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{{Adams | |||
| number = ML20133H402 | |||
| issue date = 10/07/1985 | |||
| title = Insp Rept 50-219/85-23 on 850701-0818.Violations Noted: Improper Closure of Containment Isolation Valve & Failure to Follow Procedures While Inerting Drywell | |||
| author name = Bateman W, Baunack W, Kister H, Reynolds S, Wechselberger | |||
| author affiliation = NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) | |||
| addressee name = | |||
| addressee affiliation = | |||
| docket = 05000219 | |||
| license number = | |||
| contact person = | |||
| document report number = 50-219-85-23, NUDOCS 8510170153 | |||
| package number = ML20133H397 | |||
| document type = INSPECTION REPORT, NRC-GENERATED, INSPECTION REPORT, UTILITY, TEXT-INSPECTION & AUDIT & I&E CIRCULARS | |||
| page count = 18 | |||
}} | |||
See also: [[see also::IR 05000701/2008018]] | |||
=Text= | |||
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ! | |||
REGION I | |||
! | |||
' | |||
Report No. 50-219/85-23 | |||
Docket No. 50-219 | |||
License No. DPR-16 Priority Category _C | |||
Licensee: GEJ Nuclear Corporation | |||
100 Interpace Parkway ; | |||
Parsippany. New Jersey 07054 l | |||
t | |||
Facility Name: Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station r | |||
Inspection At: Forked River, New Jersey | |||
Inspection Conducted: July 1 - August 18. 1985 | |||
, | |||
Inspectors: | |||
C | |||
9%''$& ~ | |||
W.'H. Batefan, Senior Resident Inspector l0/1 | |||
F te rr | |||
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sagn | |||
J. F. Wedihhrfberger, Resident Inspector | |||
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^ S. D. Reinoids, Lead Reactor Engineer ea-T te | |||
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. W. H. Bauna | |||
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Project Engineer | |||
Y 's | |||
~ 6 ate | |||
Approved by: | |||
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. 6'. Kis'te4 Acting Chief, | |||
h50 ae | |||
Reactor Projects Section 1A | |||
Inspection Summaryl ; | |||
Routine and special onsite inspections were conducted by the resident | |||
inspectors and two region based inspectors (216 hours) of activities in : | |||
progress including plant operations, physical security, radiation control, | |||
housekeeping, chemistry, and hanger inspections. The inspectors also followed | |||
up the events leading to two reactor trips, observed repair activities of the . | |||
EfW piping, and routinely toured the control room and the power block. ' | |||
: | |||
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_-_-____ ___-__-__--___-_--_ __ _ _ _ -__ _ ___ _ _ ____ -_ _ _ _____ _- | |||
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Results: | |||
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Two violations were ident!ffed. The first involved improper closure of a | |||
, | |||
containment isolation valve (discussed in paragraph 1) and the second involved | |||
i | |||
failure to follow procedures while inerting the drywell (discussed in | |||
l paragraph 2). | |||
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DETAILS | |||
1. Licensee Event Report Review: | |||
Licensee Event Report 85-002 which reported two inoperable containment | |||
isolation valves in a single penetration was reviewed in detail. The LER | |||
identified a problem that occurred during a planned shutdown on February | |||
2,1985, when a reactor water cleanup (RWCU) system containment isolation | |||
valve, V-16-1, was required to be unbackseated. Standing Order No. 33, | |||
"Backwating/Unbackseating of Valves," and Station Procedure 700.2.014, | |||
"Backseating and Unbackseating Valves V-14-36 V-14-37, and V-16-1 (Elec- | |||
trically)," provided the operators with the procedural directions. The | |||
control room operators, however, rather than using the prescribed unback- | |||
seating procedures, elected to unbackseat the valve by stationing an | |||
electrician at the motor control center supplying the valve and have him | |||
engage the closing contactor. To prevent full closure of the valve due to | |||
a seal-in closing signal, after two seconds of valve operation, the valve | |||
breaker was manually tripped. This breaker trip resulted in an inadver- | |||
tent isolation of the RWCU system. A second isolation valve failed to | |||
fully close when the isolation signal was received, resulting in two | |||
inoperable containment isolation valves in the same line. The second | |||
isolation valve failed to close due to binding of the valve stem. The | |||
valve was subsequently repaired and tested, | |||
procedure 700.2.014 for unbackseating this valve was reviewed and it was | |||
determined that had this procedure been used, tne automatic containment | |||
isolation function of V-16-1 would not have been inoperable. (This is | |||
true for all backseating and unbackseating procedures.) This complies | |||
with the Technical Specification requirement that all automatic contain- | |||
,' ment isolation valves be either operable or secured in the closed post- | |||
tion. The operators, in not following the prescribed procedure, made a | |||
containment isolation valve inoperable while in the open position. | |||
In summary, although this event was licensee identhtd and reported in | |||
accordance with 10 CFR 50.73, the inspector's review of the report noted | |||
that it did not fully address the fact that this event occurred as a result | |||
of using an incorrect method for unbackseating a valve. This is particu- | |||
larly bothersome since an approved procedure was available to perform the | |||
operation correctly. This is considered a serious matter and was not | |||
really dealt with as part of the licensee's documented corrective action. | |||
Also, it appears that the licensee's review process failed to note this | |||
condition and correct it. Since appropriate corrective action appears not | |||
to have been taken, this item has been classified as a violation. | |||
(219/85-23-01) | |||
The LER will remain open pending review of a supplemental report which | |||
documents further corrective action regarding this matter. | |||
_ _ _ _ _ .- . - . - - - - - - - . - .-_ | |||
_. _ ._ . _ | |||
, | |||
- | |||
, , | |||
3 | |||
2. Containment Nitrogen Inertig | |||
l A special revi s was conducted of the circumstances associated with the | |||
containment inerting evolution which took place during the startup on | |||
August 4, 1985. The inspection was conducted to review licensee noncom- | |||
pliance with requirements to calibrate the drywell and torus oxygen | |||
analyzers when, during the inerting process, oxygen concentration | |||
decreases to less than 4%. | |||
,The following material associated with the event was reviewed. Also, | |||
P additional information was obtained during discussions with licensee | |||
personnel. | |||
. | |||
' | |||
-- | |||
Station Procedures 201.2, Plant Heatup to Hot Standby; 312, Reactor | |||
, Containment Integrity and Atmosphere Control; 312.7, Drywell/ Torus | |||
Oxygen Analyzer Operation; 604.3.019, Drywell and Torus Oxygen | |||
Analyzer Calibration; and 107, Procedure Control | |||
-- | |||
Control Room Log (August 4 to August 6,1985) | |||
