ML051120341
ML051120341 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Wolf Creek ![]() |
Issue date: | 04/29/2005 |
From: | Keating R, Lagally H Westinghouse |
To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
References | |
+sispmjr200504, ET 05-0001 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP | |
Download: ML051120341 (69) | |
Text
Enclosure II to ET 05-0001 Westinghouse Electric Company LTR-CDME-05-82-NP, "Limited Inspection of the Steam Generator Tube Portion Within the Tubesheet at Wolf Creek Generating Station" (non-Proprietary)
Westinghouse Non-Proprietary Class 3 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Limited Inspection of the Steam Generator Tube Portion Within the Tubesheet at Wolf Creek Generating Station April 2005 Author: Isl cotbeftF. Kect(
Robert F. Keating Major Component Replacements & Engineering Verified: Asl (ewmnw.'u O. LataiUy Hermann 0. Lagally Chemistry Diagnostics & Materials Engineering This document is the property of and contains proprietary information owned by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and/or its subcontractors and suppliers. It is transmitted to you in confidence and trust, and you agree to treat this document in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement under which it was provided to you.
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC P.O. Box 355 Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0355
© 2005 Westinghouse Electric Company LLC All Rights Reserved Official Record Electronically approved in EDMS 2000 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 1 of 60
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Abstract Nondestructive examination indications of primary water stress corrosion cracking were found in the Alloy 600 thermally treated Westinghouse Model D5 steam generator tubes at the Catawba 2 nuclear power plant in the fall of 2004. Most of the indications were located in the tube-to-tubesheet welds with a few of the indications being reported as extending into the parent tube. In addition, a small number of tubes were reported with indications about 3/4 inch above the bottom of the tube, and multiple indications were reported in one tube at internal bulge locations in the upper third of the tubesheet. The tube end weld indications were dominantly axial in orientation and almost all of the indications were concentrated in one steam generator. Circumferential cracks were also reported at internal bulge locations in two of the Alloy 600 thermally treated steam generator tubes at the Vogtle I plant site in the spring of 2005, which has Westinghouse Model F SGs. Based on recent requirements interpretations published by the NRC staff in Generic Letter 2004-01 and Information Notice 2005-09, the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Company (WCNOC) requested that a recommendation be developed for examination of the Westinghouse Model F steam generator tubesheet regions at the Wolf Creek Generating Station. An evaluation was performed that considered the requirements of the ASME Code, Regulatory Guides, NRC Generic Letters, NRC Information Notices, the Code of Federal Regulations, NEI 97-06, and additional industry requirements. The conclusion of the technical evaluation is that the structural and leak rate integrity of the primary-to-secondary pressure boundary is unaffected by degradation of any level below a depth of 17 inches from the top of the 21 inch thick tubesheet or the tube end welds.
because the tube-to-tubesheet hydraulically expanded joints make it extremely unlikely that any operating or faulted condition loads are applied to the tube tack expanded region or the tube welds.
Internal tube bulges, i.e., within the tubesheet, were created in a number of tubes as an artifact of the manufacturing process. The possibility of degradation at these locations exists based on the reported degradation at Catawba 2 and Vogtle 1. A recommendation is made for examination of a sample of the Wolf Creek tubes to a depth of 10 inches below the top of the tubesheet based on the use of a bounding leak rate evaluation and the application of a structural analysis of the tube-to-tubesheet joint first documented in WCAP-16124 and repeated in Appendix A of this report.
Application of the bounding leak rate and structural analysis approaches supporting this conclusion requires the approval of the NRC staff through a license amendment because it is based on a redefinition of the primary-to-secondary pressure boundary relative to the original design of the plant.
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Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................. 3 1.0 Introduction ................................................................. 9 2.0 Summary Discussion ................................................................ 12 3.0 Historical Background Regarding Tube Indications in the Tubesheet . . 14 4.0 Design Requirements for the Tube-to-Tubesheet Joint Region . .............................................
15 5.0 Structural Analysis of Tube-to-Tubesheet Joint ................................................................ 16 6.0 Leak Rate Analysis of Cracked Tube-to-Tubesheet Joints . ....................................................
18 6.1 The Bellwether Principle for Normal Operation to Steam Line Break Leak Rates ... 19 6.2 Leakage Analysis from H* Calculations for Comparison . .....................................................
23 7.0 Recommendations for Dispositioning Tube Cracks in the Tube-to-Tubesheet Joint ... 23 8.0 Conclusions ................................................................ 24 9.0 Recommended Inspection Plans ................................................................ 25 10.0 References ................................................................. 27 Appendix A- Structural Analysis of the Tube-to-Tubesheet Contact Pressure ... 35 A. Structural Analysis of the Tube-to-Tubesheet Interface Joint . ................................................
35 A.1 Evaluation of Tubesheet Deflection Effects for Tube-to-Tubesheet Contact Pressure ... 35 A.1.1 Material Properties and Tubesheet Equivalent Properties ......................................... 35 A.1.2 Tubesheet Rotation Effects ........ 36 6.....................
A.1.3 Wolf Creek Contact Pressures ............................ 40 A. 1.4 Summary of FEA Results for Tube-to-Tubesheet Contact Pressures ........................ 42 A.2 Determination of Required Engagement Length of the Tube in the Tubesheet . . 42 A.3 References ........................................................... 46 PageS of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 5 of 60
List of Tables Table A.l: Summary of Material Properties Alloy 600 Tube Material ........................................... 48 Table A.2: Summary of Material Properties for SA-508 Class 2a Tubesheet Material ................... 48 Table A.3: Summary of Material Properties SA-533 Grade A Class 2 Shell Material ................... 48 Table A.4: Summary of Material Properties SA-216 Grade WCC Channelhead Material ............. 49 Table A.5: Summary of Tube/Tubesheet Maximum & Minimum Contact Pressures & H* for Wolf Creek Steam Generators .............................................................. 50 Table A.6: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS ..................................................... 51 Table A.7: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS ..................................................... 52 Table A.8: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS .................................................... 53 Table A.9: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS .................................................... 54 Table A.l0: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS ................................................... 55 Table A.l 1: Large Displacement, -0.2 to 0.3 in. Pullout Test Data ................................................. 56 Table A.12: Pullout Tests Initial Slip Data ............................. : 56 Page 6 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
List of Figures Figure 1: Distribution of Indications in SG A at Catawba 2............................................................. 29 Figure 2: Distribution of Indications in SG B at Catawba 2 ............................................................. 29 Figure 3: Distribution of Indications in SG D at Catawba 2............................................................ 30 Figure 4: As-Fabricated & Analyzed Tube-to-Tubesheet Welds ..................................................... 30 Figure 5: Definition of H* Zones from Reference 5.............................................................. 31 Figure 6: Flow Resistance Curve per Reference 5.............................................................. 31 Figure 7: Change in contact pressure at 10.5 inches below the TTS ................................................ 32 Figure 8: Change in contact pressure at 12.6 inches below the TTS ................................................ 32 Figure 9: Change in contact pressure at 16.9 inches below the TTS ............................................... 33 Figure 10: Change in contact pressure near the bottom of the tubesheet ......................................... 33 Figure 11: Change in contact pressure at 8.25 inches below the ITS ............................................. 34 Figure 12: Change in contact pressure at 6.0 inches below the TTS ............................................... 34 Figure A.l: Finite Element Model of Model D5-3 Tubesheet Region ............................................ 57 Figure A.2: Contact Pressures for NOp at Wolf Creek, Reduced Thot, Prc = 792 psig ................... 58 Figure A.3: Contact Pressures for NOp at Wolf Creek, Thot = 6201F, Pa= 935 psig ..................... 58 Figure A.4: Contact Pressures for SLB Faulted Condition at Wolf Creek ...................................... 59 Figure A.5: Contact Pressures for FLB Faulted Condition at Wolf Creek (Reduced Tht).............. 59 Figure A.6: Contact Pressures for FLB Faulted Condition at Wolf Creek (That = 620F) ............... 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP L0Page 7 of 60
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Limited Steam Generator Tube-in-Tubesheet Inspection at Wolf Creek 1.0 Introduction Indications of cracking were reported based on the results from the nondestructive, eddy current examination of the steam generator (SG) tubes during the fall 2004 outage at the Catawba 2 nuclear power plant operated by the Duke Power Company, References 1, 2 and 3. The SGs at the Catawba 2 plant are type Westinghouse Model D5 with 3/4 inch nominal outside diameter (OD) thermally treated Alloy 600 tubes (A600TT). The tube indications at Catawba were reported about 7.6 inches from the top of the tubesheet in one tube, and just above the tube-to-tubesheet welds in a region of the tube known as the tack expansion (TE) in several other tubes. Finally, indications were also reported in the tube-end welds (TEWs), also known as tube-to-tubesheet welds, joining the tube to the tubesheet with a small number of those indications extending into the tubes. The spatial distribution by row and column number is shown on Figure 1 for SG A, Figure 2 for SG B, and Figure 3 for SG D at Catawba; there were no indications in SG C. Circumferential indications were reported in the spring of 2005 in two SG tubes, one tube had two indications, at the Vogtle Unit 1 plant operated by the Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Reference 4. The Vogtle SGs are of the Westinghouse Model F design like those at the Wolf Creek Generating Station, hereinafter referred to simply as Wolf Creek, with nominal 11/16 inch diameter A600TT tubes.
Similar indications have not been reported at the single other plant site with Model DS SGs nor have any been reported in other Model F SGs. However, it is believed that no RPC (rotating probe coil) inspection of the tube region in the vicinity of the tack expansions or the tube-to-tubesheet welds has been performed. It is likely that only bobbin coil eddy current test (ECT) and visual examination using SG bowl cameras have been performed in the vicinity of the tube-to-tubesheet weld. In other words, ECT inspections using techniques capable of detecting circumferential cracking within the tubesheet have not been used in areas significantly below the top-of-tubesheet expansion transition region, typically limited to a depth of 3 inches from the top of tubesheet or the tube transition region. This experience is similar to that at the Wolf Creek plant site. Thus, there is a potential for tube indications within the tubesheet region similar to those reported at Catawba 2 and Vogtle I to be reported in the Wolf Creek SGs if similar inspections were to be performed during the spring 2005 inspection of the respective SGs.
The Model F SGs were fabricated in the 1979 through 1988 timeframe using similar manufacturing processes with a few exceptions. For example, the fabrication technique used for the installation of the SG tubes at Vogtle 1 would be expected to lead to a much lower likelihood for crack-like indications to be present in the region known as the tack expansion relative to Catawba 2 because a different process for effecting the tack expansions was adopted prior to the time of the fabrication of the Vogtle 1 SGs. The same statement cannot be made with regard to the tack expansion region in the Wolf Creek SGs since they were fabricated at about the same time as the Catawba 2 SGs using the same tack expansion process.
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A recommended examination plan for the tubes and welds is delineated in Section 9.0 of this report. With regard to the tack expansion region of the tube and the tube end welds, the recommendation is to not perform any specific inspection of the SG tubes at the Wolf Creek plant site. This recommendation is not part of an attempt to license the H* methodology as described in Reference 5 for application to the tubes in the Wolf Creek SGs; however, the structural analysis of the tube and the tubesheet documented in that reference is valid for use in supporting the application of a an independent leakage evaluation methodology based on the change in contact pressure between the tube and the tubesheet between normal operation and postulated accident conditions. Moreover, in order to address potential uncertainties associated with the determination of specific leak rates, the WCNOC decided to increase the effective depth for RPC inspection of the tubes to 17 inches from the top of tubesheet (TTS), but biased the sample to the region of greater structural significance within 10 inches from the TTS. This allows the use of the newly developed leak rate methodology with regard to the potential for indications in the tack expansion transition or tube weld since excluded potential degradation regions would be limited to the lower 4.26 inches of the tube in the nominally 21.26 inch thick tubesheet, which is well below the mid-plane of the tubesheet. As described in Section 6.1 of this report, the potential leakage due to degradation below 17 inches from the TTS would clearly be below allowable accident limits.
