ML17261A212

LER 80-006/01T-0:on 800711,during Routine Analysis of Boric Acid Tank Samples,Concentration Exceeded Tech Spec Limit on Three Occasions.Caused by Entry of Ascarite Into Tank. Reagent Check Now Performed W/Sampling

ML17261A212
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	07/24/1980
From:	Filkins D ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML17250A453	List: ML17250A452 ML17261A212
References
LER-80-006-01T, LER-80-6-1T, NUDOCS 8007280639
Download: ML17261A212 (4)

Text

NRC FQRM 366 U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION I7~~7) 80-006/01T-0 CONTROL BLOCK:

LICENSEE EVENT REPORT Qi II (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATIONI (CAR 196T) 7 8 9 NYREG1Q200-0000000Q411110~0 LICENSEE CODE I

14 15 6

LICENSE NUMBER 25 26 LICENSE TYPE 30 57 CAT 58 CON'T

~01 6 ~LQ6 0 5 0 0 0 2 4 4 Q7 0 7 1 1 8 0 QB 0 7 2 4 8 0 QB 7 8 60 61 DOCKET NUMBER 68 69 EVENT DATE 74 75 REPORT DATE EVENT DESCRIPTION AND PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES 10 During routine analysis of samples from boric acid storage tanks concentration showed

~03 11 . 7% and 1 1 . 8% boric a cid . (T . S . 3 . 2 . 3 . c) Reactor power reduction wa s started, an

~04 tank contents enriched to 12% ~ With tanks isolated, anal sis on 7/14/80 a ain indi-I cated low concentration. Tanks were again enriched. After titrant was changed, con-centration was found greater than 13%. Power reduction was started, and proper con-c entra ti on wa s re s tore d .

~OB 7 8 9 80 SYSTEM CAUSE CAUSE COMP. VALVE CODE CODE SUBCODE COMPONENT CODE SUBCODE SUBCODE

~PC Q1 ~DQ12 ~ZQ13 A C C U M U G4 ~ZQ15 ~Z Q16 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 19 20 SEQUENTIAL OCCURRENCE REPORT REVISION Q'7 LERfRO

<<7007 ACTION FUTURE EVENT YEAR

~80 21 22 EFFECT

.

+

23 SHUTDOWN 24 REPORT NO.

~00 6 26 Qa 27

~01 28 ATTACHMENT CODE 29 NPRD-4

'TYPE

+T 30 PRIME COMP.

QO NO.

COMPONENT TAKEN ACTION ON PLANT METHOD HOURS Q22 SUBMITTED FORM SUB. SUPPUER MANUFACTURER

~EQ18 ~GQ18 ~EQ20 ~ZQ27 0 0 0 0 Y Q23 ~NQ24 ~ZQ26 Z 9 9 9 Q26 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 43 44 47 CAUSE DESCRIPTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Q27 0 Ascarite used to protect NaOH titrant from CO was saturated with water, some of which dropped into titrant. Reagent check now being done in conjunction with tank sampling. Consolidation incorporating all procedures which respond to exceeding action limits being written. Sample frequencies to be increased during certain opera-3 tion s . Procedures for above to be in effect by 1 0/80 . Mechanical modifications to decrease dilution probability being considered. Tech. Spec. change to allow up to 4 1 3 5% bein

~ con s idered .

7 8 9 80

~15 FACILITY STATUS E Q28 ~10 N POWER 0 Q26 OTHER STATUS NA

~ METHOD OF DISCOVERY

~BQSI Chemical analy sis DISCOVERY DESCRIPTION Q32 7 8 9 10 12 13 44 45 80 ACTIVITY CONTENT

~16 RELEASED OF RELEASE

~ZQ33 ~ZQ34 AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY NA Q LOCATION OF RELEASE Q 7 8 9 10 44 45 80 PERSONNEL EXPOSURES NUMBER TYPE DESCRIPTION Q39 7

8

~00 0 Q37 Z Q38 NA 7 9 11 12 13 80 PERSONNCL INJURIES NUMBER OESCRIPTIONQ41

~O() 0 Q4o NA 7 8 9 11 12 80 I OSS OF OR DAMAGE TO FACILITY TYPE DESCRIPTION Q43

~IB Z Q42 NA 7 8 9 10 80 PUBLICITY DESCRIPTION Q4 NRC USE ONLY ISSUED GIB mNQ44 NA 68 69 80 g 8oo> MR.--Ls. D. Pilkins PHQNE 3 1 5/524-4446, ext. 219 a

Attachment tc LER 606/01T-0 Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, Unit No. 1 Docket No. 50-244 With the plant operating at full power the normal samples were taken of the boric acid storage tanks at 0815 hours0.00943 days <br />0.226 hours <br />0.00135 weeks <br />3.101075e-4 months <br /> on july 11, 1980. The samples indicated the concentrations had dropped to 11.7% and 11.8%. The shift supervisor indicated there had been operations performed which could have led to tank dilution. It was assumed at this time that the samples were correct.

A power reduction was commenced and the normal steps taken to isolate the tanks and increase the boric acid concentration. The concentrations were brought up to greater than 12.0% by 1540 hours0.0178 days <br />0.428 hours <br />0.00255 weeks <br />5.8597e-4 months <br />. Samples were taken at 2 hour2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> intervals during the next several days.

On july 14, 1980 the tanks again appeared to have been diluted even with all possible sources ofdilution isolated. One tank was less than 12.0%

and it was brought into specification within 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br />. At 0900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> the titrant was changed, and it was found that the old titrant was of incorrect concentration. It was determined that the tank concentrations then exceeded 13%..The same steps as mentioned above were taken and the boric acid con-centrations were brought into specification by 1615 hours0.0187 days <br />0.449 hours <br />0.00267 weeks <br />6.145075e-4 months <br />.

The source of the concentration change in the titrant was the Ascarite which is used to protect the NaOH titrant from CO2. Ascarite is made with a caustic material, and it had become saturated with moisture. Hydroxide was dissolved in the liquid, which dropped into the titrant reservoir, contaminat-ing the titrant. This gave the false indication that the boric acid concentra-tion in the tanks was low. To insure this type of contamination does not reoccur the Ascarite tube is being placed lower than the titrant reservoir.

The laboratory analysis procedure will be changed to include a QC check of the titrant each time the normal storage tank samples are taken. Procedures used in response to exceeding concentration administrative limits will be drawn together under a new comprehensive procedure which will include the sequence of sampling, QC, data evaluation and corrective actions.

There are certain operations that increase the probability of dilution of the tank contents. Procedures governing these operations will be changed to require notifying the laboratory to increase sampling frequency following these operations.

Mechanical modifications to further decrease the possibility of tank dilutions are being investigated.

Consideration is being given towards applying for a Technical Specification change to allow the maximum boric acid concentration of 13.5%

since the present Technical Specification minimum temperature of 145 F will provide solubility of boric acid to a concentration of 14%.