ML17311A361

Informs That During Recent Unit 3 Cycle 5 Reload,New Fuel Assemblies Installed Under Provisions of 10CFR50.59

ML17311A361
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	10/12/1994
From:	James M. Levine ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. (FORMERLY ARIZONA NUCLEAR
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML17311A362	List: ML17311A361
References
102-03153, 102-3153, NUDOCS 9410270092
Download: ML17311A361 (6)

Text

(ACCELERATED RI DS P ROC I'.SSIi

~'EGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)

ACCESSION NBR-9410270092 DOC.DATE: 94/10/12 NOTARIZED: NO DOCKET FACIL:STN-50-530 Palo Verde Nuclear Station, Unit 3, Arizona Publi 05000530 AUTH. NAME " AUTHOR AFFILIATION LEVINE,J.M. Arizona Public Service Co. (formerly Arizona Nuclear Power RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION Document Control Branch (Document Control Desk)

SUBJECT:

Informs that during recent Unit 3 Cycle 5 reload, new fuel assemblies installed under provisions of 10CFR50.59.

DISTRIBUTION CODE: IE26D COPIES RECEIVED:LTR TITLE: Startup Report/Refueling Report (per Tec 4 ENCL Specs)

SIZE:

NOTES:Standardized plant. 05000530 RECIPIENT COPIES RECIPIENT COPIES ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL ID CODE/NAME LTTR ENCL PD4-2 PD 1 1 TRAN,L 2 2 INTERNAL: ACRS 5 5 c FILE CENTER+ 02 1 1 NRR/SRXB 1 1 PUDOCS'-A'BSTRACT 1 1 RGN4 FILE 01 1 1 EXTERNAL: NOAC 1 1 NRC PDR YOTE To ALL"RIDS" RECIPIEYTS:

PLEASE HELP US To REDUCE iVASTE! COYTACTTHE DOCL'LIEST CONTROL DESK. ROOI I PI-37 <Em. S04-~08' TO EL! iI!iAT'E YOt.'R iAiIEPROi!

"I' L'ED!

DISTRI8UTIOY, LISTS I'OR DOCI.'MEi'I'S YOU Doi TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED: LTTR 14 ENCL 14

Arizona Public Service Company PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION

'.O. BOX 52034 ~ PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85072-2034 JAMES M. LEVINE 102-03153-JML/AKK/RKR VICE PRESIDENT NUCI.EAR PRODUCTION October 12, 1994 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Mail Station P1-37 Washington DC 20555

Subject:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS)

Unit 3 Docket No. STN 50-530 Unit 3 Cycle 5 Startup Report File: 94-160<19 During the recent Unit 3 Cycle 5 reload, new fuel assemblies were installed under the provisions of 10 CFR 50.59. Several changes were made to the fuel design for the new fuel assemblies. Unit 3 Cycle 5 startup test results show that the nuclear, thermal, and hydraulic performance of the plant has not been altered by the use of the new fuel assemblies. The following changes were made to the Unit 3 Cycle 5 new fuel assemblies:

Erbia is used as a burnable absorber, which is integral to the fuel pellets. The previous burnable absorber was B4C which was in discrete pins.

The fuel pellet was changed as follows:

Increased outside diameter {from.0.3250" to 0.3255")

Reduced chamfer height (from 0.0065" to 0.0043")

Reduced the dish volume by about 60%

Increased the pellet stack density from 10.11 gms/cc to 10.31 gms/cc The GUARDIAN'lower spacer grid replaced the standard Inconel lower spacer grid assembly to minimize potential debris-related damage to the rods.

A laser welded Zircaloy spacer grid assembly, HID-1L, replaced the HID-1B TIG welded spacer grid assembly. A smaller, more uniform weld nugget reduced the grid pressure drop coefficients.

9410270092 9410k>

PDR ADOCK 05000530 PDR

/~ply

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Unit 3 Cycle 5 Startup Report Page 2

~ The flange of the outer guide tube assembly was modified to have four 0.188 inch diameter holes instead of two 0.25 inch diameter-holes.

r-

~ The plenum length was reduced from 9.527 to 8.188 inches due to the longer lower end caps. Because of this, the plenum spring was shortened and contains less material volume, increasing internal fuel rod volume.

~ The upper alumina spacer disk was eliminated to increase internal fuel rod volume.

PVNGS Unit 3 Technical Specification 6.9.1. 3 requires that a startup report be submitted to the Regional Administrator following installation of fuel that has a different design. In accordance with this Technical Specification, the Unit 3 Cycle 5 startup report is enclosed.

Should you have any questions, please contact Scott A. Bauer at (602) 393-5978.

Sincerely,

)4-JML/AKK/RKR/rv Enclosure cc: B. E. Holian L. J. Callan K. E. Perkins K. E. Johnston