The findings in the Catawba 2 and Vogtle 1 SG tubes present three distinct issues with regard to the SG tubes at the Wolf Creek plant:
- 1) indications in internal bulges or expansion anomalies within the tubesheet,
- 2) indications at the elevation of the tack expansion transition, and
- 3) indications in the tube-to-tubesheet welds, including some extending into the tube.
The scope of this document is to: a) address the applicable requirements, including the original design basis, Reference 7, and regulatory issues, Reference 8, and b) provide analysis support for technical arguments to limit inspection of the tubesheet region to an area above which degradation could result in potentially not meeting the SG performance criteria, i.e., the depths specified in Reference 5 or 17 inches as recommended herein. The application of any justification to limit the inspection and repair extent of the tubes requires a redefinition of the primary-to-secondary pressure boundary for plants with hydraulically expanded tube-to-tubesheet joints for which a license amendment must be granted by the NRC for implementation. In order to limit the extent of the inspection in the spring 2005 inspection of the Wolf Creek SGs an exigent technical specification, a.k.a. the TS, amendment is being sought. This report was prepared to facilitate the approval of a modification of the H* criteria to justify the RPC exclusion zone to the portion of the tube below 17 inches from the top of the tubesheet and provide the necessary information for a NRC staff review of the technical basis for that request.
It should be specifically noted that although the terminology of "H*" is used extensively throughout this document, WCNOC is not attempting to license H*, but to use structural analysis results and experimental data trends extracted from the existing H* report, Reference 5, in order to support justification of a limited tube inspection extent from the top of the hot leg side of the LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 10 of 60 10 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
tubesheet to a depth of 17 inches. Therefore, degradation below the top 17 inches of tube within the tubesheet can remain in service since it is demonstrated herein to be not safety significant.
The development of the H* criteria involved consideration of the performance criteria for the operation of the SG tubes as delineated in NEI 97-06, Revision 1, Reference 9, and draft RG 1.121, Reference 10. The bases for the performance criteria are the demonstration of both structural and leakage integrity during normal operation and postulated accident conditions. The Reference 5 report included documentation of structural analyses regarding the efficacy of the tube-to-tubesheet joint, and leak rate analyses based on empirical data and computer code modeling of the leakage from tubes postulated to be cracked 100% throughwall within the tubesheet. The structural model was based on standard analysis techniques and finite element models as used for the original design of the SGs and documented in numerous submittals for the application of criteria to deal with tube indications within the tubesheet of other models of Westinghouse designed SGs with tube-to-tubesheet joints fabricated by other techniques, e.g.,
explosive expansion. The structural analysis of the Wolf Creek SG tube-to-tubesheet joints is provided in Appendix A to this report. The content is the same as that'in Reference 5 and permits for the review of the structural analysis to be performed independent of the Reference 5 information.
All full depth expanded tube-to-tubesheet joints in Westinghouse designed SGs have a residual radial preload between the tube and the tubesheet. Early vintage SGs involved hard rolling which resulted in the largest magnitude of the residual interface pressure. Hard rolling was replaced by explosive expansion which resulted in a reduced magnitude of the residual interface pressure.
Finally, hydraulic expansion replaced explosive expansion for the installation of SG tubes, resulting in a further reduction in the residual interface pressure. In general, it was found that the leak rate through the joints in hard rolled tubes, if any, is insignificant. Testing demonstrated that the leak rate resistance of explosively expanded tubes was not as great and prediction methods based on empirical data to support theoretical models were developed to deal with the potential for leakage. The same approach was followed to develop a prediction methodology for hydraulically expanded tubes. However, the model has been under review since its inception, with the intent of verifying its accuracy because it involved analytically combining the results from independent tests of leak rate through cracks with the leak rate through the tube-to-tubesheet crevice. The H* model for leak rate is such a model and its review could be time consuming since it has not been previously reviewed by the NRC staff. An alternative approach was developed for application at Wolf Creek spring 2005 outage based on engineering expectations of potential differences in the leak rate between normal operation and postulated accident conditions based on a first principles approach to the engineering. However, there are no technical reasons why the use of the alternate methodology should be limited to a single application.
A summary of the evaluation is provided in Section 2.0 of this report. The historical background and design requirements for the tube-to-tubesheet joint are discussed in Sections 3.0 and 4.0 respectively, a summary of the conclusions from the structural analysis of the joint is provided in Section 5.0, the leak rate analysis in Section 6.0, dispositioning of cracked tubes inadvertently found below the inspection distance is discussed in Section 7.0, conclusions from the structural LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page I11 of 60
and leak rate evaluations are provided in Section 8.0, and recommended tube inspection plans are contained in Section 9.0.
2.0 Summary Discussion Evaluations were performed to assess the need for special purpose NDE probe examinations, e.g.,
RPC, of the SG tubes region within the tubesheet at the Wolf Creek power plants. The conclusions from the evaluation are that a 20% sample of the tube bulges and over expansions, designated as BLG and OXP respectively for ECT purposes, in each SG could be performed to at least the minimum depths specified in Reference 5, identified as H* in that reference, to ensure structural integrity. WCNOC has decided to perform sampling RPC inspections of the BLG and OXP locations to a depth of 10 inches below the top of the tubesheet for the spring 2005 inspection of two of the Wolf Creek SGs. The sample size is based on the population of such signals to a depth of at least 17 inches into the tubesheet for each SG. If indications are confirmed during the inspection of the sample, the inspection scope will be expanded to include the entire population of BLG and EXP signals to a depth of 17 inches for the affected SG and a 20% sample of each of the unaffected SGs. The leakage performance requirement, in addition to the structural requirements, is met because it has been demonstrated that a bounding value of the leak rate during a postulated SLB event can be estimated from the leak rate during normal operation.
It is noted that the above inspection recommendation excludes the region of the tube referred to as the tack expansion or the tack expansion transition. In addition, consideration was given to the need to perform inspections of the tube-to-tubesheet weld in spite of the fact that the weld is specifically not part of the tube in the sense of the plant technical specification, see Reference 2.
With regard to the latter two regions of the primary-to-secondary pressure boundary in accord with the original design of the SGs, it is concluded that there is no need to inspect either the tack expansion, its transition, or the tube-to tubesheet welds for degradation because the tube in these regions has been shown to meet structural and leak rate criteria regardless of the level of degradation. Furthermore, it could also be concluded that for some of the tubes, depending on radial location in the tubesheet, there is not a need to inspect the region of the tube below the neutral plane of the tubesheet, roughly 11 inches below the top. The results from the evaluations performed as described herein demonstrate that the inspection of the tube within a nominal 4.26 inches of the tube-to-tubesheet weld and of the weld is not necessary for structural adequacy of the SG during normal operation or during postulated faulted conditions, nor for the demonstration of compliance with leak rate limits during postulated faulted events.
In summary:
- WCAP-16124, Reference 5, notes that the structural integrity requirements of NEI 97-06, Reference 9, and draft RG 1.121, Reference 10, are met by sound tube engagement lengths ranging from 3.29 to 8.50 inches from the top of the tubesheet, thus the region of the tube below those elevations, including the tube-to-tubesheet weld is not needed for structural integrity during normal operation or accident conditions.
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- NEI 97-06, Reference 9, defines the tube as extending from the tube-to-tubesheet weld at the tube inlet to the tube-to-tubesheet weld at the tube outlet, but specifically excludes the tube-to-tubesheet weld from the definition of the tube. The acceptance of the definition by the NRC staff was recorded in the Federal Register on March 2, 2005, Reference 11.
- The welds were originally designed and analyzed as primary pressure boundary in accordance with the requirements of Section III of the 1971 edition of the ASME Boiler
& Pressure Vessel Code, Summer 1973 Addenda, Reference 7. The analysis of the weld is documented in References 12 for the Wolf Creek SGs. The typical as-fabricated and the as-analyzed weld configurations are illustrated on Figure 4.
- SectionXI of the ASME Code, Reference 15 (1971) through 16 (2004), deals with the inservice inspection of nuclear power plant components. The ASME Code specifically recognizes that the SG tubes are under the purview of the NRC through the implementation of the requirements of the Technical Specifications as part of the plant operating license.
The hydraulically expanded tube-to-tubesheet joints in Model F SGs are not leak-tight and considerations were also made with regard to the potential for primary-to-secondary leakage during postulated faulted conditions. Two evaluation approaches were considered, one based on the leak rate during normal operation relative to that during postulated accident conditions and the second based on leak rate prediction analyses documented in WCAP-16 124, Reference 5, prepared for the purpose of identifying a structurally based depth for RPC inspection in the event that circumferential cracking below the top of the tubesheet was postulated to be present and estimating the leak rate that could be expected from a conservatively based prediction of the number of non-detected indications potentially present. Owing to the potential for a lengthy review process for the second approach, the method was not pursued for evaluation and implementation.
The leak rate during postulated accident conditions would be expected to be less than that during normal operation for indications near the bottom of the tubesheet (including indications in the tube end welds) based on the observation that while the driving pressure increases by about a factor of two, the flow resistance increase associated with an increase in the tube-to-tubesheet contact pressure can be up to a factor of 3, Reference 5. While such a decrease is rationally expected, the postulated accident leak rate could conservatively be taken to be bounded by twice the normal operating leak rate if the increase in contact pressure is ignored. Since normal operating leakage is limited to less than 0.347 gpm, the attendant accident condition leak rate, assuming all leakage to be from lower tubesheet indications, would be bounded by 0.694 gpml. Therefore, the leak rate under normal operating conditions could exceed its allowed value before the accident condition leak rate would be expected to exceed its allowed value. This approach is termed an application of the "bellwether principle." This assessment also envelopes postulated circumferential cracking of the tube or the tube-to-tubesheet weld that is 100% deep by 3600 in extent because it is based on the premise that no weld is present.
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Based on the information summarized above, no inspection of the tube-to-tubesheet welds, tack roll region or bulges below the distance determined to have the potential for safety significance as specified in Reference 5, i.e., the H* depths, would be considered to be necessary to assure compliance with the structural and primary-to-secondary leak rate requirements for the SGs. In addition, based on the results from consideration of application of the bellwether principle regarding potential leakage during postulated accident conditions, the planned inspection to a depth of 17 inches below the top of the tubesheet is conservative and justified.
The selection of a depth of 17 inches obviates the need to consider the location of the tube expansion transition below the TrS, usually bounded by a length of about 0.3 inches. For.
structural purposes, the value of 17 inches greatly exceeds the engagement lengths determined from the analysis documented in Appendix A. The application of the bellwether approach to the leak rate analysis as described in Section 6.1 negates the need to consider specific distances from the TTS and relies only on the magnitude of the contact pressure in the vicinity of the tube above 17 inches below the TIS.
3.0 Historical Background Regarding Tube Indications in the Tubesheet There has been extensive experience associated with the operation of SGs wherein it was believed, based on NDE, that throughwall tube indications were present within the tubesheet. The installation of the SG tubes usually involves the development of a short interference fit, referred to as the tack expansion, at the bottom of the tubesheet. The tack expansion was usually effected by hard rolling through October of 1979 and thereafter, in most instances, by the Poisson expansion of a urethane plug inserted into the tube end and compressed -in the axial direction. The rolling process by its very nature is considered to be more aggressive with regard to metalworking at the inside surface of the tube and would be expected to lead to higher residual surface stresses. It is almost certain that the rolling process was used during fabrication of the Wolf Creek SGs, while the urethane plug (Poisson) expansion process was used for later Model F SGs. The tube-to-tubesheet weld was then performed to create the ASME Code pressure boundary between the tube and the tubesheet. 2 The development of the F* alternate repair criterion (ARC) in 1985-1986 for tubes hard rolled into the tubesheet was prompted by the desire to account for the inherent strength of the tube-to-tubesheet joint away from the weld and to allow tubes with degradation within the tubesheet to remain in service, Reference 15. The result of the development activity was the demonstration that the tube-to-tubesheet weld was superfluous with regard to the structural and leakage integrity of the rolled joint between the tube and the tubesheet. Once the plants were in operation, the structural and leakage resistance requirements for the joints were based on the plant Technical Specifications, and a means of demonstrating joint integrity that was acceptable to the NRC staff l The expected leak rate would decrease significantly if the attendant increase in contact pressure and resistance to leak were included.