j -- | |||
Group Shift Supervisor Log (August 4 to August 6, 1985) | |||
-- | |||
Oxygen Analyzer Calibration Data for calibrations performed August 4 | |||
and August 6, 1985 | |||
-- | |||
Nitrogen tank level records | |||
The findings from the above review show that the facility procedures | |||
associated with inerting the containment clearly specify the actions which | |||
are required to achieve Technical Spectfication requirements. The review | |||
, | |||
also showed that Station Procedure 312 was,not fully adhered to during the | |||
l inerting evolution. | |||
Procedural requirements which were not fully implemented were: | |||
-- | |||
A prerequisite to containment inerting, which required the oxygen | |||
analyzers to be calibrated in accordance with a surveillance | |||
procedure, was not performed until inerting was in progress. | |||
-- | |||
The requirement to use 150" of nitrogen from the nitrogen storage | |||
tank to achieve less than 4*.' oxygen concentration was not fully | |||
accomplished in that only 139" - 144" were added. | |||
-- | |||
The procedural step which states, " Ignore the oxygen analyzer reading | |||
, until stopt 4.3.19 and 4.3.23 are completed," was not adhered to. | |||
! (Steps 4.3.19 and 4.3.23 required drywell and torus oxygen analyzers | |||
be calibrated at less than 4% containment oxygen concentration.) | |||
i | |||
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, | |||
- _ - - - - _ _ . - - _ . - - - _ - - - - . - - - - - _ _ _ _ _ . - _ _ _ _ . _ - . . - _ _ - . _ . _ _ - _ - - - _ - - _ . _ _ . - - _ . _ _ . - . - - - . . _ . _ . _ _ - _ _ _ - _ . . _ . - _ . . . _ . - - - _ . _ _ - _ _ - . _ . - _ - - . _ _ _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | |||
. | |||
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4 | |||
-- | |||
The required calibration of the drywell and torus oxygen analyzers | |||
was not performed when oxygen concentrations were less than 4%. | |||
(This was not accomplished due to depletion of a necessary | |||
calibration gas.) | |||
-- | |||
The note in the precedure which requires inerting until both the | |||
torus and drywell are less than 3% oxygen concentration was not | |||
adhered to. | |||
-- | |||
The requirement to reduce the containment atmosphere to less than 4% | |||
oxygen was not achieved due to reliance on analyzers which had not | |||
been calibrated as required. A subsequent oxygen analyzer | |||
calibration performed on August 6, .1985, after calibration gas was | |||
obtained, showed a .4% nonconservative error existed in the drywell | |||
oxygen analyzer readout. As a result of this error, operation was | |||
being conducted at 4% drywell oxygen concentration as opposed to the | |||
Technical Specification requirement of less than 4%. | |||
Analysis of findings show the required prerequisite oxygen analyzer | |||
calibrations were in fact performed during inerting with no procedure | |||
change request having been prepared. No reason could be determined for | |||
adding less than 150" of nitrogen from the storage tank. At the point in | |||
the procedure where the drywell and torus oxygen analyzer calibrations | |||
were required to be performed, it was determined no calibration gas, which | |||
was needed to perform the calibration, existed on site. At this | |||
point, a number of options were available to shift personnel; these | |||
included the use of PASS for drywell and torus oxygen analyses, use of the | |||
installed accident monitoring analyzer for drywell oxygen concentration, | |||
addition of a more significant amount of nitrogen which was available, | |||
expediting acquisition of calibration gas within the 24 hours allowed by | |||
the Technical Specifications, or not placing the Mode Switch into RUN and | |||
thereby avoiding having to reduce the oxygen concentration to less than 4% | |||
within 24 hours. These options were apparently not considered. Instead, | |||
believing the calibration performed during startup was sufficient, | |||
operations personnel continued plant startup. When calibration gas was | |||
eventually received, the subsequent calibration showed a .4% error in the | |||
oxygen reading. This verified that operation at 4% oxygen versus the | |||
Technical Specification required less than 4% oxygen had occurred. The | |||
failure to adhere to Station Procedures is a violation. (219/85-23-02) | |||
The failure of shift personnel (which included two SR0s and a STA on | |||
watch) to consider the use of other methods to draw oxygen samples is a | |||
matter that should be further evaluated. The entire event could have been | |||
avoided had an available option been selected and an appropriate procedure | |||
change prepared. | |||
The licensee's procedure for the procurement of the calibration gas, which | |||
is required for the oxygen analyzer calibration, was briefly discussed | |||
with licensee personnel. Calibration gas has been maintained as a " stock | |||
item" since March 1984 with a maximum of 4 bottles and a minimum of 2 | |||
4 | |||
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bottles specified (each bottle provides gas for approximately three | |||
calibrations). A three week delivery is normal. The amount specified was | |||
based on 1984 usage. During 1984 the plant was shutdown and calibrations | |||
were not required or performed. The date could not be determined, but I&C | |||
technicians stated the storeroom was notified when the next to the last | |||
bottle was taken from the storeroom. A purchase requisition was prepared | |||
for additional gas on June 28, 1985 and no further action was taken until | |||
a purchase order (P0) was phoned to the supplier on July 30, 1985. After | |||
running out, gas was picked up at the suppliers by the licensee on August | |||
6, 1985. Steps have been taken to increase the specified amount of gas to | |||
be maintained on site. | |||
3. Operational Safety Verification | |||
3.1 Control Room Observation | |||
Routinely throughout the inspection period, the inspector | |||
independently verified plant parameters and engineered safeguard | |||
equipment availability. The following items were observed: | |||
-- | |||
Proper Control Room manning and access control; | |||
-- | |||
' Adherence to approved procedures for ongoing activities; | |||
-- -Proper safety systems and emergency power sources valve and | |||
breaker alignment; and | |||
-- | |||
Shift turnover. | |||
duringareviewofcontrolroommanningrequirements,itwas | |||
identified that there is a conflict between the Regulations and the | |||
Technical Specification and Station Procedure 106, " Conduct of | |||
Operations," regarding the number of Senior Reactor Operators | |||
(SR0s) required per shift. Specifically, paragraph 50.54 of 10 CFR | |||
50 requires two SR0s per shift,'whereas the Technical Specifications i | |||
and Station Procedure 106 require one SRO per shift. The licensee | |||
responded to this concsrn by stating they do require two SR0s per | |||
shift and will change the Technical Specifications and Procedure 106 | |||
to be consistent with the Regulations. Routine NRC inspections have | |||
confirmed two SR0s per shift staffing. The inconsistency between the | |||
