ML20117J026

Discusses At&T Round Cell 960418 Meeting W/Nrc& Listed Utils & Vendors Re At&T Round Cell Batteries. At&T Round Cell Nuclear Utility User'S Council Charter Encl

ML20117J026
Person / Time
Site:	Mcguire, Palo Verde, Wolf Creek, Oyster Creek, Braidwood, McGuire
Issue date:	05/15/1996
From:	Matthews W External (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML20117J028	List: ML20117J026 ML20117J049
References
NUDOCS 9605300083
Download: ML20117J026 (3)

Text

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[d - M/ 9 AT&TRound Cell $6 - h8,N Nuclear Utility User's Council fn ,_ f5~C $$

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12700 llagers Ferry Rd.

60 - 59 f5ATlf Iluntersville, NC28078 May 15, 1996 ,

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,

ATTN: Document Control Desk hin ton, 20555-0001

Subject:

AT&T Round Cell Battery Meeting, One White Filnt, Rockville, MD, April 18,1996 On April 18,1996, members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff met with members of Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Commonwealth Edison Company  :

(Comed), Duke Power, GPU Nuclear (GPUN), Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation, Wyle Laboratories, and Lucent Technologies (formerly AT&T, Bell Laboratories) to discuss AT&T Round Cell batteries.

The NRC's purpose for the meeting was to discuss performance problems of the Round l Cells (high specific gravity). The NRC has expressed concerns related to the charging and discharging characteristics of the Round Cells (high specific gravity) in two installations, and the associated effect on short term and long term battery capacity. Recent experience has demonstrated unexpected performance characteristics of the battery when it is subjected to repetitive, closely spaced, discharges. The meeting served as a forum to discuss the above concerns and the strategy for responding to the observed performance.

The industry positions expressed at the meeting are:

1) the Round Cell batteries presently in service meet operability requirements, l

2) excess margin exists above safety function capacity requirements at all five plants using Round Cells,

3) existing surveillance requirements are adequate to ensure degraded cells are  !

identified so that margin is maintained,

4) constant potential and constant current methods of charging are capable of restoring an acceptable charge within a reasonable timeframe following planned or shallow discharges,

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U. $. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk AT&T Round Cell Battery Meeting Page 2 E) constant current method or high constant potential method restores charge at a faster rate than float potential method,

6) the recharge method after an unplanned on-line discharge is not critical provided remaining capacity is above design basis load (operability) requirements,

7) below design basis load requirements, licensees will follow current Technical Specification actions, and

8) operability after a planned, off-line discharge is assured by adherence to the surveillance requirements of the technical specifications prior to declaring the batteries operable.

APS, Comed, Duke Power, GPUN, and Wolf Creek, in conjunction with Lucent Technologies and Wyle Laboratories, has formed the "AT&T Round Cell Nuclear Utility User's Council." The purpose of the council is to bring together knowledge and experience of AT&T Lineage 2000 Round Cell Batteries in order to address nuclear power industry and regulatory concerns of performance and behavioral characteristics that have evolved from recent testing. -

Enclosure 1 contains a current copy of the "AT&T Round Cell Nuclear Utility Users Council Charter." The council intends to meet the week of May 20,1996 in Charlotte, NC. The council will provide the NRC with a periodic status of the issues identified in the charter and any emergent issues with Round Cell batteries in safety related applications.

Enclosure 2 contains a summary of battery surveillance testing data from each of the five plants using AT&T Round Cells in safety-related applications.

The current acting Chairperson for the Council is W. N. Matthews of Duke Power. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact him at (704) 875-5899.

Sincerely, A) ~

Acting Chairperson, AT&T Round Cell Nuclear Utility Users Council

U. N. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk AT&T Round Cell Battery Meeting Page 3 Enclosures cc: T. Martin ,

. R. Eaton L. Briggs S. Ebneter V. Nerses G. Maxwell H. Miller R. Assa C. Phillips L Callan K. Perkins C. R. Thomas K. Johnston J. Stone F. Ringwald Arizona Public Service Company Comed Duke Power GPU Nuclear Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Lucent Technologies Wyle Laboratories