2 The actual weld is between the Alloy 600 tube and weld buttering on the bottom of the carbon steel tubesheet.
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was delineated in Reference 10. License amendments were sought and granted for several plants with hard rolled tube-to-tubesheet joints to omit the inspection of the tube below a depth of about 1.5 inches from the top of the tubesheet. Similar criteria, designated as W*, were developed for explosively expanded tube-to-tubesheet joints in Westinghouse designed SGs in the 1991-1992 timeframe, Reference 18. The W* criteria were first applied to operating SGs in 1999 based on a generic evaluation for Model 51 SGs, Reference 19, and the subsequent safety evaluation by the NRC staff, Reference 20. However, the required engagement length to meet structural and leakage requirements was on the order of 4 to 6 inches because the explosively expanded joint does not have the same level of residual interference fit as that of a rolled joint. It is noted that the length of joint necessary to meet the structural requirements is not the same as, and is usually shorter than, that needed to meet the leakage integrity requirements.
The post-weld expansion of the tube into the tubesheet in the Wolf Creek SGs was effected by a hydraulic expansion of the tube instead of rolling or explosive expansion. The hydraulically formed joints do not exhibit the level of interference fit that is present in rolled or explosively expanded joints, however, when the thermal and internal pressure expansion of the tube is considered during normal operation and postulated accident conditions, appropriate conclusions regarding the need for the weld similar to those for the other two types ofjoint can be made.
Evaluations were performed in 1996 of the effect of tube-to-tubesheet weld damage that occurred from an object in the bowl of a SG with tube-to-tubesheet joints similar to those in the Wolf Creek SGs, on the structural and leakage integrity of the joint, Reference 21. It was concluded in that evaluation that the strength of the tube-to-tubesheet joint is sufficient to prevent pullout in accordance with the requirements of the performance criteria of Reference 9 and that a significant number of tubes could be damaged without violating the performance criterion related to the primary-to-secondary leak rate during postulated accident conditions.
4.0 Design Requirements for the Tube-to-Ttbesheet Joint Region This section provides a review of the applicable design and analysis requirements, including the ASME Code pre-service design requirements of Section m and the operational/maintenance requirements of Section XI. The following is the Westinghouse interpretation of the applicable analysis requirements and criteria for the condition of TEW cracking. Recommendations that include code requirements and the USNRC position as expressed in References 8 and 9. Reference 8 notes that:
"In accordancewith Section III of the Code, the originaldesign basispressure boundaryforthe tube-to-tubesheetjointincluded the tube and tubesheet extending down to and including the tube-to-tubesheet weld. The criteriaof Section III of the ASME Code constitute the "method ofevaluation "for the design basis. These criteriaprovide a sufficient basisforevaluatingthe structuraland leakage integrity ofthe originaldesign basisjoint. However, the criteriaof Section III do not provide a sufficient basis by themselves for evaluating the structuraland leakage integrity of a mechanicalexpansionjoint consistingof a tube expanded againstthe tubesheet over some minimum embedment distance. Ifa licensee is redefining the design LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 15 of 60
basispressureboundary and is using a different method of evaluation to demonstrate the stnicturaland leakage integrity of the revisedpressureboundary, an analysis under 10 CFR 50.59 would determine whether a license amendment is required.
The industry definition of Steam Generator Tubing excludes the tube-end weld from the pressure boundary as noted in NEI 97-06 (Reference 9):
"Steam generatortubing refers to the entire length of the tube, including the tube wvall and any repairsto it, between the tube-to-tube sheet wveld at the tube inlet and the tube-to-tube sheet weld at the tube outlet. The tube-to-tube sheet wveld is not consideredpart of the tube.
The NRC has indicated its concurrence with this definition; see, for example, Reference 11. In summary, from a non-technical viewpoint, no specific inspection of the tube-end welds would be required because:
- 1. The industry definition of the tube excludes the tube-end weld,
- 2. The ASME Code defers the judgment regarding the redefined pressure boundary to the licensing authority under IOCFR50.59,
- 3. The NRC has accepted this definition; therefore, by inference, may not consider cracked welds to be a safety issue on a level with that of cracked tubes, and
- 4. There is no qualified technique that can realistically be applied to determine if the tube-end welds are cracked.
However, based on the discussion of Information Notice 2005-09, Reference 2, it is clear that the NRC staff has concluded that "the findings at Catawba illustrate the importance of inspecting the parent tube adjacent to the weld and the weld itself for degradation." The technical considerations documented herein obviate the need for consideration of any and all non-technical arguments.
5.0 Structural Analysis of Tube-to-Tlubesheet Joint This section summarizes the structural aspects and analysis of the entire tube-to-tubesheet joint region, the details of which are provided in Appendix A. The tube end weld was originally designed as a pressure boundary structural element in accordance with the requirements of Section HI of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Reference 7. The construction code for Wolf Creek SGs was the 1971 edition with the Summer 1972 and some paragraphs of the Winter 1974 addenda. This means that there were no strength considerations made with regard to the expansion joint between the tube and the tubesheet, including the tack expansion regardless of whether it was achieved by rolling or Poisson expansion of a urethane plug.
An extensive empirical and analytical evaluation of the structural capability of the as-installed tube-to-tubesheet joints based on considering the weld to be absent was performed specifically for Page 16 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
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the Wolf Creek Model F SGs and the results were reported in Westinghouse report WCAP-16124, Reference 5; again, the structural analysis section of that reference is included herein as Appendix A. Typical Model F hydraulic expansion joints with lengths comparable to those being proposed in Reference 5 for limiting RPC examination were tested for pullout resistance strength at temperatures ranging from 70 to 6001F. The results of the tests coupled with those from finite element evaluations of the effects of temperature and primary-to-secondary pressure on the tube-to-tubesheet interface loads were used to demonstrate that engagement lengths of approximately 3 to 8.6 inches were sufficient to equilibrate the axial loads resulting from consideration of 3 times the normal operating and 1.4 times the limiting accident condition pressure differences. The variation in required engagement length is a function of tube location, i.e., row and column, and decreases away from the center of the SG where the maximum value applies. The tubesheet bows, i.e., deforms, upward from the primary-to-secondary pressure difference and results in the tube holes becoming dilated above the neutral plane of the tubesheet, which is a little below the mid-plane because of the effect of the tensile membrane stress from the pressure loading. The amount of dilation is a maximum very near the radial center of the tubesheet (restricted by the divider plate) and diminishes with increasing radius outward. Moreover, the tube-to-tubesheet joint becomes tighter below the neutral axis and is a maximum at the bottom of the tubesheet 3 . In conclusion, the need for the weld is obviated by the interference fit between the tube and the tubesheet. Axial loads are not transmitted to the portion of the tube below the H* distance during operation or faulted conditions, by factors of safety of at least 3 and 1.4 respectively, including postulated loss of coolant accidents (LOCA), and inspection of the tube below the H* distance including the tube-to-tubesheet weld is not technically necessary. Also, if the expansion joint were not present, there would be no effect on the strength of the weld from axial cracks, and tubes with circumferential cracks up to about 1800 by 100% deep would have sufficient strength to meet the nominal ASME Code structural requirements, based on the margins of safety reported in Reference 12, and the requirements of RG 1.121, Reference 10.
An examination of Table A.6 through Table A.10 provide information that the holding power of the tube-to-tubesheet joint in the vicinity of the maximum inspection depth of 17 inches is much greater than at the top of the tubesheet in the range of the originally developed H* of Reference 5.
Note that the radii reported in these tables were picked to conservatively represent entire radial zones of consideration as defined on Figure 5 (taken from Reference 5). Four zones were originally identified for which to specify individual H* values to permit minimizing the inspection.
depth as a function of location in the plane of the tubesheet. For example, Zone D has a maximum radius of 12.0 inches. However, in order to establish H* values that were conservative throughout the zone, the tube location for which the analysis results were most severe above the neutral axis were reported, i.e., those values calculated for a tube at a radius of 4.02 inches, but conservatively applied out to the tube radius of 12.0 inches. The values are everywhere conservative above the neutral surface of the tubesheet for tubes in Zone D, see Figure 5. Likewise for tubes in Zone B, under the heading 48.613 inches, where the basis for the calculation was a tube at a radius of 3 There is a small reversal of the bending stress beyond a radius of about 55 inches because the support ring prevents rotation and the hole dilation is at the bottom of the tubesheet.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 17 of 60
30.193 inches. The same approach was used for the predictions reported for Zones C and A. The purpose of this discussion is to illustrate the extreme conservatism associated with the holding power of the joint below the neutral surface of the tubesheet, and to identify the proper tube radii for consideration. In the center of the tubesheet the incremental holding strength in the 4.9 inch range from 12 to 16.9 inches below the top of the tubesheet is about 880 lbf per inch during normal operation, see Table A.6. The performance criterion for 3 AP is met by the first 1.9 inches of engagement above 17 inches. At a radius of 58.3 inches the corresponding length of engagement needed is about 3.0 inches. The corresponding values for steam line break conditions are 1.09 and 1.85 inches at radii of 4.02 and 58.3 inches respectively. In other words, while a value of 8.5 inches was determined for H* from the top of the tubesheet,'a length of 1.9 to 3.0 inches would be sufficient at the bottom of the inspection length for the 3 AP performance criterion, where the latter value corresponds to a radius of 58.3 inches from the center of the tubesheet, the limiting location of Zone A.
6.0 Leak Rate Analysis of Cracked Tube-to-Tubesheet Joints This section of the report presents a discussion of the leak rate expectations from axial and circum-ferential cracking confined to the tube-to-tubesheet joint region, including the tack expansion region, the tube-to-tubesheet welds and areas where degradation could potentially occur due to bulges and overexpansions within the tube. Although the welds are not part of the tube per the technical specifications, consideration is given in deference to the discussions of the NRC staff in References 2 and 8. Consideration of the leak rate through 100% throughwall cracks in the SG tubes at locations below the top of the'tubesheet was given extensively in Reference 5. Although the hydraulically expanded joint is not leak tight, the leak rate is a function of the distance to the tip of the crack from the top of the tubesheet and the contact pressure between the tube and the tubesheet. The approach to dealing with leakage in Reference S is based on counting the number of cracks present in the inspected region above a critical depth designated therein as H* in order to predict the distribution of cracks below H* and then estimating the leak rate from those cracks. A bounding distribution of cracks was proposed for initial application based on the number of cracks that were detected in the SGs at a plant where the tubes were made from Alloy 600 mill annealed (A600MA) material. The thermally treated tube material in the Wolf Creek SG tubes has been demonstrated experimentally to be much more resistant to PWSCC so the number of indications observed at that plant is expected to be bounding by a very significant margin at similar times of operation when adjusted for temperature. Furthermore, the distribution used as bounding was based on the number of indications present several years after the first indications had been observed, thus the distribution was more mature. It is noted that the degradation reported in the Catawba 2 and Vogtle 1 SG tubes was bounded (significantly) by the degradation extent specified for application by Reference 5. Moreover, the methodology for estimating the leak rate from such indications as delineated in Reference 5 is grossly conservative in that it omits consideration of the operating characteristics of the plant with regard to primary-to-secondary leakage. Although the methodology applies throughout the tubesheet, other considerations can be made with regard to assessing the reduction in the potential for leakage when the indications are below the neutral surface of the tubesheet, which is located slightly below the mid-plane because the primary-to-secondary pressure difference induces a membrane stress in addition to the bending stress. Both LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 18 of6O Page 18 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
approaches are explained in the following sections; however, because of the major importance of the additional consideration, referred to as the bellwether approach, it is discussed first. It is noted that the application of the discussed methods requires approval from the NRC staff to change the Technical Specification prior to returning to service after the spring 2005 outage for Wolf Creek.