Regulations and the Technical Specifications and Procedure 106 is an | |||
unresolved item pending revisions to the Technical Specifications and | |||
Procedure 106 to reflect the requirements of the Regulations. | |||
(219/85-23-03) | |||
3.2 Review of Logs and Operating Records | |||
The inspector reviewed, on a sampling basis, the following logs and | |||
instructions for the period July 1 to August 18, 1985: | |||
_ | |||
, | |||
, | |||
. . | |||
- | |||
O O | |||
6 | |||
-- | |||
Control Room and Group Shift Supervisor's Logs; | |||
-- | |||
Control Room and Shift Supervisor's Turnover Check Lists; | |||
-- | |||
Reactor and Turbine Building Tour Sheets; | |||
-- | |||
Equipment Control Logs; | |||
-- | |||
Standing Orders; and | |||
-- | |||
Operational Memos and Directives. | |||
The logs and instructions were reviewed to: | |||
-- | |||
Obtain information on plant problems and operations; | |||
-- | |||
Detect changes and trends in performance; | |||
-- | |||
Detect possible conflicts with Technical Specifications or | |||
regulatory requirements; | |||
-- | |||
Assess the effectiveness of the communications provided by the | |||
logs and instructions; and | |||
-- | |||
Determine that the reporting requirements of Technical | |||
Specifications are met. | |||
The reviews indicated the logs and operating records were generally | |||
complete. No inspector concerns were identified. | |||
4. Observation of Physical Security | |||
During daily entry and egress from the protected area, the inspectors | |||
verified that access controls were in accordance with the security plan | |||
and that security posts were properly manned. During facility tours, the | |||
inspectors verified that protected area gates were locked or guarded and | |||
that isolation zones were free of obstructions. The inspectors examined | |||
vital area access points to verify that they were properly locked or | |||
guarded and that access control was in accordance with the security plan. | |||
A moderate loss of physical security was reported by the licensee. It | |||
involved loss of power to the security computer for approximately two | |||
hours during an early morning thunder and lightening storm. During the | |||
time the computer was disabled, vital area access was adequately | |||
controlled, however, all elements of the Security Plan were not | |||
implemented as regards a small portion of the protected area adjacent to | |||
the main security building. The actions taken to compensate for this | |||
section of the protected area did, however, offer reasonable assurance | |||
that the area was not trespassed. A subsequent search of the plant | |||
confirmed no unauthorized entries were made during the period of time the | |||
computer was disabled. | |||
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5. Plant Tours | |||
i | |||
During the inspection period, the inspectors made frequent tours of plant | |||
areas to make an independent assessment of equipment conditions, safety, | |||
' and adherence to regulatory requirements. The following areas were among | |||
those inspected: | |||
e < | |||
Turbine Building | |||
' | |||
4 -- | |||
, | |||
-- | |||
Vital Switchgear Rooms | |||
-- | |||
Cable Spreading Room | |||
i -- | |||
Diesel Generator Building | |||
i ! | |||
, | |||
-- | |||
Reactor Building | |||
The following items were observed or verified. | |||
5.1 Fire Protection | |||
-- | |||
Randomly selected fire extinguishers were accessible and | |||
inspected on schedule. | |||
i | |||
- -- | |||
Fire doors were unobstructed and in their proper position. | |||
-- | |||
Ignition sources and combustible materials were controlled in | |||
. | |||
accordance with the licensee's approved procedures. | |||
l | |||
' | |||
-- | |||
Appropriate fire watches or fire patrols were stationed when | |||
: equipment was out of service. | |||
1 | |||
5.2 Equipment Controls | |||
-- . Jumper and equipment mark-ups did not conflict with Technical ' | |||
Specification requirements. | |||
< | |||
-- | |||
Conditions requiring the use of jumpers received prompt licensee | |||
attention. | |||
l | |||
-- | |||
Administrative controls for'the use of jumpers and equipment | |||
mark-ups were properly implemented. | |||
5.3 ' Vital Instrumentation | |||
4 | |||
-- | |||
Selected instruments appeared functional and demonstrated | |||
' parameters within Technical Specification Limiting Conditions | |||
for Operation. | |||
i | |||
! | |||
, | |||
, - -- --.--.,.,.-,..amn, e.-.--.m. -,,v.----.w,---.w,,-- ..,,,-,,--nar,,.,,,,-,n, | |||
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5.4 Radioactive Waste System Controls | |||
-- | |||
Gaseous releases were monitored and recorded. i | |||
< | |||
; | |||
-- | |||
No unexpected gaseous releases occurred. | |||
' | |||
5.5 Housekeeping | |||
; | |||
, | |||
-- | |||
Plant housekeeping and cleanliness were in accordance with | |||
3 | |||
approved licensee programs. | |||
! | |||
6. Radiation Protection | |||
During entry to and exit from the radiologically controlled area (RCA), | |||
the inspectors verified that proper warning signs were posted, personnel | |||
entering were wearing proper dosimetry, personnel and materials leaving | |||
were properly monitored for radioactive contamination, and monitoring | |||
1 instruments were functional and in calibration. Posted extended Radiation | |||
Work Permits (RWPs) and survey status boards were reviewed to verify that , | |||
they were current and accurate. The inspector observed activities in the | |||
RCA to verify that personnel complied with the requirements of applicable | |||
RWPs and that workers were aware of the radiological conditions in the | |||
area. | |||
During this report period, ten individuals were slightly contaminated in | |||
the New Radwaste (NRW) Building when a damper in the building's HVAC | |||
system that isolates the building's HVAC-system from the main plant | |||
discharge stack inadvertently opened while undergoing repairs. When the | |||
damper opened, backflow from the plant stack into the NRW Building | |||
resulted in airborne contamination that contaminated the ten individuals. | |||
All individuals were decontaminated and whole body counted. No problems | |||
were identified. | |||
4 | |||
7. Return of Spent Fuel From West Valley | |||
During this report period, the last shipments of spent fuel were received | |||
onsite from West Valley, New York. The resident and region based | |||
inspectors observed final spent fuel receipt at Oyster Creek and the | |||
i handling and unloading of spent fuel from the TN-9 spent fuel shipping | |||
cask. Radiation Control personnel were observed to be knowledgeable and | |||
in control of radcon related activities. Once reaching the refueling | |||
. floor, the TN-9 casks were moved and unloaded and spent fuel stored in the | |||
' | |||
spent fuel pool in accordance with controlling procedures. The overall | |||
spent fuel shipping effort was conducted without a major incident. | |||
8. Pipe Hanger Inspections | |||
During this report period, pipe and pipe support inspections continued. | |||
Also, efforts were initiated to repair deficiencies that were determined | |||
