ML062360160

Letter, Extended Power Uprate Large Transient Testing License Condition (TS-431)

ML062360160
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	09/27/2006
From:	Holden C Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority
Brown Eva, NRR/DORL, 415-2315
References
TAC MC3812, TAC MC7208, TAC MD3048, TS-431
Download: ML062360160 (6)

Text

September 27, 2006Mr. Karl W. SingerChief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - RESTART LARGETRANSIENT TESTING LICENSE CONDITION (TAC NOS. MC3812, MC7208 AND MD3048) (TS-431)

Dear Mr. Singer:

By letter dated June 28, 2004, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee), submitted arequest for amendment to the operating license for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN), Unit 1, for an extended power uprate (EPU). The proposed amendment would change the operating license to increase the maximum authorized power level by approximately 20 percent above the current maximum authorized power level. By letter dated September 22, 2006, TVA submitted a request for a two-step approach for completing the EPU. This approach includes an interim approval to increase the maximum authorized power level by approximately 5 percent above the current maximum authorized power level. It also requested that the review of the remainderof the application continue in parallel until TVA obtains the information necessary to address the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) concerns regarding the steam dryer stress analysisreport.The licensee originally proposed to conduct a startup test program for the 120-percent licensedthermal power (original licensed thermal power (OLTP)) uprate for Unit 1 as described in the following documents:*Section 10.4 of the Power Uprate Safety Analysis Report (PUSAR) and in Enclosure 8of the June 28, 2004, license amendment application, as supplemented by the requestfor additional information responses dated February 23, 2005 (ML0050560150) and April 25, 2005 (ML051170244). The proposed test program included testing from less than 90-percent OLTP to 120-percent OLTP.*TVA letter to the NRC dated August 15, 2005 (ML052280327) provided a detaileddescription of the modifications completed or in progress in support of BFN Unit 1 restart and a description of the testing that was planned as part of the BFN Unit 1 Restart Test Program. A description of the power ascension testing that was planned for BFN Unit 1 was included.

K. Singer-2-Under the two-step power uprate approach, TVA plans to initially complete those portions of theoriginally proposed test program that are applicable to the 105-percent OLTP uprate, and complete the remainder of the test program following NRC approval to operate at 120-percentOLTP. As part of this two-step approach to EPU and as discussed in the September 22, 2006, letter, TVA proposes to establish the following commitment for completing two large transient tests for the Unit 1 EPU:1.A large transient test that simulates the rejection of generator load will be completedwithin 30 days of reaching 105-percent OLTP.2.An main steam isolation valve closure with valve position scram large transient test willbe performed within 30 days of reaching 115 to 120-percent OLTP.Consistent with the NRC position stated in a letter dated J une 28, 2006, the NRC hasdetermined that a License Condition should be established for the large transient testing thatwill be completed. Since the restart of Unit 1 will now be at 105-percent OLTP, the NRC staffbelieves that both tests should be performed at this power level. Therefore, the staff proposes to establish the following License Condition for the 105-percent uprate:During the power uprate power ascension test program and prior to exceeding30 days of plant operation above a nominal 3293 megawatts thermal power level (100-percent original licensed thermal power [OLTP]) or within 30 days of satisfactory completion of steam dryer monitoring and testing that is necessary in order to achieve 105-percent OLTP (whichever is longer), with plant conditions stabilized at 105-percent OLTP, TVA shall perform a main steam isolation valveclosure test and a turbine generator load reject test. Following each test, TVA shall confirm that plant response to the transient is as expected in accordance with previously established acceptance criteria. The evaluation of the test results for each test shall be completed, and all discrepancies resolved, prior to resumption of power operation.As a separate matter, the NRC as part of its review of the uprate to 105 percent, will be relyingon the satisfactory completion of condensate booster pump, condensate pump, and feedwater pump trip testing at 105-percent OLTP. On March 7, 2006, TVA submitted a letter describing this testing. Satisfactory completion of this test is necessary for confirming the acceptability of the feedwater and c ondensate systems. Therefore, the staff proposes to establish the followingLicense Condition in this regard for the 105-percent OLTP uprate:During the power uprate power ascension test program and prior to exceeding 30 daysof plant operation above a nominal 3293 megawatts thermal power level (100-percent original licensed thermal power [OLTP]) or within 30 days of satisfactory completion of steam dryer monitoring and testing that is necessary for achieving 105-percent OLTP (whichever is longer), with plant conditions stabilized at 105-percent OLTP, TVA shalltrip a condensate booster pump, a condensate pump, and a main feedwater pump on an individual basis (i.e., one at a time). Following each pump trip, TVA shall confirm that plant response to the transient is as expected in accordance with previously established acceptance criteria. The evaluation of the test results for each test shall be completed, and all discrepancies resolved, prior to resumption of power operation.

K. Singer-3-Note that the considerations discussed in this letter are focused specifically on the first step ofthe proposed uprate for BFN Unit 1 to 105-percent OLTP. Testing requirements for the second step of the proposed uprate for BFN Unit 1 to 120-percent OLTP will be addressed by the NRCstaff in a separate letter.Should you have any additional comments, please contact Margaret Chernoff, Browns FerryUnit 1 Project Manager, at 301-415-4041.Sincerely,/RA/Cornelius F. Holden, Deputy DirectorDivision of Reactor Operating Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-259 cc: See next page

ML062360160 NRR-106OFFICELPL2-2/PMLPL2-2/PMLPL2-2/LADSS/DNAMEEBrownMChernoffCGoldsteinTMartin DATE 9/27/069/27/069/27/06 9 /27/06OFFICELPL2-2/BCOGCDORL/DDNAMELRaghavanMZoblerCHoldenDATE9 /27/06 09/27/ 069 /27/06

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - RESTART LARGETRANSIENT TESTING LICENSE CONDITION (TAC NOS. MC3812, MC7208 AND MD3048) (TS-431)Dated: September 27, 2006 Distribution:PUBLICLPL2-2 R/F RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrDorlLpl2-2 RidsOgcRp RidsNrrPMMChernoff RidsNrrPMEBrown RidsNrrDorl (CHaney/CHolden)

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JTatum SJones AStubbs AMuniz GThomas ZAbdullahi RPettis MZobler, OGC VMcCree, RII MLesser, RII JShea, RII MWidmann, RII Mr. Karl W. SingerBROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANTTennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, Vice PresidentNuclear Engineering & Technical Services Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Brian O'Grady, Site Vice PresidentBrowns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609Mr. Robert J. Beecken, Vice PresidentNuclear Support Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 General CounselTennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill DriveKnoxville, TN 37902Mr. John C. Fornicola, ManagerNuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Mr. Bruce Aukland, Plant ManagerBrowns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609Mr. Masoud Bajestani, Vice PresidentBrowns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609Mr. Robert G. Jones, General ManagerBrowns Ferry Site Operations Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609Mr. Larry S. MellenBrowns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW.

Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Mr. Glenn W. Morris, Manager Corporate Nuclear Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Mr. William D. Crouch, M anagerLicensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609Senior Resident InspectorU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611-6970State Health OfficerAlabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017ChairmanLimestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611