With regard to the inherent conservatism embodied in the application of any predictive methods it is noted that the presence of cracking was not confirmed through removal of a tube section followed by destructive metallurgical examination at Catawba 2 or Vogtle 1.
6.1 The Bellwether Principle forNormal Operation to Steam Line Break Leak Rates From an engineering expectation standpoint, if there is no meaningful primary-to-secondary leakage during normal operation, there should likewise be no meaningful leakage during postulated accident conditions from indications located below the mid-plane of the tubesheet. The rationale for this is based on considerations regarding the deflection of the tubesheet with accompanying dilation and diminution of the tubesheet holes. In effect, the area presented as a leak path between the tube and tubesheet would not be expected to increase under postulated accident conditions and would really be expected to decrease for most of the SG tubes. During the development of the RPC inspection criteria of Reference 5, consideration was given regarding the potential for leak rate during normal operation to act as a bellwether or leading indicator with regard to the leak rate that could be expected during postulated accident conditions. The results from these considerations were not included in the final versions of the document because of concerns associated with the accuracy of the approach for indications above the neutral plane of the tubesheet where the tube-to-tubesheet contact pressure would usually be expected to diminish during faulted conditions. For example, if it was intended to stop the RPC examination at a depth of 3 to 9 inches from the top of the tubesheet, then severe circumferential cracking would have been postulated to occur immediately below that depth and the potential leak rate as compared to that during normal operation estimated. The primary-to-secondary pressure difference during normal operation is on the order of 1200 to 1400 psi, while that during a postulated accident, e.g.,
steam line and feed line break, is on the order of 2560 to 2650 pSi.4 Above the neutral plane of the tubesheet the tube holes experience a dilation due to pressure induced bow of the tubesheet. This means that the contact pressure between the tubes and the tubesheet would diminish above the neutral plane in the central region of the tubesheet at the same time as the driving potential would increase, leading to an expectation of an increase in the potential leak rate through the crevice.
Estimating the change in leak rate as a function of the change in contact pressure under faulted conditions on a generic basis was expected to be problematic. However, below the neutral plane of the tubesheet the tube holes diminish in size because of the upward bending and the contact pressure between the tube and the tubesheet increases. When the differential pressure increases during a postulated faulted event the increased bow of the tubesheet leads to an increase in the tube-to-tubesheet contact pressure, increasing the resistance to flow. Thus, while the dilation of the tube holes above the neutral plane of the tubesheet presents additional analytic problems in 4 The differential pressure may be on the order of 2405 psi if it is demonstrated that the power operated relief valves will be functional.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP .Page 19 of 60
estimating the leak rate for indications above the neutral plane, the diminution of the holes below the neutral plane presents definitive statements to be made with regard to the trend of the leak rate, hence, the bellwether principle. Independent consideration of the effect of the tube-to-tubesheet contact pressure leads to similar conclusions with regard to the opening area of the cracks in the tubes, thus further restricting the leak rate beyond that through the interface between the tube and the tubesheet.
In order to accept the concept of normal operation being a bellwether for the postulated accident leak rate for indications above the neutral plane of the tubesheet, the change in leak rate had to be quantified using a somewhat complex, physically sound model of the thermal-hydraulics of the leak rate phenomenon. This is not necessarily the case for cracks considered to be present below the neutral plane of the tubesheet because a diminution of the holes takes place during postulated accident conditions below the neutral plane relative to normal operation. For example, at a radius of approximately 30 inches from the center of the SG, the contact pressure at the bottom of the tubesheet during normal operation is calculated to be about 2120 to 2320 pSi5 , see the last contact pressure entry in the center columns of Table A.7 and Table A.6 respectively, while the contact pressure during a postulated steam line break would be on the order of 3660 psi at the bottom of the tubesheet, Table A.8, and during a postulated feed line break would be on the order of 4230 to 4280 psi at the bottom of the tubesheet, Table A.9 and Table A. 10 respectively. (Note: The radii specified in the heading of the tables are the maximum values for the respective zones analyzed, hence the contact pressures in the center column correspond to the radius specified for the left column, etc. The leftmost column lists the contact pressure values for a radius of 4.02 inches, but is applied to a radius of 12.0 inches.) The analytical model for the flow through the crevice, the Darcy equation for flow through porous media, indicates that flow would be expected to be proportional to the differential pressure. Thus, a doubling of the leak rate could be predicted if the change in contact pressure between the tube and the tubesheet were ignored. Examination of the nominal correlation on Figure 6 (Figure 6.1 of Reference 5) from test results obtained using deionized and deoxygenated water6 indicates that the resistance to flow per unit length (the loss coefficient) would increase by a factor of about 16. However, that correlation was originally developed using results from tests performed at room temperature in order to obtain loss coefficient values for very low contact pressures. The regression analysis was repeated for this report based on considering only the results from the tests performed at a temperature of 6001F.
Using the results from that analysis indicates the increase in the leak resistance would be a factor of 6 between SLB and NOp conditions. If the leak rate during normal operation was 0.347 gpm (500 gpd), the postulated accident condition leak rate would be 0.694 gpm versus the allowable limit of 1 gpm when considering only the change in differential pressure. However, the estimate would be reduced to 0.115 gpm when the decrease in leak rate associated with an increase in contact pressure is included, i.e., about 34% of that during normal operation based on the factor of
- 6. This latter value is significantly less than the allowable limit during faulted conditions of 1.0 5 The change occurs as a result of considering various operating temperatures and pressures.
6 Confirmed by testing to perform the same as primary water, Reference 13.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page of 60 20 of Page 20 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
gpm at room temperature density. Even without inclusion of the effect of the change in contact pressure, the predicted leak rate would be significantly less than the allowable rate of 1.0 gpm.
A similar analysis, performed for Westinghouse Model D5 SGs (there are differences in tube size, pitch and number), Reference 14, reported an expected reduction in leak rate of a factor of 3 compare to the result for the Model F SGs. Regardless of the difference in the magnitude of the reduction factors, it is apparent that the inclusion of the increase in resistance to flow through the tube-to-tubesheet interface would have a meaningful reducing effect on the expected leak rate during a postulated SLB event and can result in a predicted value that is less than the normal operating value for a significant number of tubes in the bundle.
The above argument considered indications located where the expectations associated with the bellwether principle would be a maximum, i.e., where the relative increase in contact pressure from normal to faulted conditions is a maximum. Thus, the conclusions of this section apply directly to indications in the tube somewhat near the bottom of the tubesheet, i.e., as a minimum to tube indications within a little more than 4 inches from the bottom of the tubesheet and to postulated indications in the tube-to-tubesheet welds. An examination of the contact pressures as a function of depth in the tubesheet from the finite element analyses of the tubesheet as reported in Table A.6 through Table A.1O shows that the bellwether principle applies to a significant extent to all indications below the neutral plane of the tubesheet. At the central plane of the tubesheet the increase in contact pressure is more on the order of 15% relative to that during normal operation for all tubes regardless of radius. Still, the fact that the contact pressure increases means that the leak rate would be expected to be bounded by a factor of two relative to normal operation. At a depth of 17 inches from the top of the tubesheet the contact pressure increases by about 50%
relative to that during normal operation. The flow resistance would be expected to increase by about 60%, thus the increase in driving pressure would be mostly offset by the increase in the resistance of the joint.
The numerical results from the finite element analyses are presented on Figure 7 at the elevation of the mid-plane of the tubesheet through Figure 10 at the bottom of the tubesheet. A comparison of the contact pressure during postulated SLB conditions relative to that during normal operation is provided for depths of 10.5, 12.6, 16.9, and 21 inches below the top of the tubesheet, the last being at the bottom of the tubesheet.
- At roughly the neutral surface, about 10.5 inches, the contact pressure during SLB is uniformly greater than that during normal operation by about 533 psi (ranging from 513 to 619 psi).
- At a depth of 12.6 inches the contact pressure increase ranges from a maximum of 753 psi near the center of the tubesheet to 544 psi at a radius of 55 inches, see Figure 8.
- At 16.9 inches below the top of the tubesheet and 4.13 inches above the bottom of the tubesheet the contact pressure increases by a maximum of 1249 psi to a minimum of 322 psi at a radius of about 57 inches, Figure 9.
Page 21 of6O LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 21 of 60
- Near the bottom of the tubesheet, Figure 10, the contact pressure increases by almost 1700 psi near the center of the tubesheet, exhibits no change at a radius of about 56 inches, and diminishes by 424 psi at the extreme periphery, a little more than 60 inches from the center.
A similar comparison is illustrated on Figure 11 at a depth of 8.25 inches from the top of the tubesheet, roughly equal to the originally derived H* depth for the worst location in the tubesheet as determined using SLB conditions. Here the contact pressure increases at by 266 and 623 psi at radii of 7.9 and 57 inches respectively, with an average increase of 393 psi. At a depth of about 6 inches from the top of the tubesheet, Figure 12, the contact pressure increases by about 9 psi near the center of the tubesheet (radius of 7 inches), and increases by a maximum of 610 psi at a radius of 57 inches. Finally, the contact pressure decreases by about 232 psi at a radius of 6 inches at 4 inches below the top of the tubesheet and increases by 600 psi at a radius of 58 inches.
The density of the number of tubes populating the tubesheet increases with the square of the radius, thus, even at the H* depth there are far more tubes for which the contact pressure is unchanged or increases at that elevation than there are tubes for which the contact pressure decreases, i.e., greater than 96% of the tubes are at a radius greater than 12 inches from the center of the tubesheet.
The leak rate from any indication is determined by the total or integrated resistance of the crevice from the elevation of the indication to the top of the tubesheet, ignoring the resistance from the crack itself. Thus, it would not be sufficient to simply use the depth of 8.25 inches and suppose that the leak rate would be relatively unchanged even if the pressure potential difference were the same. However, the fact that the contact pressure generally increases below that elevation indicates that the leak rate would be relatively unaffected for indications a little deeper into the tubesheet.
The information on Figure 12 shows that the contact pressure is about the same or greater starting at a depth of 6 inches below the top of the tubesheet, thus, there is an increase in contact pressure for at least 2 inches above the original maximum H* depth. For example, it would be expected that the leak rate would not increase meaningfully from any indications below the mid-plane of the tubesheet. A comparison of the curves on Figure 12 relative to those on Figure 7 indicates that the contact pressure generally increases for a length of at least 4.5 inches upward from the mid-plane for all the tubes in the SG. For radial locations greater than about 10 inches from the center of the tubesheet the length for which the contact pressure increases would be greater than 4.5 inches.
The trend is consistent, at radii where the contact pressure decreases or the increase is not as great near the bottom of the tubesheet, the increase at higher elevations would be expected to compensate. For example, the contact pressures on Figure 10 at the bottom of the tubesheet show a decrease beyond a radius of 56 inches, however, the increase at 8.4 inches above the bottom, Figure 8, is significant. For the outboard tubes the increase in contact pressure extends all the way to the top of the tubesheet.
A comparison of the curves at the various elevations leads to the conclusion that for a length of about 11 inches upward from the elevation of 4.26 inches above the bottom of the tubesheet there is always an increase in the contact pressure in going from NOp to SLB conditions. Hence, it is LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 22 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
reasonable to omit any consideration of inspection of bulges or other artifacts below a depth of 17 inches from the top of the tubesheet. Therefore, applying a very conservative inspection sampling length of 17 inches downward from the top of the tubesheet during the Wolf Creek spring 2005 outage provides a high level of confidence that the potential leak rate from indications below the lower bound inspection elevation during a postulated SLB event will be bounded by twice the normal operation primary-to-secondary leak rate.