by Technical Functions not to be acceptable as is. The overall scope of | |||
f | |||
. .. . a ,, a w g-~-, , - w s - - ,e , e-m -,v ,,---..e-em-m - | |||
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9 | |||
the inspection continued to increase and stood at 504 at the end of this | |||
report period, 454 of which were inspected. Some of the more significant | |||
problems identified during this report period were with supports on the | |||
Core Spray System II full flow test line. The most significant of these | |||
problems involved a cracked pipe clamp and cracked attachment welds used | |||
to attach the pipe clamp to the pipe associated with snubber 411R11. | |||
Other supports en the test line also had deficiencies, although not as | |||
serious. Engineering evaluation of the problems determined the damage to | |||
have resulted from water hammer in the piping prior to incorporation of a | |||
" keep full" system installed nearly five years ago. The " keep full" | |||
system eliminated the water hammer, but the damage to the supports was not | |||
' | |||
identified until this inspection. Prompt repairs were made to affected. * | |||
supports. | |||
9. ContainmentSprayEmergencyServiceWaterSystem(CSESWSJ | |||
. | |||
' | |||
I | |||
During routine surveillance testing of the ESW pumps, problems involving | |||
differential pressure (DP) changes across the ESW side of the 1-3 | |||
Containment Spray heat exchanger (HX) were identified. Additionally, ESW | |||
: | |||
pump 52 C' was determined to have a loose impellor. As part of the | |||
investigation of the DP changes in 1-3 HX, the HX head was removed and an | |||
j inspection of the ESW side of the HX was performed. This inspection | |||
4 revealed a meterial suspected to be "bitumastic" or a coal tar enamel | |||
coating applied to the inside of the ESW system piping for corrosion | |||
! protection. A sample was sent out for analysis to confirm suspicions. | |||
Meanwhile, additional flushing of ESW System II (2 pumps and 2 | |||
' | |||
heatexchangers are contained in ESW System I and ESW System II) was | |||
resumed. While this flushing was in progress, a routine surveillance of | |||
' | |||
. | |||
System I indicated inadequate pump performance thus requiring a plant | |||
shutdown as System II was still considered inoperable because of the 52 | |||
C' pump. At this point discussions ensued between licensee and NRC | |||
management as to whether or not at least one train of the ESW system could | |||
be considered operable. The licensee suggested that if they could verify, | |||
by use of other than normally used instrumentation, that the ESW pumps l | |||
were putting out equal to or greater than minimum flow, then ESW System I ' | |||
; | |||
or II could be considered operable. The NRC' suggested that the | |||
operability of both loops was in question based on the presence of the | |||
coal tar enamel in the 1-3 HX and increasing DP's in the other HX's | |||
indicating a possible generic problem. The NRC and the licensee reached | |||
an agreement that if adequate flow could be demonstrated in ESW System I | |||
and a 24 hour run completed without encountering further problems, then | |||
! | |||
System I could be considered operable. However, System II would not be | |||
considered operable until resolution of the problem of the foreign | |||
material blocking flow to the HX's and, thereby affecting the ability of | |||
the HX's to perform their design function. Less than 24 hours into the | |||
run of System I, the DP across the HX's increased to the allowable limit. | |||
;_ At this point, the licensee declared the ESW system inoperable, shut the | |||
t | |||
plant down, and commenced a major effort to resolve the problem. | |||
4 | |||
. _~ _ . . _ _ _s . . . . _ . . . . _ _ , , _ . . - , . , - - _ . _ . . _ , _ . . | |||
.- - -- - - ~ _ . . . _ . - -- -_ | |||
. . | |||
. | |||
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10 | |||
) Resident and region based inspectors reviewed the licensee's activities in | |||
investigating the cause of the loss of bonding of the internal coating on | |||
the ESW piping. The pipe lines affected were the redundant System I and | |||
System II Emergency Service Water Inlets to Containment Spray Heat | |||
4 Exchangers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and.1-4. These lines appear on special GPUN | |||
isometric sketches SK-1, SK-2, and SK-3 which reference the original | |||
! construction piping drawings. System I connects ESW pumps #1 and #2 to a | |||
common line which supplies CSHX 1-1 and 1-2. System II connects ESW pumps | |||
#3 and #4 to a common line which supplies CSHX 1-3 and 1-4. The piping | |||
from the pump to the common line is 10" in diameter and the common line | |||
pipe itself is 14". At approximately 102. feet from the pumps on System I | |||
and 73 feet from the pumps on System II the cooling water is chlorinated. ' | |||
The total pipe length from pump to HX is approximately 780 feet in | |||
System I and approximately 40 feet less than this for System II (estimated | |||
by inspector). Investigation of the pipe by the licensee (utilizing a TV ' | |||
optics system) of roughly 215 feet of System I and 280 feet of System II, | |||
showed the coating problem to be limited to that portion of pipe between | |||
the pumps' discharge and the point of chlorination. | |||
The ESW piping system from the pumps to the CSHX consists of flanged pipe | |||
: and elbows of carbon steel which were purchased as spool pieces then sent | |||
to a coating application vendor. The licensee indicated they have not | |||
been able to retrieve the purchasing information indicating the pipe | |||
procurement and coating, however, licensee specifications called for the | |||
coatings to meet American Water Works Association (AWWA) C 203-73 Type II | |||
internal pipe coating system requirements. This coating system consists | |||
l | |||
' | |||
of cleaning and blasting the pipe ID followed by application of a cold | |||
primer coat of a coal tar pitch cut with a coal tar oil to a liquid | |||
consistency which can be applied by brush or spray. Upon completion of | |||
the primer coat, a hot coal tar enamel (pitch) containing inert mineral | |||
fillers is cast in the pipe and a " pig" is drawn through the pipe to | |||
' | |||
produce a thick pliable coating in the order of 1/8-1/4" thick on the pipe | |||
wall. The hot coal tar pitch coating is similar to a hot pitch roof, | |||
however, the roof pitch does not contain the mineral fillers. The coating 1 | |||
does not extend around the radius of the flange attachment to the flange | |||
face, but is given a guillotine cut in the same plane as the flange face | |||
to produce an abutting (square butt) joint with adjacent spool pieces. | |||
The coating continuity is, therefore, a function of the tightness of the | |||
, square butt joint. Disassembly of the spool pieces near the pumps | |||
! indicated that the worst area of coating de-bonding was in the first few | |||
spool pieces. | |||
The piping system immediately adjacent to the pumps consists of a short | |||
< | |||
horizontal straight pump extension piece (A), elbow (B), flow restrictor | |||
(C), horizontal straight spool piece (D), elbow (E), vertical straight | |||
