bec w/ letter 11/20/72 Y A. Gia:busso, L Local PDR  ?

J. M. Hendrie, L PDR $

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ROWE, MASSACHUSETTS '01367

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November 20, 1972 i s

United States Atomic Energy Commission Kashington, D. C. 20545 ,

Attention: Directorate of Regulatory Operations i

Reference:

License No. DPR-3 (Docket No. 50-29) ,

Dear Sirs:

Relative to the reporting requirements specified in i 10 CFR 20 Part 20.403 (b) (4), Yankee Atomic Electric Company - Rowe J reported damage to a fuel assembly both verbally and in writing on -

October 31, 1972.

i l The following written report is submitted in accordance I with 10 CFR 20.405.

i l h" nile removing the upper core barrel on October 30, 1972 Zircaloy fuel assembly A-421 was picked up from core position D-9 lA and raised with the upper barrel. The fuel assembly was lifted to  ;

approximately 8 feet above the top of the core.  ;

l Folluing evaluation of the problem, a decision was made to attempt reinsertion of the assembly into its core position. kf;1 During this reinsertion the fuel assembly was dislodged from the upper i core support plate, falling a maximum of several inches.  ?

.:a Tne upper core barrel was removed by normal procedure follow- E ing verification that fuel tube rupture had not occurred. The A-421 ,

assembly was observed to be in a near vertical position, resting on j the core adjacent to its original position. The upper nozzle was lean- g ing against the lower core barrel. c-A manual handling procedure and tools were used to transfer 2

~ the assembly to the fuel chute carriage and then to the spent fuel pit, y A similar ma.ual handling procedure was used for transfer to a spent fuel pit rack position. 4 Subsequent examination confirmed damage to the upper nozzle f and the upper assembly wrapper sheet. This fuel assembly will not be s reused. %g i

The cause for the fuel assembly hang-up has not been deter- Q; mined. It is postulated, however, that a small foreign object may have L.M '

lodged between the upper nozzle and the core support plate locking the assembly in place. This object would also have dislodged when the y%

assembly released. Some foreign material was noted later in this general $

area during fuel unloadin Marks on the upper core support plate noted j

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Q in a.later inspection, appear to confirm this diagnosis.

., The possibility of upper fuel nozzle distortion during core gf-1 . operation was considered. The remaining'75 upper nozzles were gaged ?7 with no distortion being found. $,

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I ' Based on the above inspections and contemplated procederal l 4 changes, Yankee Atomic - Rowe is confident that a fuel assembly hang-up o J.;. l will not occur during future upper barrel withdrawals. ;j el Yankee - Rowe also wishes to correct the 24 ho'ur report of October 31, 1972 to Region I describing this incident as Abnormal ~c Occurrence 72-20. It has been determined that this incident falls with- y in reporting requirements but is not defined as a plant abnormal 1  :.

occurrence. .

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Very truly yours, )

i Herbert A. Autio -l Plant Superintendent 2

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