6.2 Leakage Analysis from H* Calculations for Comparison The evaluation of the accident (SLB) leakage for both axial and circumferential cracking in the tube end welds is naturally based on the information presented in WCAP-16124, Reference 5. The leakage analysis uses methods that were developed by Westinghouse to prepare the technical bases for justifying limited RPC inspection depths into the tubesheet expansion region, e.g., Reference 5.
The discussion of these methods is included in this report for use at the discretion of WCNOC since examination of the welds is not a recommended action resulting from this report. It is included herein to provide the potential for dealing with some unexpected eventuality that would lead to a specific examination of the welds.
For axial cracks, a crack confined to the TEW will intersect the TS crevice at only a single point unless the crack extends into the tack expansion zone of the tube above the weld. The intersection of a circumferential crack with the expansion zone crevice would be expected to result in a configuration similar to that of a circumferential crack in the parent tube, bounding both conditions. This is precisely the configuration that was evaluated for both tube retention and potential leak rate in the Reference 5 analyses. The evaluations in that case utilized empirical data developed to quantify the potential leak rate from circumferential cracks located at higher elevations within the tubesheet of Model F SGs. The loading conditions that apply under accident conditions were considered in the leak rate analyses of Reference 5. For example, differential pressure loading on the tubesheet during a SLB event causes tubesheet bowing and affects the tightness of the joint at the TEW. The analyses also considered the potential leak rate from tubes for which the weld was absent. The conclusion from the analyses was that 600 tubes without a tube-to-tubesheet weld and located in the most severe region of the tubesheet would be expected to leak at a total rate of less than 0.141 gpm or about 14% of the site allowable during postulated faulted conditions.
The application of the Reference 5 approach to predicting leak rate has been demonstrated to be conservative to and obviated by the application of the bellwether principle and the selection of an inspection depth of 17 inches below the top of the tubesheet. The discussion was included in this report for comparison purposes only and is not planned for application with regard to leak rate prediction calculations described in Reference 5 for the Wolf Creek spring 2005 SG inspection outage.
7.0 Recommendations for Dispositioning Tlbe Cracks in the lTbe-to-Tubesheet Joint Although the information contained in this report supports using the methodology provided in Reference 5 for indications found within H* for condition monitoring and for assessing the Page 23 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 23 of 60
bounding leak rate from non-detected indications in the uninspected range below the H*, its use is not recommended for the spring 2005 (RF14) outage at Wolf Creek for indications above the 17 inch inspection depth. The evaluations also provide a technical basis for bounding the potential leak rate from non-detected indications in the tube region below 17 inches from the top of the tubesheet as no more that twice the leak rate during normal operation. This applies equally to any postulated indications in the tack expansion region and in the tube-to-tubesheet welds. If cracks are found within the specified inspection depth, it is recommended that the inspection be expanded to include 100% of the tubes in the affected SG using that same specified inspection depth, e.g., 17 inches, as discussed in item 4 of Section 9.0. If the cracking is identified at an existing bulge or over expansion location, the scope expansion can be limited to the population of identified bulges and over expansions within the inspection region. As noted in the introduction to this report, the reporting of crack-like indications in the tube-to-tubesheet welds would be expected to occur inadvertently since no structural or leak rate technical reason exists for a specific examination to take place.
8.0 Conclusions The evaluations performed as reported herein have demonstrated that:
- 1) There is no structural integrity concern associated with tube or tube weld cracking of any extent provided it occurs below the H* distance as reported in Appendix A, i.e., Reference
- 5. The pullout resistance of the tubes has been demonstrated for axial forces associated with 3 times the normal operating differential pressure and 1.4 times differential pressure associated with the most severe postulated accident.
- 2) Contact forces during postulated LOCA events are sufficient to resist axial motion of the tube. Also, if the tube end welds are not circumferentially cracked, the resistance of the tube-to-tubesheet hydraulic joint is not necessary to resist push-out. Moreover, the geometry of any postulated circumferential cracking of the weld would result in a configuration that would resist pushout in the event of a loss of coolant accident. In other words, the crack flanks would not form the cylindrical surface necessary such that there would be no resistance to expulsion of the tube in the downward direction.
- 3) The leak rate for indications below the neutral plane of the tubesheet is expected to be bounded on average by twice the leak rate that is present during normal operation of the plant.
- 4) The leak rate for indications below a depth of about 17 inches from the top of the tubesheet would be bounded by twice the leak rate that is present during normal operation of the plant regardless of tube location in the bundle. This is apparent from comparison of the contact pressures from the finite element analyses over the full range of radii from the center of the tubesheet, and ignores any increase in the leak rate resistance due to the contact pressure changes and associated tightening of the crack flanks.
Page 24 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
9.0 Recommended Inspection Plans The recommendations with regard to the inspection of the welds at Wolf Creek are based on the following:
- 1) Examination of the tubes below the H* elevations as described in Reference 5 could be omitted based on structural considerations alone if a license amendment were obtained to that effect.
- 2) Similar considerations lead to the conclusion that the leak rate during postulated faulted events would be bounded by twice the leak rate during normal operation and the examination of the tube below the specified inspection depth of 17 inches (which includes the tack expansions and the welds) can be omitted from consideration.
- 3) The prior conclusions rely on the inherent strength and leak rate resistance of the hydraulically expanded tube-to-tubesheet joint, a feature which was not considered or permitted to be considered for the original design of the SG. Thus, omission of the inspection of the weld constitutes a reassignment of the pressure boundary to the tube-to-tubesheet interface. Similar considerations for tube indications require NRC staff approval of a license amendment.
Based on the summary discussion, Westinghouse has reviewed and endorses the following SG tubes inspection plan with regard to the tubesheet region in two of the SGs as discussed with WCNOC (Mr. P. Wagner) on April 15, 2005, for the Wolf Creek Generation Station spring 2005 outage:
- 1. Performance of a 55% inspection of the hot leg side tubes using RPC technology from 3 inches above the top of the tubesheet to 3 inches below the top of the tubesheet. Expand to 100% of the affected SG and 20% of the unaffected SGs in this region only if cracking is found that is not associated with a bulge or overexpansion as described below. This scope is no different than usually planned for the top-of-tubesheet inspection of the tubes.
- 2. Perform an inspection of hot leg side tubes using RPC technology to a depth of 10 inches below the top of the tubesheet based on obtaining a 20% sample of bulges and over expansions. The size of the sample is to be developed as a fraction of the parent tube population of bulges 2 18 Volts and over expansions 2 1.5 mils on the diameter as obtained from a review of the data from a previous operating cycle for Wolf Creek for a minimum length of 17 inches below the top of the tubesheet. The inspection of a single tube can simultaneously contribute to meeting the scope of both inspection items 1 and 2.
- 3. If cracking is found in the sample population ofbulges or over expansions, the inspection scope should be increased to 100% of the population of bulge and overexpansion locations for the region of the top of the tubesheet to a depth of 17 inches in the affected SG and a 20% sample of each of the unaffected SGs.
- 4. If cracking is reported at one or more tube locations not designated as either a top of the tubesheet expansion transition, a bulge or an over expansion, an engineering evaluation can be performed aimed at determining the cause for the signal, e.g., some other tubesheet Page 25 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 25 of 60
anomaly, in order to identify a critical area for the expansion of the inspection. This inspection will be limited to the original specified depth of 17 inches.
Page 26 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
10.0 References
- 1. OE19662 (Restricted & Confidential), "Steam Generators (Catawba Nuclear Power Station),"
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), Atlanta, GA, USA, December 13, 2004.
- 2. IN 2005-09, "Indications in Thermally Treated Alloy 600 Steam Generator Tubes and Tube-to-Tubesheet Welds," United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, publication date to be determined, April 7, 2005.
- 3. SGMP-IL-05-01, "Catawba Unit 2 Tubesheet Degradation Issues," EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, March 4, 2005.
- 4. OE20339, "Vogtle Unit 1 Steam Generator Tube Crack Indications," Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), Atlanta, GA, USA, April 4, 2005.
- 5. WCAP-l 6124-P (Proprietary), "Justification for the Partial-Length Rotating Probe Coil (RPC)
Inspection of the Tube Joints of the Wolf Creek Model F Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2003.
- 7. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section III, "Rules for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components," 1971 Edition, Summer 1973 Addenda, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
- 8. GL 2004-01, "Requirements for Steam Generator Tube Inspections," United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, August 30, 2004.
- 9. NEI 97-06, Rev. 1, "Steam Generator Program Guidelines," Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington, DC, October 2000.
- 10. RG 1.121 (Draft), "Bases for Plugging Degraded PWR Steam Generator Tubes," United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, August 1976.
- 11. Federal Register, Part m, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, pp. 10298 to 10312, March 2, 2005.
- 12. WNET-180 (Proprietary), "Model F Steam Generator Stress Report," Volume 11, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, September 1980.
- 13. WCAP-16 152-P (Proprietary), "Justification for the Partial-Length Rotating Pancake Coil (RPC) Inspection of the Tube Joints of the Byron/Braidwood Unit 2 Model D5 Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2003.
- 14. LTR-CDME-05-32-NP, "Limited Inspection of the Steam Generator Tube Portion Within the Tubesheet at Byron 2 & Braidwood 2," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, April 2005.
- 15. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, "Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components," American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York, 1971.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 27 of 60
- 16. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, "Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components," American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York, 2004.
- 17. WCAP-1 1224 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "Tubesheet Region Plugging Criterion for the Duke Power Company McGuire Nuclear Station Units I and 2 Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, October 1986.
- 18. WCAP-13532 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "Sequoyah Units 1 and 2 W* Tube Plugging Criteria for SG Tubesheet Region of WEXTEX Expansions," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, 1992.
- 19. WCAP-14797-P (Proprietary), "Generic W* Tube Plugging Criteria for 51 Series Steam Generator Tubesheet Region WEXTEX Expansions," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, 1997.
- 20. "Safety Evaluation by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Related to Amendment No.
129 to Facility Operating License No. DPR-80 and Amendment No. 127 to Facility Operating License No. DPR-82 Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-275 and 50-323," United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, 1999.
- 21. NSD-RFK-96-015, "Vogtle 1 Tube Integrity Evaluation, Loose Part Affected SG,"
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, June 9, 1996.
- 22. WNEP-8448 (Proprietary), "Hydraulic Expansion of SG Tubes Into Tubesheets,"
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, December 1983.
- 23. NEI Letter, "Steam Generator Tube Inspection Generic Letter (GL 2004-01) Response,"
Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington, DC, October 15, 2004.
- 24. 10CFR50 (Title 10, Part 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, "Energy, Containing a Codification of Documents of General Applicability and Future Effect," Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC 20408, January 2004.
- 25. RG 1.83, Rev. 1, "Inservice Inspection of Pressurized Water Reactor Steam Generator Tubes,"
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, July 1975, Page 28 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
SG - 2A +Point Indications Within the Tubesheet Catawbe EOC13 COP D5 1 INDICATION WITHIN 6.260 OF NOT LEO TUBE END
. 66 PLUGGEDTUBE m0 IN. 99 N. - ft 0 et 00 4 NO 00 0 S. 0" ft N 1. S I0 I 00 I..
0 0 0 i::i:'i i i.I __fI-
~... .........
3S
....... .0..
0.0.t
&S
.... ..-....
.. . .. ... . 0.
... .. .0..00. 0
. .... ......
.*.... ......... ...
- 0 0000.0 0*0
... ...
I.
Figure 1: Distribution of Indications in SG A at Catawba 2 SG - 2B3 +Point Indications Within the Tubesheet CatawbaECC13 COP CO 21 I JLTIPLE INDICATIONS AT C 192 INDICATION WITH 0.25' OF HOT APPROX IMATELY 7' BELOWNOT LEG TUBE END LEG TOP OF TISESHEET 0 SS PLUGGEDTLBE W I INDICATIONS WITHIN U.20' AND BETEtEN 0.26' AND 0.80' OF NOT LEG flUSE END B B INOICATION BEWTEEN0.26- AND 0.80' OF NOT LEG TURF' END M m. 400 n a N.
