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 CEA Worth Measurement 6

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

-Already implemented at many PWRs 18 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 STAR Cycles 19 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