spool piece (F), elbow (G), and a tee to the 14" common flow line. | |||
Disassembly of the spool pieces near the pump indicated the worst | |||
de-bonding of the coating was in the four horizontal straight spool pieces | |||
1 | |||
- | |||
(D). These pieces and two elbows (E) were removed and replaced. One of | |||
' | |||
these was cut up for evaluation by GPUN Reading Material Engineering | |||
Laboratory and one left intact for visual examination. The inspector | |||
. | |||
, - _ _ - - - -.. ~ _ _ ~ _ _ . . - _ . , - - . . , . . . ~ __,._.,, _y | |||
. . _ . . . .. _ . _ . _ _ _ - - _ _ _ - - - - _ _ _ _ - . . . - - _ . - _ __ | |||
, | |||
- | |||
. . | |||
; . | |||
. | |||
11 | |||
, | |||
' | |||
visually inspected one section from the cut-up elbow and also inspected | |||
; the other intact elbow. Marine life (barnacles, etc.) was attached to the | |||
! coating. The coating thickness varied from approximately 1/8 to 1/4 " or | |||
. | |||
greater. There were " mud cracks" on the surface, but these cracks didn't i | |||
! appear to go through the coating. On the elbow which was intact, the | |||
! | |||
* | |||
coating was not present on portions of the elbow adjacent to the flange | |||
face at the exposed edge (abutting edge area). On the elbow which was ' | |||
I | |||
sectioned, the coating attachment was good except for the apex of the | |||
" pie" cut section (introdos of elbow) where the cutting may have | |||
, | |||
, | |||
l | |||
mechanically loosened the coating (even though efforts were made to keep i | |||
the saw cut cold). | |||
Discussions with a representative of the GPUN Materials Engineering ! | |||
1 Laboratory indicated the following results of examination of the sectioned , | |||
j elbow: | |||
1 ! | |||
] | |||
-- | |||
" Mud cracking" pattern observed on surface - | |||
1 | |||
! -- | |||
Undercutting at exposed coating edges observed (substrate corrosion | |||
i causing loosening of coating). | |||
! | |||
j The laboratory had technical discussions with three people (representing | |||
i field, laboratory, and technical area) of the Koppers Company on service | |||
; | |||
experience problems with AWA C203 coal tar enamels. Koppers indicated | |||
that if the-coating is permitted to dry out and concurrently subjected to | |||
ambient thermal cycles, it will produce " mud cracks." They also indicated | |||
f that if the coating is dry and subject to. low temperatures in the order of | |||
! O F, it will crack. A portion of the sectioned elbow was sent to Koppers ; | |||
j for their analysis. The inspector requested copies of the GPUN Material | |||
~ | |||
- | |||
j Laboratory Report and the Koppers Co. report when available. The portion | |||
} of pipe with the worst coating de-bonding was the horizontal run above the | |||
i concrete mat which could have seen either of the two conditions described | |||
i above. In addition this portion of the pipe line had severe barnacle | |||
! attachment and is subject to mechanical loading forces due to pump | |||
j starting and pump shut off. | |||
1 | |||
! The licensee hydrolased the coating off the pipe in System I for ! | |||
i | |||
approximately 60 feet from the pump and 75 feet from the pump (toward the | |||
: chlorination point) in System II. Subsequent flushing was performed to | |||
i- ensure removal of loose material. | |||
I | |||
:' | |||
The inspector reviewed the following documents: | |||
i | |||
i | |||
-- | |||
AWA C203-73 " Coal Tar Protective Coatings and Linings for Steel | |||
Water Pipelines - Enamel and Tape - Hot Applied" (specified by the | |||
j A . E ._ ) | |||
. | |||
' -- | |||
GPU Nuclear OCNGSP No. 607.4.001 Rev. IB (DP acceptance criteria - | |||
i para.-8.1.5 and .6) | |||
; | |||
i | |||
t | |||
, | |||
, | |||
,- -, -. - - . . | |||
, - - , - , . -n, , , - , - , . - . , . - . - w,. ,m-..- - ,.,.,-- , -- ,, | |||
. - . . . - -- . - - . -. --- - - - - - _ - - - - | |||
. | |||
,. , | |||
- | |||
O O | |||
' | |||
12 | |||
-- | |||
GPU Nuclear 0CNGSP No. 607.4.003 Rev. 7 (requires check of CSHX tube | |||
side pressures at various HX stages - Data Sheet 6.9) | |||
-- | |||
LER 50-219/82-64/032 (HX DP problem caused by marine fouling) | |||
I | |||
Discussions with the licensee indicated the following additional | |||
information on subject piping system: | |||
, | |||
-- | |||
In the area where there was coating de-bonding, the insulation had | |||
been removed from the pipe for a long period of time. | |||
-- | |||
The nominal cooling water conditions during operation are 4000 GPM | |||
flow at ambient temperature with a pressure of 65 psig at the HX. | |||
-- | |||
There has been no previous history of coating de-bonding. LER 064 in | |||
; 1982 concerning marine biofouling was solved by chlorination. | |||
- | |||
, | |||
-- | |||
Frequent periodic examination and cleaning of the water boxes on the | |||
reactor building closed cooling water HXs required by biofouling | |||
l problems has indicated the coal tar enamel coating in the plant | |||
, Service Water system is intact. (The lined piping used in this | |||
' | |||
system is similar to that used in the ESW System.) | |||
-- | |||
GPUN Engineering estimates a corrosion rate of 14 - 15 mils per year | |||
(including pitting reactions) on the bare carbon steel piping. | |||
1 | |||
-- | |||
TV optics examination of other portions of ESW system I and II where , | |||
' | |||
coating was not removed from the pump to the chlorination point, | |||
; indicates coating to be intact with no significant surface defects. | |||
-- | |||
The nominal pipe wall thickness is 1/2" with a minimum design wall | |||
(including 0.088" corrosion allowance) of 0.150". | |||
i | |||
-- | |||
Monthly ESW pump operability tests to 607.4.001 and 607.4.003 will | |||
provide sufficient information on any tube blockage by DP readings. | |||
-- | |||
The Perfex four pass Containment Spray HXs were originally tubed with | |||
aluminum brass which had reasonable service, then retubed with 90-10 | |||
CU-NI, which failed in a relatively short time apparently due to wet | |||
; | |||
layup (static) pitting beneath surface films, and finally retubed | |||
with unalloyed titanium tubes. The current tubes have great | |||
! | |||
resistance to partially blocked tube erosion problems. The water | |||
1 boxes and tube sheets are CU-NI, but there is no evidence of galvanic | |||
1 | |||
attack of the tube sheet. | |||
> | |||
-- | |||
No final engineering decision has been made by the licensee on the | |||
long term plans regarding the uncoated ESW piping. Base line UT | |||
! readings have been taken for monitoring purposes in the event it is | |||
! | |||
later determined that monitoring is necessary. The next refueling | |||
outage is April 1986. The pipe line will.be run with no coating in | |||
1 | |||
: | |||
. . . . . -.,-_.,-,,-.,,__,~,-,,,,-,.--,~.m,-'r,m_ - , - . . . , . - | |||
.. | |||
. . | |||
. | |||
O O | |||
13 | |||
the pipe upstream of the chlorination point at least until April | |||
1986. Replacement or recoating of the piping is being considered. | |||
Estimated corrosion rates, if correct, would give long term (multiple | |||
refueling cycle) satisfactory service with bare pipe. | |||
-- | |||