- jf:
-
- : 00 t
- QC0 0 00 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0: 0 0 0
0000 0
- 1: 1::
0 3
- :
10
I ... I t . . . . 0.. .. .. .
x as
- - -. . .... .... .... ....-
U
. .. ..... .,... ..
- .. .. . . .. .....
16 .... .... .... E... .... . .....
IN
..-... .. lf Cr t -
1.
I .
SI 0 - . N. . t 0 00 S - --5 N-- - - - -- -- - - O 0 0 Figure 2: Distribution of Indications in SG B at Catawba 2 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 29 of 60
SG - 2D +Point Indications Within the Tubesheet Catwbe EOC13 DDP D5 E 7 ZNOICATIOH WUTHIN *.25 OF NOT LEG TIBE EIID 0 85 PLUGGEDTUIE us I., . as " at ft 7 ft a - 30" - 3* N ft n y ooo I 000090000.Coo: :::
toOO:::t..00CC:: : **009*0CCOCOOO .. :I I' oo..
_ __oo* .*.*. .. ** oo..*.... .... . .. ....'____
. o ..
oo...
oo~~~~.
....
.
oo.
...... ..... .
.... 9w*@
....
....
.... ....
,........ ....
.... ....
....
....
.... o
..oo r .. ..
... . . . ..... ..... . ... t o.. .... ........ .... ... o 3*
I... ... . .* ... . .. ... .... .... .... .... .0.. .
. ....
.e.......
.. o.... . ..... .. ... . .... . .... .. ... .. ,o-.. o o ~~~~~.... . .. ...e,,o o¢ tO a.
i1Q@ *.oo X.. ..*.. ..*oo**oo...
. ... .
..oee..
.... .-.. .... . . . ....
.
_ __ _ _ _ : _ _ =. . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ ....
00.~~
... ............. .. . .. .. .OO . .. ... . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. ... .. 0 t 30 o.~~~~~~~~~. e.
.@.... *. .*.. *eo
....e v. ... ...o o....0.... .0 ..... ,4,,.... 0....... .... .. .. ....
O- -- t ...- ... -- ... ... .....--.- -.. *..
- .. .... .. .. 4 ...-....
.to
- 30 *0 ft - 0 3r. ft 3 ft a
- 0 9 N a n 3 t o 0 a Figure 3: Distribution of Indications in SG D at Catawba 2 (StiTTube)
I Weld Figure 4: As-Fabricated & Analyzed Tube-to-Tubesheet Welds Page 30 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
a,c,e I . I Figure 5: Definition of H* Zones from Reference 5 ace Figure 6: Flow Resistance Curve per Reference 5 Page 31 of6O LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 31 of 60
a,c,e Figure 7: Change in contact pressure at 10.5 inches below the TTS a,c,e Figure 8: Change in contact pressure at 12.6 inches below the TTS Page 32 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
a,c,e Ti Figure 9: Change in contact pressure at 16.9 inches below the TTS a,c,e Figure 10: Change in contact pressure near the bottom of the tubesheet LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 33 of 60
a,c,e
[ ]
I.
Figure 11: Change in contact pressure at 8.25 inches below the TTS a,ce I I .
Figure 12: Change in contact pressure at 6.0 inches below the TTS LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 34 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
Appendix A - Structural Analysis of the Tube-to-Tubesheet Contact Pressure A. Structural Analysis of the Tube-to-Tubesheet Interface Joint The following information regarding the structural analysis of the interactions of the tube and tube tubesheet during normal and faulted conditions was extracted in its entirety from Reference A-I for inclusion in this report to permit a "stand-alone" review of the submitted information.
An evaluation was performed to determine the contact pressures between the tubes and the tubesheet in the Wolf Creek steam generators as part of the H* analysis. The evaluation utilized
] ¢ were determined.
The same contact pressure results were used [
Iace were also included.
Because the P* analysis postulates that a [
I c, for determination of P*.
A.1 Evaluation of Tubesheet Deflection Effects for Tube-to-Tubesheet Contact Pressure A finite element model developed previously for the Model F channel head, tubesheet, and shell region was used to determine the tubesheet hole dilations in the Wolf Creek steam generators.
I'cC loads in the tube.
A.1.1 Material Properties and Tubesheet Equivalent Properties The material of construction for the tubing in the steam generators is a nickel base alloy, Alloy 600; the tubes are in the thermally treated (TT) condition. Summaries of the applicable mechanical and thermal properties for the tube material are provided in Table A.1. The tubesheet material is LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 35 of 60
SA-508, Class 2a, and its properties are in Table A.2. The shell material is SA-533 Grade A Class 2, and its properties are in Table A.3. Finally, the channel head material is SA-216 Grade WCC, and its properties are in Table A.4. The material properties are from Reference A-7.
The perforated tubesheet in the Model F channel head complex is treated [
]ascbe in the perforated region of the tubesheet for the finite element model. The material properties of the tubes are not utilized in the finite element model, but are listed in Table A.1 for use in the calculations of the tube/tubesheet contact pressures.
A.1.2 Tubesheet Rotation Effects Loads are imposed on the tube as a result of tubesheet rotations under pressure and temperature conditions. [
Iac Page 36 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
Previous calculations performed [
Jac,e The radial deflection at any point within the tubesheet is found by scaling and combining the unit load radial deflections at that location according to:
a,c e This expression is used to determine the radial deflections along a line of nodes at a constant axial elevation (e.g. top of the tubesheet) within the perforated area of the tubesheet.
The expansion of a hole of diameter D in the tubesheet at a radius R is given by:
a,c e I
UR is available directly from the finite element results and dUR/dR may be obtained by numerical differentiation.
The maximum expansion of a hole in the tubesheet is in either the radial or circumferential direction. [
axce Where SF is a scale factor between zero and one. For the eccentricities typically encountered during tubesheet rotations, [ rc These values are listed in the following table:
Page 37 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 37 of 60
ac,e The data were fit to the following polynomial equation:
[ J c'e This hole expansion (determined from the finite element results) includes the effects of tubesheet rotations and deformations caused by the system pressures and temperatures. It does not include the local effects produced by the interactions between the tube and tubesheet hole. Standard thick shell equations, including accountability for the endcap axial loads in the tube (Reference A-10),
in combination with the hole expansions from above are used to calculate the contact pressures between the tube and the tubesheet.
The unrestrained radial expansion of the tube OD is given by.
ARth = c at (T. - 70) and from pressure acting on the inside and outside of the tube as, CARPr Pic (2 - v)b21 P-c(-2v)C2+(I+v)b
'°E c2 -b2 J Et L C2 -b2 J where: Pi = Internal primary side pressure, Ppri psi PO = External secondary side pressure, P,,, psi b = Inside radius of tube = 0.33943 in.
C = Outside radius of tube = 0.382 in.
at = Coefficient of thermal expansion of tube, in/in/0 F Modulus of Elasticity of tube, psi Temperature of tube, 'F,and, V = Poisson's Ratio of the material.
The thermal expansion of the hole ID is included in the finite element results. The expansion of the hole ID produced by internal pressure is given by:
whereoE uPic d + cE where: ETS = Modulus of Elasticity of tubesheet, psi LTR-CDME-05-82-NP of 60 Page 38 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
d = Outside radius of cylinder .which provides the same radial stiffness as the tubesheet, that is, [ ] C.
If the unrestrained expansion of the tube OD is greater than the expansion of the tubesheet hole, then the tube and the tubesheet are in contact. The inward radial displacement of the outside surface of the tube produced by the contact pressure is given by: (Note: The use of the term 5 in this section is unrelated its potential use elsewhere in this report.)
P2C' [C 2+ b2]
The radial displacement of the inside surface of the tubesheet hole produced by the contact pressure between the tube and hole is given by:
s =2 d +C2 + V]
[d2 The equation for the contact pressure P2 is obtained from:
5to + 8TS = ARtO- ARTS -ARROT where ARROT is the hole expansion produced by tubesheet rotations obtained from finite element results. The AR's are:
ARt. ca2 (Tt-70)+ Pc [X2 2 1 E c2-b2 ]
ETs [d2 -c2 +V The resulting equation is:
a,c e For a given set of primary and secondary side pressures and temperatures, the above equation is solved for selected elevations in the tubesheet to obtain the contact pressures between the tube and tubesheet as a function of radius. The elevations selected ranged from the top to the bottom of the tubesheet. Negative "contact pressure" indicates a gap condition.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 39 of 60
The OD of the tubesheet cylinder is equal to that of the cylindrical (simulate) collars (1.632 inches) designed to provide the same radial stiffness as the tubesheet, which was determined from a finite element analysis of a section of the tubesheet (Reference A-10).
The tube inside and outside radii within the tubesheet are obtained by assuming a nominal diameter for the hole in the tubesheet (0.7035 inch, selected as 0.703 inch in this case) and wall thinning in the tube equal to the average of that measured during hydraulic expansion tests. That thickness is 0.0396 inch for the tube. The following table lists the values used in the equations above, with the material properties evaluated at 600'F. (Note that the properties in the following sections are evaluated at the primary fluid temperature).
Thick Cylinder Equations Parameter Value b, inside tube radius, in. 0.3119 c, outside tube radius, in. 0.3515 d, outside radius of cylinder w/ same radial stiffness as TS, in. [ ]ac~
e at, coefficient of thermal expansion of tube, in/in IF 7.83-10 6 Et, modulus of elasticity of tube, psi 28.7-106 aTS, coefficient of thermal expansion of tubesheet, in/in IF 7.42-10-6 ETS, modulus of elasticity of tubesheet, psi 26.4-106 A.1.3 Wolf Creek Contact Pressures A.1.3.1 Normal Operating Conditions The loadings considered in the analysis are based on an umbrella set of conditions as defined in References A-1I through A-15. The current operating parameters from Reference A-15 were used.
The temperatures and pressures for normal operating conditions at Wolf Creek are therefore:
Loading Case 1 (l) Case 2 (2)
Primary Pressure .2235 psig 2235 psig Secondary Pressure 792 psig 935 psig Primary Fluid Temperature (Thot) 603.2 0F 620.0F Secondary Fluid Temperature 519.3 0F 538.4 0 F (I) Thot reduced.
(2) Maximum Tboi maintained at 620.00 F.
The primary pressure [
Iace Page 40 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
A.1.3.2 Faulted Conditions Of the faulted conditions, Feedline Break (FLB) and Steamline Break (SLB) are the most limiting.
FLB has a higher AP across the tubesheet, while the lower temperature of SLB results in less thermal tightening. Both cases are considered in this section.
Previous analyses have shown that FLB and SLB are the limiting faulted conditions, with tube lengths required to resist push out during a postulated loss of coolant accident (LOCA) typically less than one-fourth of the tube lengths required to resist pull out during FLB and SLB (References A-12 and A-13). Therefore LOCA was not considered in this analysis.
A.1.3.2.1 Feedline Break The temperatures and pressures for Feedline Break at Wolf Creek are bracketed by the following two cases:
Loading Tmjin() l Tmax 2 )-
Primary Pressure 2650 psig 2650 psig Secondary Pressure 0 psig 0 psig Primary Fluid Temperature (Tht) 589.2 0 F 596.0F Secondary Fluid Temperature 519.3 0F 538.4 0 F
'() TTht reduced.
(2) Maximum Tht maintained at 620'F.
The Feedline Break condition [
. 2e c.
A.1.3.2.2 Steam Line Break As a result of SLB, the faulted SG will rapidly blow down to atmospheric pressure, resulting in a large AP across the tubes and tubesheet. The entire flow capacity of the auxiliary feedwater system LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 41 of 60
would be delivered to the dry, hot shell side of the faulted SG. The primary side re-pressurizes to the pressurizer safety valve set pressure. The pertinent parameters are listed below. The combination of parameters yielding the most limiting results is used.
