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, 2006 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief 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 LARGE TRANSIENT 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 a request 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 remainder of the application continue in parallel until TVA obtains the information necessary to address the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) concerns regarding the steam dryer stress analysis report.

The licensee originally proposed to conduct a startup test program for the 120-percent licensed thermal 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 8 of the June 28, 2004, license amendment application, as supplemented by the request for 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 detailed description 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 Under the two-step power uprate approach, TVA plans to initially complete those portions of the originally 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-percent OLTP. 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 completed within 30 days of reaching 105-percent OLTP.

2. An main steam isolation valve closure with valve position scram large transient test will be performed within 30 days of reaching 115 to 120-percent OLTP.

Consistent with the NRC position stated in a letter dated June 28, 2006, the NRC has determined that a License Condition should be established for the large transient testing that will be completed. Since the restart of Unit 1 will now be at 105-percent OLTP, the NRC staff believes 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 exceeding 30 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 valve closure 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 relying on 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 condensate systems. Therefore, the staff proposes to establish the following License Condition in this regard for the 105-percent OLTP uprate:

During the power uprate power ascension test program and prior to exceeding 30 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 for achieving 105-percent OLTP (whichever is longer), with plant conditions stabilized at 105-percent OLTP, TVA shall trip 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 Note that the considerations discussed in this letter are focused specifically on the first step of the 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 NRC staff in a separate letter.

Should you have any additional comments, please contact Margaret Chernoff, Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Manager, at 301-415-4041.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Cornelius F. Holden, Deputy Director Division of Reactor Operating Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-259 cc: See next page

ML062360160 NRR-106 OFFICE LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/LA DSS/D NAME EBrown MChernoff CGoldstein TMartin DATE 9/27/06 9/27/06 9/27/06 9 /27/06 OFFICE LPL2-2/BC OGC DORL/DD NAME LRaghavan MZobler CHolden DATE 9 /27/06 09/27/ 06 9 /27/06

SUBJECT:

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

Dated: September 27, 2006 Distribution:

PUBLIC LPL2-2 R/F RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrDorlLpl2-2 RidsOgcRp RidsNrrPMMChernoff RidsNrrPMEBrown RidsNrrDorl (CHaney/CHolden)

RidsNrrDss(TMartin)

RidsNrrDe(MMayfield)

RidsNrrPMJBoska RidsNrrLABClayton (Hard copy)

RidsNrrLACGoldstein (Hard copy)

RidsNrrDorlLpld (LRaghavan)

RidsNrrDsssbpb (JSegala)

RidsNrrDsssbwb (GCranston)

RidsDEeqvb(HHamzehee)

JTatum SJones AStubbs AMuniz GThomas ZAbdullahi RPettis MZobler, OGC VMcCree, RII MLesser, RII JShea, RII MWidmann, RII

Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Mr. Robert G. Jones, General Manager Nuclear Operations Browns Ferry Site Operations Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 6A Lookout Place Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street P.O. Box 2000 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, Vice President Mr. Larry S. Mellen Nuclear Engineering & Technical Services Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer Tennessee Valley Authority Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 6A Lookout Place U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1101 Market Street 61 Forsyth Street, SW.

Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Brian OGrady, Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Mr. Glenn W. Morris, Manager Tennessee Valley Authority Corporate Nuclear Licensing P.O. Box 2000 and Industry Affairs Decatur, AL 35609 Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge Mr. Robert J. Beecken, Vice President 1101 Market Street Nuclear Support Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place Mr. William D. Crouch, Manager 1101 Market Street Licensing and Industry Affairs Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority General Counsel P.O. Box 2000 Tennessee Valley Authority Decatur, AL 35609 ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Senior Resident Inspector Knoxville, TN 37902 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager 10833 Shaw Road Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Athens, AL 35611-6970 Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place State Health Officer 1101 Market Street Alabama Dept. of Public Health Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 Mr. Bruce Aukland, Plant Manager P.O. Box 303017 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Chairman Decatur, AL 35609 Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Mr. Masoud Bajestani, Vice President Athens, AL 35611 Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609