The exact initiating mechanism of the coating de-bonding is not | |||
known. The final reports from the GPUN Reading Lab and Koppers will | |||
be supplied to the NRC when available. | |||
-- | |||
No special surveillance requirements of the pipe corrosion rates (and | |||
coating in the remainder of the pipe) are contemplated at this time. | |||
The NRC considers the issues discussed above as unresolved pending the | |||
licensee providing the following information for NRC review: | |||
-- | |||
Koppers Company failure analysis report. | |||
-- | |||
GPUN R(ading Materials Laborato y failure analysis report. | |||
-- | |||
Final engineering decision and the long term solution to the coating | |||
de-bonding problem. | |||
-- | |||
Engineering justification for changes in pump operability tests which | |||
will increase DP limits and possibly change testing time to ensure | |||
sufficient transport time for loose coating to collect on HX tube | |||
sheets. (219/85-23-04) | |||
No violations were identified. | |||
10. Followup of Operational Events | |||
10.1 In NRC Inspection Report 85-19, a problem concerning drywell bulk | |||
temperature was discussed. During this report period, the | |||
calculation to arrive at drywell bulk temperature was revised to | |||
factor in the gas contained in the large spherical volume at the | |||
bottom of the drywell. This dropped the calculated bulk temperature | |||
by several degrees from that value arrived at by the orevious | |||
calculation. | |||
As regards the concern of the deviation between the FSAR and plant | |||
procedures as to the assumed drywell bulk temperature at the start of | |||
a design basis accident and the failure of the licensee to notify NRC | |||
licensing of this change, the licensee submitted LER 85-017. This | |||
LER described the problem and stated their plans for corrective | |||
action. The corrective action stated in the LER addresses the NRC | |||
concerns regarding this issue, therefore, final resolution will be | |||
tracked as part of closeout of LER 85-017. | |||
i | |||
- _ | |||
, | |||
. . | |||
. | |||
O O | |||
14 | |||
10.2 A scram from full power operation due to low condenser vacuum | |||
occurred on July 8, 1985. The inspectors responded immediately and | |||
particulary noted that no problems with the scram discharge volume | |||
drain valves recurred. The scram resulted when the steam jet air | |||
ejector drain pumps malfunctioned and ultimately affected the steam | |||
jet air ejectors (SJAEs). With erratic SJAE operation, condenser | |||
vacuum dropped to the setpoint of the low condenser vacuum scram. | |||
Plant response and recovery was considered normal. However, operator | |||
action to restore reactor vessel water level resulted in a high level | |||
condition which has been a problem in previous recoveries from | |||
various events. The licensee intends to address this issue in future | |||
training activities. | |||
10.3 In NRC Inspection Report 85-19, the MSIV closure scram from full | |||
power was discussed. In this discussion, some abnormal and normal | |||
equipment responses that raised concerns were presented. These | |||
included two series scram discharge volume drain valves leaking, | |||
inability to reset the scram until reactor pressure decreased to less | |||
than 600 psig, and potentially inoperable safety-related | |||
equipment due to initiation of a plant deluge system. Further | |||
discussion of these concerns follows: | |||
10.3.1 The licensee conducted an investigation into the cause of | |||
the leaky scram discharge volume (SDV) drain valves. The | |||
investigation disclosed that, on one of the valves | |||
(V-15-121), the stroke was improperly adjusted such that | |||
the valve did not fully close and, on the other valve | |||
(V-15-134), the closing springs were undersized thus | |||
failing to hold the valve closed against reactor coolant | |||
system pressure. The stroke on V-15-121 was properly | |||
adjusted and the proper size closing springs were installed | |||
. | |||
in V-15-134. A licensee self-critique of the undersized | |||
sorings identified a multitude of problems and situations | |||
tnat contributed to the installation of V-15-134 during the , | |||
last outage. Action has been taken to address the ' | |||
identified concerns. A concern remaining, however, that | |||
did not appear to be addressed was that V-15-134 was | |||
installed such that reactor pressure tended to open the | |||
valve rather than to help seat it. A second concern was | |||
raised in NRC Inspection Report 84-09. In particular, | |||
Unresolved Item 219/84-09-08 questioned why the SDV vent | |||
, | |||
and drain valves were not included as part of the | |||
containment pressure boundary and, therefore, tested in | |||
accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50 Appendix J. | |||
These two concerns are unresolved pending licensee | |||
justification for the installed position of V-15-134 | |||
(219/85-23-05) and a response to address why the SDV vent | |||
and drain valves are not considered containment isolation | |||
valves and, therefore, tested in accordance with the | |||
. . _._ | |||
- = - ._ - | |||
, | |||
. . | |||
. | |||
O O | |||
15 | |||
requirements of 10 CFR 50 Appendix J. (219/85-23-06) | |||
(Note: Urresolved Item 219/84-09-08 is closed as it will | |||
now be tracked as Unresolved Item 219/85-23-06.) | |||
10.3.2 Another concern raised as result of the MSIV closure scram | |||
on June 12, 1985 was the inability to reset the scram until | |||
the reactor was depressurized to 600 psig. This became | |||
significant as a result of the failure of the Scram | |||
Discharge Volume drain valves to seat properly. | |||
A Technical Specification amendment changed the MSIV | |||
closure and low condenser vacuum scram bypass from 600 psig | |||
to 800 psia. The actual plant setpoint, however, remains | |||
at 600 psig as a result of some concerns the licensee | |||
developed as a result of the Intermediate Range Monitoring | |||
(IRM) nuclear instrumentation system Range 10 modification. | |||
The particular concern involved a reactivity addition | |||
accident (excessive feedwater addition; idle recirculation | |||
loop startup) and subsequent power excursion event from IRM | |||
range 9. The hypothesized event would have the operator | |||
erroneously responding to resulting power excursion by | |||
upranging from IRM range 9 to 10. This would replace the | |||
IRM range 9 scram setpoint of 12% with the IRM range 10 | |||
scram setpoint of 38.4%. If the resultant reactor scram | |||
occurred due to the 38.4% trip point, the 25% safety limit | |||
associated with the GEXL correlation would be violated. | |||
The 25% safety limit associated with GEXL correlation is | |||
provided to limit core power when reactor pressure is less | |||
than 800 psia and core flow is less than 10*. to protect the | |||
fuel cladding | |||
integrity safety limit. This event theorizes that the | |||
neutronic trip of 38.4". would be reached prior to the MSIV | |||
closure and low condenser vacuum scram being unbypassed as | |||
pressure increases to the bypass setpoint. | |||
Based on this and similar hypothesized accident scenarios, | |||
the licensee elected to leave the MSIV closure and low | |||
condenser vacuum scram bypass setpoint at 600 psig instead | |||
of increasing the setpoint to the amended 800 psia point. | |||
This provides additional margin, possibly to insure the 25% | |||
core thermal power limit is not exceeded. The licensee is | |||
contemplating hardware and software modification (s) to | |||
eliminate the reliance on the 600 psig setpoint for core | |||
, protection. The inspector will review the licensee's | |||
analysis to support these modifications and the Technical | |||
Specification basis change to 800 psia in a future | |||
inspection report. (219/85-23-07) | |||
- .- . . | |||
.. . _ _ . _ - _ _ _ _ | |||
- . - - _ . - - . _ _ _ _. -. _ - - - - - | |||
, | |||
.. | |||
- | |||
O O | |||
l | |||
; 16 | |||
> | |||
. | |||
10.3.3 An Unusual Event was declared when a fire protection | |||
; deluge system initiated and wetted down safety-related | |||
equipment thereby rendering operability status | |||
questionable. The fire protection system performed as | |||
, designed but did have a potential impact on the operability i | |||
* | |||
of safety-related equipment. This conflict in safety i | |||
! system objectives, that apparently was only partially | |||
1 addressed when spray shields were installed, is unresolved | |||
! pending licensee corrective action to address the conflict. i | |||
: (219/85-23-08) | |||
i | |||
* | |||
11. 480 Volt Unit Substation Transformers-Low 011 Level | |||
i | |||
The licensee shutdown the plant to perform an oil filling operation on | |||
vital transformers 1A2 and 182 on August 9, 1985. The shutdown resulted | |||
when the licensee determined, using a thermographic process, that the | |||
, | |||
vital transformers might not be able to perform their design function. | |||
Using a thermographic photography process, the oil (ASKAREL) in the IA2 | |||
1 and 182 transformers was determined to be low and not flowing in some of | |||
j the cooling fins. This situation could be significant during a LOCA | |||
- | |||
coupled with a single-failure of one of the transformers. A single | |||
4 | |||
transformer failure would result in both transformer LOCA loads being | |||
! supplied through one vital transformer. (LER 85-009 provides further | |||
discussion of this area.) Under these conditions the vital transformer | |||
may not be able to perform its design function with a degraded cooling | |||
capability. | |||
. | |||
] The licensee's investigation into the low level concern determined that ' | |||
4 | |||
approximately five quarts of oil samples could have been taken since the | |||
i | |||
i | |||
transformer installation. It could not be determined if any routine | |||
' | |||
sampling of these transformers was conducted or spectfied on any l | |||
preventative maintenance schedule. As a result of the filling operation | |||
; and load / cooling tests performed on the vital transformers, the licensee , | |||
determined that the oil level in the transformer cooling header was not | |||
sufficient to fill all the cooling fins protruding into the headers. | |||
During the filling operation the licensee established a new oil level | |||
i approximately l" higher than the specified nameplate data required. This | |||
: | |||
i | |||
was done to insure all the cooling fins would be filled with oil and thus | |||
restore full cooling capability to the transformers. The 1A2 and 182 | |||
: transformers required 16 and 12 gallons, respectively, to establish this | |||
: new oil level. The IA2 transformer may have required more oil to | |||
! | |||
' | |||
establish the new level as a result of the transformer being slightly out | |||
' of level. The licensee calculated the cold (25 C) as found oil level to | |||
be slightly less than specified by the nameplate data. A General Electric | |||
representative was present during the filling operation. Upon completion | |||
of the filling operation, the licensee verified that all cooling fins had | |||
proper oil flow using thermographic photography, | |||
i | |||
i | |||
- | |||
l | |||
.-- | |||
--- . - - - - - - .- . . . - . - - - _ - - - - . | |||
I | |||
* | |||
. , | |||
17 | |||
Some problems with instrumentation were discovered during the licensee's | |||
investigation. The liquid temperature indicator did not give an accurate | |||
reading of the oil temperature. The temperature indicator is installed in | |||
a cooling fin and to display an accurate liquid temperature reading its | |||
sensor must be submerged in the transformer oil. This particular cooling | |||
fin was one of the cooling fins that did not receive any oil flow as a | |||
result of the low oil level. During licensee testing of the vital | |||
transformer, a portable pyrometer was used to measure the oil temperature. | |||
Once oil flow in the cooling fin with the installed temperature device was | |||
established, the pyrometer and installed temperature sensor compared | |||
favorably. Another instrument problem was the liquid-level gage. The | |||
accuracy of the level gage required to sense small level changes in the | |||
transformer cooling headers is critical. The present level gage may not | |||
have the required accuracy to indicate these small level changes in the | |||
cooling header to the extent that an operator could determine the onset of | |||
cooling degradation. | |||
The licensee's immediate corrective action was to shut down and fill the | |||
transformers to the newly established oil level which is higher than the | |||
manufacturer's (GE) recommended level stated on the transformers. The | |||
long term corrective action has not been finalized. A number of action | |||
items are being considered including: | |||
-- | |||
A thermographic testing program | |||
-- | |||
Transformer replacement | |||
-- | |||
Issue filling and sampling procedures and requirements | |||
-- | |||
Instrumentation upgrading | |||
In addition the licensee is planning to request General Electric to review | |||
the vital transformer cooling problem. The cooling capability of the | |||
vital transformers in regard to the oil level in the transformers has the | |||
potential to be a generic issue. This will remain an Inspector Followup | |||
Item pending final resolution of long term corrective action and analysis. | |||
(219/85-23-09) | |||
12. Exit Interview | |||
At periodic intervals during the course of this inspection, meetings were | |||
held with senior facility management to discuss the inspection scope and | |||
findings. A summary of findings was presented to the licensee at the end | |||
of this inspection. The licensee stated that, of the subjects discussed | |||
at the exit interview, no proprietary information was included. | |||
}} |
Revision as of 20:47, 1 August 2020
ML20133H402 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Oyster Creek |
Issue date: | 10/07/1985 |
From: | Bateman W, Baunack W, Kister H, Reynolds S, Wechselberger NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
To: | |
Shared Package | |
ML20133H397 | List: |
References | |
50-219-85-23, NUDOCS 8510170153 | |
Download: ML20133H402 (18) | |
See also: IR 05000701/2008018
Text
_ _ ~ . - - . _ = _ - . . . _
. _ - _ _ - . . _ _ . _
._
_
. .
.
O O
L
i
!
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION !
REGION I
!
'
Report No. 50-219/85-23
Docket No. 50-219
License No. DPR-16 Priority Category _C
Licensee: GEJ Nuclear Corporation
100 Interpace Parkway ;
Parsippany. New Jersey 07054 l
t
Facility Name: Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station r
Inspection At: Forked River, New Jersey
Inspection Conducted: July 1 - August 18. 1985
,
Inspectors:
C
9%$& ~
W.'H. Batefan, Senior Resident Inspector l0/1
F te rr
i
l
sagn
J. F. Wedihhrfberger, Resident Inspector
w 'DJte
(
umu
^ S. D. Reinoids, Lead Reactor Engineer ea-T te
'
Yb
. W. H. Bauna
/5
Project Engineer
Y 's
~ 6 ate
Approved by:
& k
. 6'. Kis'te4 Acting Chief,
h50 ae
Reactor Projects Section 1A
Inspection Summaryl ;
Routine and special onsite inspections were conducted by the resident
inspectors and two region based inspectors (216 hours0.0025 days <br />0.06 hours <br />3.571429e-4 weeks <br />8.2188e-5 months <br />) of activities in :
progress including plant operations, physical security, radiation control,
housekeeping, chemistry, and hanger inspections. The inspectors also followed
up the events leading to two reactor trips, observed repair activities of the .
EfW piping, and routinely toured the control room and the power block. '
Eu 'I8&N 8M8PJi,
O PDR
_-_-____ ___-__-__--___-_--_ __ _ _ _ -__ _ ___ _ _ ____ -_ _ _ _____ _-
_ - . _ .
-
, ,
,
l
l
l
Results:
l
Two violations were ident!ffed. The first involved improper closure of a
,
containment isolation valve (discussed in paragraph 1) and the second involved
i
failure to follow procedures while inerting the drywell (discussed in
l paragraph 2).
t
,
m
!
>
P
I
l
,
l
.
l
. _ - - . _ -
. .
.
O O
DETAILS
1. Licensee Event Report Review:
Licensee Event Report 85-002 which reported two inoperable containment
isolation valves in a single penetration was reviewed in detail. The LER
identified a problem that occurred during a planned shutdown on February
2,1985, when a reactor water cleanup (RWCU) system containment isolation
valve, V-16-1, was required to be unbackseated. Standing Order No. 33,
"Backwating/Unbackseating of Valves," and Station Procedure 700.2.014,
"Backseating and Unbackseating Valves V-14-36 V-14-37, and V-16-1 (Elec-
trically)," provided the operators with the procedural directions. The
control room operators, however, rather than using the prescribed unback-
seating procedures, elected to unbackseat the valve by stationing an
electrician at the motor control center supplying the valve and have him
engage the closing contactor. To prevent full closure of the valve due to
a seal-in closing signal, after two seconds of valve operation, the valve
breaker was manually tripped. This breaker trip resulted in an inadver-
tent isolation of the RWCU system. A second isolation valve failed to
fully close when the isolation signal was received, resulting in two
inoperable containment isolation valves in the same line. The second
isolation valve failed to close due to binding of the valve stem. The
valve was subsequently repaired and tested,
procedure 700.2.014 for unbackseating this valve was reviewed and it was
determined that had this procedure been used, tne automatic containment
isolation function of V-16-1 would not have been inoperable. (This is
true for all backseating and unbackseating procedures.) This complies
with the Technical Specification requirement that all automatic contain-
,' ment isolation valves be either operable or secured in the closed post-
tion. The operators, in not following the prescribed procedure, made a
containment isolation valve inoperable while in the open position.
In summary, although this event was licensee identhtd and reported in
accordance with 10 CFR 50.73, the inspector's review of the report noted
that it did not fully address the fact that this event occurred as a result
of using an incorrect method for unbackseating a valve. This is particu-
larly bothersome since an approved procedure was available to perform the
operation correctly. This is considered a serious matter and was not
really dealt with as part of the licensee's documented corrective action.
Also, it appears that the licensee's review process failed to note this
condition and correct it. Since appropriate corrective action appears not
to have been taken, this item has been classified as a violation.
(219/85-23-01)
The LER will remain open pending review of a supplemental report which
documents further corrective action regarding this matter.
_ _ _ _ _ .- . - . - - - - - - - . - .-_
_. _ ._ . _
,
-
, ,
3
2. Containment Nitrogen Inertig
l A special revi s was conducted of the circumstances associated with the
containment inerting evolution which took place during the startup on
August 4, 1985. The inspection was conducted to review licensee noncom-
pliance with requirements to calibrate the drywell and torus oxygen
analyzers when, during the inerting process, oxygen concentration
decreases to less than 4%.
,The following material associated with the event was reviewed. Also,
P additional information was obtained during discussions with licensee
personnel.
.
'
--
Station Procedures 201.2, Plant Heatup to Hot Standby; 312, Reactor
, Containment Integrity and Atmosphere Control; 312.7, Drywell/ Torus
Oxygen Analyzer Operation; 604.3.019, