ENS 42929
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:42 Oct 24, 2006 | |
| Title | High Pressure Core Spray (Hpcs) Declared Inoperable for Approx. 3.4 Hours |
| Event Description | At 0142 on October 24, 2006, while aligning the High Pressure Core Spray system for surveillance testing of the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System Storage Tank Level instrumentation, 1E22-F015, the Suppression Pool suction valve for the High Pressure Core Spray pump, failed to stroke fully open. High Pressure Core Spray was declared inoperable as a result. This event is considered a loss of a single train system needed to mitigate the consequences of an accident.
The High Pressure Core Spray system was restored to an operable condition at 0506 on October 24, 2006 after the suction valve was successfully stroked open and the HPCS suction source was aligned to the Suppression Pool in accordance with Technical Specification Limiting Condition for Operation 3.5.1. The cause of the event is currently under investigation. All other Emergency Core Cooling systems were fully operable during the time period HPCS was inoperable. The Senior Resident Inspector has been notified by the licensee.
Upon further review of this event, the High Pressure Core Spray (HPCS) system remained operable. Based upon valve motor operator thrust verification testing data and troubleshooting, the cause of the suppression pool suction valve for the HPCS pump stopping in mid-position was determined to be tripping of the open-direction torque switch prior to the open limit switch setpoint. Normally, the condition of the open-direction torque switch has no safety-related consequence since the torque switch is bypassed during design basis events and the valve's motor gearing capability is sufficient to open the valve when the torque switch is bypassed. During this event, as directed by the surveillance test procedure, operators placed the HPCS Motor Operated Valve (MOV) test switch to the test position which resulted in the open-direction torque switch not being bypassed (i.e., was in the circuit) during repositioning of the HPCS suppression pool suction valve. Due to placing the HPCS MOV test switch to test, operators entered the action of Operational Requirements Manual section 2.5.2 (Motor Operated Valves Thermal Overload Protection). The action requires operators to return the MOV test switch to normal (removing the torque switch from the circuit) if an emergency condition occurs requiring valve repositioning. As operators were opening the HPCS suppression pool suction valve for testing, suction for the HPCS pump was aligned from the RCIC storage tank. When the HPCS suction valve from suppression pool stopped in mid-position, the HPCS suction valve from the RCIC storage tank was still fully open (per design, stays full open until the HPCS suppression pool suction valve is full open). Therefore, if an accident occurred requiring HPCS to initiate and inject water into the reactor pressure vessel during this event suction would have initiated from the RCIC storage tank. The HPCS system can take suction from either the RCIC storage tank or the suppression pool, and a HPCS initiation signal does not automatically swap HPCS pump suction from the RCIC storage tank to the suppression pool or vice versa. The operators immediately recognized the HPCS suppression pool suction valve did not fully open. If an accident condition occurred, operators would reposition the HPCS MOV test switch to Normal (to bypass the open torque switch). In the event a condition requiring a HPCS suction transfer to the suppression pool occurred, the suppression pool suction valve would fully open and the RCIC storage tank suction valve would fully close, completing the required suction shift. On this basis, the HPCS system was capable of performing its function to mitigate the consequences of an accident and this issue is not reportable under 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D). The NRC Resident was notified of this retraction. R3DO(Cameron) notified. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
Clinton  Illinois (NRC Region 3) | |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(v)(D), Loss of Safety Function - Mitigate the Consequences of an Accident | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+2.43 h0.101 days <br />0.0145 weeks <br />0.00333 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Pat Ryan 09:08 Oct 24, 2006 |
| NRC Officer: | John Mackinnon |
| Last Updated: | Nov 10, 2006 |
| 42929 - NRC Website | |
Unit 1 | |
|---|---|
| Reactor critical | Critical |
| Scram | No |
| Before | Power Operation (96 %) |
| After | Power Operation (96 %) |