Primary Pressure 2560 psig Secondary Pressure = 0 psig Primary Fluid Temperature (Thot) = 420°F Secondary Fluid Temperature 260"F For this set of primary and secondary side pressures and temperatures, the equations derived in Section A.1.2 are solved for the selected elevations in the tubesheet to obtain the contact pressures between the tube and tubesheet as a function of tubesheet radius for the hot leg.
A.1.4 Summary of FEA Results for Tube-to-Tubesheet Contact Pressures For Wolf Creek, the contact pressures between the tube and tubesheet for various plant conditions are listed in Table A.5 and plotted versus radius in Figure A.2 through Figure A.6.
A.2 Determination of Required Engagement Length of the Tube in the Tubesheet The H* partial-length RPC justification relies on knowledge of the tube-to-tubesheet interfacial mechanical interference fit contact pressure at all elevations in the in the tube joint, especially in the upper half of the tube joint. The contact pressure is used for both anchorage of the tube in the tubesheet in the H* evaluation and for determining the leakage effects for H*.
For the tube anchorage effect, it is necessary to demonstrate that the tube resistance to pullout exceeds the pullout load by the required margin. For the leakage resistance effect, the leakage flow loss coefficient is determined as a function of several variables, including the contact pressure. The contact pressure was determined semi-empirically. It was determined by test for the as-installed (factory) condition and then analytically projected to the pertinent plant conditions. The test involved pullout testing.
Testing has been performed on full depth hydraulic expansions of 11/16 inch diameter tubes into a tubesheet-simulating test collar. Following expansion of the tubes, the sample was subjected to a high temperature soak to simulate the stress relief of the channel head-to-tubesheet weld. The lowest force required to cause first slip (breakaway) of non-ivelded Alloy 600 tubes which were conservatively expanded at a pressure of 30 ksi (expansions at Wolf Creek were in the range of approximately [ ace The end cap loads for Normal and Faulted conditions are:
Normal (maximum): 7i * (2235-792) * (0.703)2 /4 = 560.10 lbs.
Faulted (FLB): n
- 2835 * (0.703)2 /4 = 1028.60 lbs.
Faulted (SLB): 7r
- 2560 * (0.703)2 /4 = 993.67 lbs.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 42 of 60 LTR- CD ME-0 5 NP
Thus, based on the guidelines of RG 1.121, the critical endcap load is 1680 lbs., which is three times the normal load and is greater than 1.43 times the accident operation loads of 1028.6 lbs. (FLB) and 993.67 lbs. (SLB).
]11' [tubesheet bows upward leading to a dilation of the tubesheet holes at the top of the tubesheet and a contraction at the bottom of the tubesheet when the primary-to-secondary pressure difference is positive. The dilation of the holes acts to reduce the contact pressure between the tubes and the tubesheet. The H* lengths are based on the pullout resistance associated with the net contact pressure during normal or accident conditions. The calculation of the residual strength involves a conservative approximation that the strength is uniformly distributed along the entire length of the tube. This leads to a lower bound estimate of the strength and relegates the contribution of the preload to having a second order effect on the determination of H* (Reference A-14).
Two series of test data are available for the determination of the residual strength of the joint. Data were obtained from a factory shop test program which was performed to investigate the various manufacturing steps associated with the tube-to-tubesheet joint relative to the use of Alloy 600 tube material. A second series of tests was performed to investigate the integrity of the tube-to-tubesheet joints as a consequence of extensive tube end foreign object damage being experienced at a plant with Model F SGs.
The data from both series of pullout tests are listed in Table A. 1 1. The first six tests were part of the Series 1 tests, the remainder of the tests results are from the Series 2 tests. Two (2) of the Series 2 tests were performed at room temperature and six (6) were performed at 600'F. A comparison of the implied net contact pressure, "Net P", from the two series of tests can be affected by looking at the values in the last column. These include a correction factor to account for the increase in interface pressure, "Thermal P", due to the increased thermal expansion of the tube relative to the TS simulant. The results from both test series are quite similar, i.e., the average difference is less than about 50 psi. It is noted that the Series 2 data exhibit more scatter and one specimen does exhibit an apparently anomalous result. If that data point is removed the difference is about 90 psi, and both standard deviations are on the order of 75 to 80 psi.
Data were also obtained relative to the slip force for the Series 2 tests and are summarized in Table A.12. The minimum value of 3000 lbf was used in the initial calculations to obtain the average resistance load per unit length. However, these tests were also performed at 600'F, so the load also includes an effect due to the thermal expansion of the tube relative to the TS simulant. The first slip force was estimated from the load time history as a point where the load versus crosshead travel plot exhibited an apparent slope discontinuity signifying a change in the stiffness of the joint, i.e., a non-smooth change in the slope of the curve. No such feature was observed for the Page 43 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 43 of 60
specimens tested at room temperature. An analysis of the data in Table A.12 indicates an initial contact pressure on the order of 1100 to 1300 psi and a net contact pressure on the order of 600 to 800 psi after accounting for the effect of thermal expansion. The average load per inch corresponding to this pressure is 118 lbf/in.
For the partial-length RPC evaluation, tube-to-tubesheet contact pressure was calculated for the entire tube length in the TS, at six radii from the bundle vertical centerline. The first radius, R, was the location of greatest tubesheet hole dilation , caused by the greatest bending, R = 4.016 inches.
Three radii were evaluated toward the middle of the tubesheet (R = 11.772 inches, 20.498 inches, and 30.193 inches, respectively); two radii were evaluated near the bundle periphery (R = 48.613 and 58.308 inches). Only the following outboard radii are used in establishing the H* distances:
12.00, 30.193, 48.613, and 58.303 inches. See Section 3.1.2.3 of this report for further discussion.
The top parts of Table A.l 1 and Table A.12 for the hot leg list the contact pressures thiough the thickness at each of these sections for normal operation conditions.] ,.e The force resisting pullout acting on a length of a tube between elevations hi and h2 is given by:
F1 = (h 2 -h I)FHE + pnd fPdh where: FIE = Resistance to pull out due to the initial hydraulic expansion = 118 lb/inch, P = Contact pressure acting over the incremental length segment dh, and,
= Coefficient of friction between the tube and tubesheet, conservatively assumed to be 0.2 for the pullout analysis to determine H*.
The contact pressure is assumed to vary linearly between adjacent elevations in the top part of Table A.6 through Table A.10, so that between elevations LI and L2 ,
(L2 -pi) (h- LI) p=p, + (L-I) or, a,c e so that, a,ce This equation was used to accumulate the force resisting pullout from the top of the tubesheet to each of the elevations listed in the lower parts of Table A.6 through Table A.10. The above equation is also used to find the minimum contact lengths needed to meet the pullout force Page 44 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
requirements (Reference A-14). This length is 8.50 inches for the limiting 3 times normal operating pressure performance criterion which corresponds to a pullout force of 1680 lbs in the Hot Leg (Reduced That).
The top part of Table A.8 lists the contact pressures through the thickness at each of the radial sections for Faulted (SLB) condition. The last row H(0) of this table lists the maximum tubesheet elevation at which the contact pressure is greater than or equal to zero. The above equation is used to accumulate the force resisting pull out from the top of the tubesheet to each of the elevations listed in the lower part of Table A.8. The above equation is also used to find the minimum contact lengths needed to meet the pull out force requirements. This length is 8.16 inches for Faulted (SLB) condition. The minimum contact length needed to meet the pullout force requirement for Faulted (FLB) condition is less as is shown in Table A.9 and Table A. 10.
Therefore, the bounding condition for the determination of the H* length is the NOp performance criterion. The minimum contact length for the normal operating condition is 8.50 inches in Zone D.
Page 45 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 45 of 60
A.3 References A-1. WCAP-16124, "Justification for the Partial-Length Rotating Probe Coil (RPC) Inspection of the Tube Joints of the Wolf Creek Model F Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2003.
A-2. CN-SGDA-03-85 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "H*/P* Input for Model D-5 and Model F Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2003.
A-3. WCAP-1 5932 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "Improved Justification of Partial-Length RPC Inspection of Tube Joints of Model F Steam Generators of Ameren-UE Callaway Plant,"
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA.
A-4. NSD-E-SGDA-98-361 (Proprietary), "Transmittal of Yonggwang Unit 2 Nuclear Power Plant Steam Generator Tube-to-Tubesheet Joint Evaluation," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, November 1998.
A-5. WCAP-1 1228 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "Tubesheet Region Plugging Criterion for the South Carolina Electric and Gas Company V. C. Summer Nuclear Station Steam Generators,"
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, October 1986.
A-6. CN-SGDA-03-106 (Proprietary), "Leakage Calculations to Support H* Criteria for Seabrook, Vogtle and Wolf Creek Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2003.
A-7. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section m, "Rules for Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components," 1989 Edition, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, NY.
A-8. Slot, T., "Stress Analysis of Thick Perforated Plates," PhD Thesis, Technomic Publishing Co., Westport, CN, 1972.
A-9. Roark, R. J., and Young, W. C., "Formulas for Stress and Strain," Fifth Edition, Table 32, Cases la - Id, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY, 1975.
A-10. DE-LAN-765(80) (Proprietary), "Determination of Contact Stress between Tube and Tubesheet of a Hydraulically Expanded Joint," Nelson, L. A., Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, January 1980.
A-I1. General Design Specification 953236 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "Model F Steam Generator Reactor Coolant System," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, March 6, 1981.
A-12. CN-SM-98-102 (Proprietary), Rev. 2, "Tube/Tubesheet Contact Pressures for Yonggwang 2," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, November 1998.
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP of 60 Page 46 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
A-13. CN-SGDA-02-152 (Proprietary), Rev. 1, "Evaluation of the Tube/Tubesheet Contact Pressures for Callaway Model F Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, 2002.
A-14. LTR-SGDA-03-129 (Proprietary), "Transmittal of Responses to NRC RAIs on Partial-Length RPC Inspection of the Tubesheet Region of the Callaway Plant Steam Generators to AmerenUE Callaway (Class 2 Document)," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003.
A-15. CN-SGDA-03-99 (Proprietary), "Evaluation of the Tube/Tubesheet Contact Pressures for Wolf Creek, Seabrook, and Vogtle 1 and 2 Model F Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2003.
A-16. CN-SGDA-03-121 (Proprietary), "H* Ligament Tearing for Models F and D5 Steam Generators," Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2003.
Page 47 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 47 of 60
Table A. 1: Summary of Material Properties Alloy 600 Tube Material Property Temperature (OF) 70 200 300 400 500 600 700 Young's Modulus 31.00 30.20 29.90 29.50 29.00 28.70 28.20 (psi. 106) .
Thermal Expansion 6.90 7.20 7.40 7.57 7.70 7.82 7.94 (in/in/fF 10 6)
Density 7.94 7.92 7.90 7.89 7.87 7.85 7.83 (lb-sec2/in4 104)
Thermal Conductivity 2.01 2.11 2.22 2.34 2.45 2.57 2.68 (Btu/sec-in-0 F 104)
Specific Heat 41.2 42.6 43.9 44.9 45.6 47.0 47.9 (Btu-in/lb-sec2 OF)
Table A.2: Summary of Material Properties for SA-508 Class 2a Tubesheet Material PropertyTemperature (IF)
Property 70 200 300 400 500 600 l700 Young's Modulus 29.20 28.50 28.00 27.40 27.00 26.40 25.30 (psi_ 16) .
Thermal Expansion 6.50 6.67 6.87 - 7.07 7.25 7.42 7.59 (in/in/rF-10 6)
Density 7.32 7.30 7.29 7.27 7.26 7.24 7.22 (lb-sec 2/in 4 1I04)
Thermal Conductivity 5.49 5.56 -5.53 5.46 5.35 5.19 5.02 (Btu/sec-in-0F-1 0)4)
Specific Heat 41.9 44.5 46.8 48.8 50.8 52.8 55.1 (Btu-in/lb-sec 2 -°F)
Table A.3: Summary of Material Properties SA-533 Grade A Class 2 Shell Material Property Temperature (IF)
Property 70 200 300 400 500 600 700 Young's Modulus 29.20 28.50 28.00 27.40 27.00 26.40 25.30 (psi.106)
Thermal Expansion 7.06 7.25 7.43 7.58 7.70 7.83 7.94 (in/in/0 F- 0) .06 .
Density 7.32 7.30 7.283 7.265 7.248 7.23 7.211 (lb-sec2 /in4 104)
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 48 of of 60 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
Table A.4: Summary of Material Properties SA-216 Grade W'ICC Channelhead Material Temperature (IF) roperty70 200 300 400 500 600 700 Young's Modulus 29.50 28.80 28.30 27.70 27.30 26.70 25.50 (p sid O6)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thermal Expansion 5.53 5.89 6.26 6.61 6.91 7.17 7.41 (in/in/`F 106) . .
(Db-sec 2 /in4 10 4 ) 7.32 7.30 7.29 7.27 7.26 *7.24 7.22 Page 49 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 49 of 60
..
Table A.5: Summary of Tube/Tubesheet Maximum & Minimum Contact Pressures & H* for Wolf Creek Steam Generators LTR-CDME-05-82-NP 50 of Page 50 60 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
-Y a,c,e Table A.6: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS Wolf Creek - Hot Leg Normal Conditions - Reduced Thot, Ps< = 792 psig I I I'
-I l l III lI
. .
I I I I I . 1j I__ _ I1 _ I _ I1 __
+ 4 + I 4 I I 7..
Page 51 of6O LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 51 of 60
Table A.7: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS
-. 9 Wolf Creek - Hot Leg Normal Conditions - Thot = 620'F, P~x = 935 psig
- II LTR-CDME-05-82-NP 52 of Page 52 60 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
a,c,e
-Y I-Table A.8: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS Wolf Creek - Faulted (SLB) Conditions, Pact = 0 psig l I I I
I I LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 53 of 60
a,c,e
'I-Table A.9: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TIS Wolf Creek - Faulted (FLB) Conditions, Reduced Thbt
= ==-
= I.I
-t *1-I .
.
.
. .
.,
I Page 54 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
a,c,e
-Y 5-Table A.10: Cumulative Forces Resisting Pull Out from the TTS Wolf Creek - Faulted (FLB) Conditions, Thbt = 620'F X__ .1 +
+
_ _ 11
+
+
4-4-
t 1* 1- -I-Page 55 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 55 of 60
a,c,e Table A. 11: Large Displacement, -0.2 to 0.3 in. Pullout Test Data
=
_ __ _ I __ _ _ _ _ _ I __ _ _ I _ I__ I _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _
a,c,e Table A.12: Pullout Tests Initial Slip Data I 11 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 56 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
a,c,e Figure A. 1: Finite Element Model of Model D5-3 Tubesheet Region Page 57 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 57 of 60
a,c,e Figure A.2: Contact Pressures for NOp at Wolf Creek, Reduced Thot, Ps¢ = 792 psig a.c.e Figure A.3: Contact Pressures for NOp at Wolf Creek, Thot = 6201F, P,,c= 935 psig Page 58 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
a,c,e 1 --71 Figure A.4: Contact Pressures for SLB Faulted Condition at Wolf Creek axcce Figure A.5: Contact Pressures for FLB Faulted Condition at Wolf Creek (Reduced Thot)
LTR-CDME-05-82-NP Page 59 of 60
aLc,e Figure A.6: Contact Pressures for FLB Faulted Condition at Wolf Creek (Tht = 6201F)
Page 60 of 60 LTR-CDME-05-82-NP
Enclosure IlIl to ET 05-0001 Westinghouse Electric Company LTR CAW-05-1983, Application for Withholding Proprietary Information from Public Disclosure
S Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric Compary NudearServices P.O. Box 355 Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania 15230-0355 USA U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Direct tel: (412) 374-4643 Document Control Desk Direct Fax (412) 374-4011 Washington, DC 20555-0001 e-mail: grcshajawestinghouse.com our ref CAW-05-1983 April 15, 2005 APPLICATION FOR WITHHOLDING PROPRIETARY INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
Subject:
LTR-CDME-05-82-P, "Limited Inspection of the Steam Generator Tube Portion Within Tubesheet at the Wolf Creek Generating Station" (Proprietary)
The proprietary information for which withholding is being requested in the above-referenced report is further identified in Affidavit CAW-05-1983 signed by the owner of the proprietary information, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. The affidavit, which accompanies this letter, sets forth the basis on which the information may be withheld from public disclosure by the Commission and addresses with specificity the considerations listed in paragraph (b)(4) of 10 CFR Section 2.390 of the Commission's regulations.
Accordingly, this letter authorizes the utilization of the accompanying affidavit by the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC).
Correspondence with respect to the proprietary aspects of the application for withholding or the Westinghouse affidavit should reference this letter, CAW-05-1983, and should be addressed to J. A. Gresham, Manager, Regulatory Compliance and Plant Licensing, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, P.O. Box 355, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-0355.
Very truly yo'rs, J. A. Gresham, Manager Regulatory Compliance and Plant Licensing Enclosures cc: B. Bcnney, NRC L. Feizollahi, NRC A BNFL Group company
CAW-05-1983 bcc: J. A. Gresham (ECE 4-7A) IL R. Bastien, IL (Nivelles, Belgium)
C. Brinkman, IL (Westinghouse Electric Co., 12300 Twinbrook Park%%y, Suite 330, Rockville, MD 20852)
RCPL Administrative Aide (ECE 4-7A) IL, 1A (letter and affidavit only)
E. P. Morgan, Waltz Mill P. J. McDonough D. Peck G. W. Whiteman, Waltz Mill R. F. Keating, Waltz Mill H. 0. Lagally Waltz Mill A BNFL Group company
CAW-05-1983 AFFIDAVIT COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
ss COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY:
Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared J. A. Gresham, who, being by me duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is authorized to execute this Affidavit on behalf of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Westinghouse), and that the averments of fact set forth in this Affidavit are true and correct to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief:
1W- U,,5 1 ,
GJ. A. Gresham, Manager Regulatory Compliance and Plant Licensing
'.....
Sworn to and subscribed before me this /6' day of / 2005 Notary Public COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA NOa lSod Pia L Crow NauY PO* I M wA Boro AW9N CU My Co'mhslon E)qms Feb. 7,2000 Membor.Pennsylvania Association of Notais
2 CAWVOS-1983 (1) I am Manager, Regulatory Compliance and Plant Licensing, in Nuclear Services, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Westinghouse), and as such, I have been specifically delegated the function of reviewing the proprietary information sought to be withheld from public disclosure in connection with nuclear power plant licensing and rule making proceedings, and am authorized to apply for its withholding on behalf of Westinghouse.
(2) 1 am making this Affidavit in conformance with the provisions of 10 CFR Section 2.390 of the Commission's regulations and in conjunction with the Westinghouse "Application for Withholding" accompanying this Affidavit.
(3) 1 have personal knowledge of the criteria and procedures utilized by Westinghouse in designating information as a trade secret, privileged or as confidential commercial or financial information.
(4) Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b)(4) of Section 2.390 of the Commission's regulations, the following is furnished for consideration by the Commission in determining whether the information sought to be withheld from public disclosure should be withheld.
(i) The information sought to be withheld from public disclosure is owned and has been held in confidence by Westinghouse.
(ii) The information is of a type customarily held in confidence by Westinghouse and not customarily disclosed to the public. Westinghouse has a rational basis for determining the types of information customarily held in confidence by it and, in that connection, utilizes a system to determine when and whether to hold certain types of infornation in confidence.
The application of that system and the substance of that system constitutes Westinghouse policy and provides the rational basis required.
Under that system, information is held in confidence if it falls in one or more of several types, the releaseof which might result in the loss of an existing or potential competitive advantage, as follows:
(a) The information reveals the distinguishing aspects of a process (or component, structure, tool, method, etc.) where prevention of its use by any of Westinghouse's competitors without license from Westinghouse constitutes a competitive economic advantage over other companies.
3 CAW-05-1983 (b) It consists of supporting data, including test data, relative to a process (or component, structure, tool, method, etc.), the application of which data secures a competitive economic advantage, e.g., by optimization or improved marketability.
(c) Its use by a competitor would reduce his expenditure of resources or improve his competitive position in the design, manufacture, shipment, installation, assurance of quality, or licensing a similar product.
(d) It reveals cost or price information, production capacities, budget levels, or commercial strategies of Westinghouse, its customers or suppliers.
(e) It reveals aspects of past, present, or future Westinghouse or customer funded development plans and programs of potential commercial value to Westinghouse.
(f) It contains patentable ideas, for which patent protection may be desirable.
There are sound policy reasons behind the Westinghouse system which include the following:
(a) The use of such information by Westinghouse gives Westinghouse a competitive advantage over its competitors. It is, therefore, withheld from disclosure to protect the Westinghouse competitive position.
(b) It is information that is marketable in many ways. The extent to which such information is available to competitors diminishes the Westinghouse ability to sell products and services involving the use of the information.
(c) Use by our competitor would put Westinghouse at a competitive disadvantage by reducing his expenditure of resources at our expense.
(d) Each component of proprietary information pertinent to a particular competitive advantage is potentially as valuable as the total competitive advantage. If competitors acquire components of proprietary information, any one component may be the key to the entire puzzle, thereby depriving Westinghouse of a competitive advantage.
4 CAW-05-1983 (e) Unrestricted disclosure would jeopardize the position of prominence of Westinghouse in the world market, and thereby give a market advantage to the competition of those countries.
(f) The Westinghouse capacity to invest corporate assets in research and development depends upon the success in obtaining and maintaining a competitive advantage.
(iIl) The information is being transmitted to the Commission in confidence and, under the provisions of 10 CFR Section 2.390, it is to be received in confidence by the Commission.
(iv) The information sought to be protected is not available in public sources or available information has not been previously employed in the same original manner or method to the best of our knowledge and belief.
(v) The proprietary information sought to be withheld in this submittal is that which is appropriately marked in LTR-CDME-05-82-P, "Limited Inspection of the Steam Generator Tube Portion within the Tubesheet at Wolf Creek Generating Station" (Proprietary) dated April 2005. The information is provided in support of a submittal to the Commission, being transmitted by Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC) and Application for Withholding Proprietary Information from Public Disclosure, to the Document Control Desk. The proprietary information as submitted for use by Westinghouse for Wolf Creek Generating Station is expected to be applicable to other licensee submittals in support of implementing a limited inspection of the tube joint with a rotating probe within the tubesheet region of steam generators.
This information is part of that which will enable Westinghouse to:
(a) Provide documentation of the analyses, methods, and testing for the implementation of the limited inspection length of the steam generator tube joint.
(b) Provide a primary-to-secondary leakage evaluation for Wolf Creek Generating Station 2 during all plant conditions.
(c) Assist the customer to respond to NRC requests for information.
Further this information has substantial commercial value as follows:
I 5 CAW-05-1983 (a) Westinghouse plans to sell the use of similar information to its customers for purposes of meeting NRC requirements for licensing documentation.
(b) Westinghouse can sell support and defense of this information to its customers in the licensing process.
(c) The information requested to be withheld reveals the distinguishing aspects of a methodology which was developed by Westinghouse.
Public disclosure of this proprietary information is likely to cause substantial harm to the competitive position ofWestinghouse because it would enhance the ability of competitors to provide similar licensing support documentation and licensing defense services for commercial power reactors without commensurate expenses. Also, public disclosure of the information would enable others to use the information to meet NRC requirements for licensing documentation without purchasing the right to use the information.
The development of the technology described in part by the information is the result of applying the results of many years of experience in an intensive Westinghouse effort and the expenditure of a considerable sum of money.
In order for competitors of Westinghouse to duplicate this information, similar technical programs would have to be performed and a significant manpower effort, having the requisite talent and experience, would have to be expended.
Further the deponent sayeth not.