ENS 44744
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
10:45 Dec 28, 2008 | |
| Title | 24 Hour Report - Actuation Of Leak Detection System Due To Minor Process Gas Leak |
| Event Description | On 12/28/2008 at 0445 the C-337 unit 5 cell 3 PGLD (process gas leak detection) head located on stage 8 actuated. Operators responded to the alarm and performed sampling in the area. The sample result indicated 3 ppm of HF at the stage 8 compressor. To stop the release the cell was taken off-stream and the pressure was reduced to below atmosphere. Investigation indicated that a UF6 release had occurred. The amount of material released has not been determined.
The actuated PGLD head is Q safety system component. At the time of the incident the cell was operating in a mode which required the system to be operable. This is being reported based on SAR 6.9 Table 1, J.2 as an Unplanned Actuation of a Q Safety System. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event. The licensee states that a compressor seal appears to have failed. The amount of material released is characterized as on the order of a few grams. Material release was only in the vicinity of the compressor. There was nothing unusual or not understood and all systems functioned as required. There was no offsite release or personnel contamination resulted from this event.
A subsequent review by USEC Regulatory Affairs concluded that the UF6 Release Detection System detectors installed 'above the `B' seals on the axial flow compressors' (SAR 3.3.5.9.5), and the detectors for the instrument cubicles do not 'prevent or mitigate the consequences of postulated accidents that could result in a member of the general public located offsite being exposed to EG (Evaluation Guidelines)-1 or EG-2 guideline values' (SAR 4.2.2). Therefore, they do not meet the criteria to be classified as 'Q' (SAR 4.2.2). The safety equipment actuation reporting criteria (SAR 6.9-1 J.2) requires NRC to be notified of actuations of "Q" systems resulting from events that have the potential for significant impact on the health and safety of personnel, which are defined in the criteria as those events where actual plant conditions existed that the system was designed to protect against. Since the referenced UF6 Release Detection System detectors do not meet the criteria to be classified as "Q" and do not protect against a postulated accident that could result in a member of the general public being exposed to EG-1 or EG-2 guideline values, the actuations would not be reportable under this criteria. Summary: - the B-end seal PGLD [Process Head Leak Detector] head is not required to be 'Q' - the postulated release from the B-end seal cavity does not have significant impact on personnel. - A release from the B-end seal cavity is not a condition that the PGLD system is designed to protect against. The NRC Senior Resident Inspector has been notified of this event retraction. Notified R2DO (Rudisail) and NMSS (Kotzalas). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Paducah, Kentucky (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | Gdp-1 |
| Reporting | |
| Other Unspec Reqmnt | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+3.23 h0.135 days <br />0.0192 weeks <br />0.00442 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Kevin Beasley 13:59 Dec 28, 2008 |
| NRC Officer: | Bill Huffman |
| Last Updated: | Feb 6, 2009 |
| 44744 - NRC Website | |
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant with Other Unspec Reqmnt | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 495442013-11-17T20:17:00017 November 2013 20:17:00
[Table view]Other Unspec Reqmnt, 10 CFR 76.120(a)(4) Alert Due to Storm Damage on Site ENS 486802012-12-23T05:20:00023 December 2012 05:20:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Minor Incidental Uranium Hexafluoride Release ENS 473072011-09-30T13:10:00030 September 2011 13:10:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Hydraulic Leak Contained on Site- State Officials Notified ENS 470992011-07-27T09:15:00027 July 2011 09:15:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt, 10 CFR 76.120(a)(4) Alert Declared Due to Onsite Release of Fluorine/Chlorinated Fluorine Gas Mixture ENS 464872010-12-17T15:37:00017 December 2010 15:37:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Diesel Fuel Oil Spill Contained on Site - Federal and State Officials Notified ENS 447762009-01-15T02:39:00015 January 2009 02:39:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Ongoing Recirculating Cooling Water Leak at C337A Facility ENS 447442008-12-28T10:45:00028 December 2008 10:45:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt 24 Hour Report - Actuation of Leak Detection System Due to Minor Process Gas Leak ENS 446042008-10-27T07:39:00027 October 2008 07:39:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Concurrent Notification to Nrc of Pcb Spill ENS 444482008-08-28T16:43:00028 August 2008 16:43:00 10 CFR 76.120(c)(2), Other Unspec Reqmnt Leak in High Pressure Fire Water System ENS 443102008-06-21T04:25:00021 June 2008 04:25:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt, Part 70 App A (C) Notification to Kentucky Ert Due to Exceeding Permit Limits at Outfall ENS 438642007-12-23T09:58:00023 December 2007 09:58:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt, 10 CFR 76.120(c)(1) Small Uf6 Process Leak ENS 438292007-12-07T02:44:0007 December 2007 02:44:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt, 10 CFR 76.120(c)(1) Unplanned Safety System Actuation and Contamination Event ENS 438282007-12-06T21:50:0006 December 2007 21:50:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt, 10 CFR 76.120(c)(1) Unplanned Safety System Actuation and Contamination Event ENS 437872007-11-15T15:15:00015 November 2007 15:15:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Safety System Actuation Due to Incidental Uf6 Release ENS 436622007-09-25T05:05:00025 September 2007 05:05:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Leaking Sulfuric Acid Tank ENS 433852007-05-24T13:15:00024 May 2007 13:15:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Offsite Notification Made to Another Government Agency ENS 421442005-11-15T19:30:00015 November 2005 19:30:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Reportable Incident Due to Deviation from Technical Specification Requirements ENS 414652005-03-06T17:40:0006 March 2005 17:40:00 Other Unspec Reqmnt Small Hydrogen Fluoride Leak 2013-11-17T20:17:00 | |