ML19324B716

Describes Util Experience Using 5-day Equalizing Charge on lead-antimony Station Batteries During Past Yr,Per NRC 880915 Request.Equalizing Charge Process Lasted Approx 4 Days Per Battery W/Excellent Battery Response

ML19324B716
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Saint Vrain
Issue date:	10/30/1989
From:	Brey H PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF COLORADO
To:	Weiss S NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
P-89426, NUDOCS 8911080070
Download: ML19324B716 (2)

Text

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2420 W. 26th' Avenue, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80211 1

l October 30, 1989 Fort St. Vrain Unit No. 1 P-89426 U, S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control. Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 x

ATTN: Seymour H. Weiss, Director j Non-Power Reactor, Decommissioning and Environmental Project Directorate L ,

Docket No. 50-267

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SUBJECT:

Station Batteries, Use Of A Five-Day Equalizing Charge

REFERENCES:

1) NRC letter, Heitner to Williams, dated 9/15/88 (G-88385)

• 2) PSC letter, Williams to Calvo, dated 4/19/88 (P-88116) '! '

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Dear Mr. Weiss:

This letter identifies Public Service Company of Colorado's (PSC) l experience using a five-day equalizing charge on lead-antimony g station batteries during the past year. The NRC requested this  ;

information in Reference 1. )

l' i In 1988, PSC submitted a Technical Specification amendment request (Reference 2) to allow e five-day equalizing charge on the newly H installed lead-antimony station batteries. The station batteries p were changed from lead-calcium to lead-antimony in 1988 as part of an '

i overall program to upgrade the plant's DC power system. The L '* manufacturer of the newly installed batteries specified that up to five days may be required to perform an equalizing charge. At FSV, when an equalizing charge is performed on a station battery, the ,

battery is disconnected from its associated DC bus to avoid damaging

,. equipment powered by the bus.

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.0ctober 30,11989 i p; , ..

y LThei first' year of service for the 1'ead-antimony batteries ~ ended.in >

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' September 1989. Each. station battery was disconnected . from its: DC c .;

4' < D. ~ bus and- charged one time 1during the year. In each instance, the -

g equalizing charge was required to restore the. battery to an operable

. , status'following discharge testing.and'was performed during a reactorf '

i shutdown. The equaliring. charge process lasted approximately, four. 4 og . days.per battery and battery. response was excellent,

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-If you have any questions, please ' contact 'Mr. M. H.: Holmes at'  ;,

m .(303) 480-6940.-

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Very truly:yours,

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H.-L. Brey, Manager .

Nuclear Licensing and Resource. Management; ,

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cc: .Regiona'l Administrator, Region IV! ,

ATTN: Mr. T. F. Westerman, Chief  ;

<> Projects Section B i

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Mr. Robert Farrell Senior Resident Inspector .

3 Fort St. Vrain .;

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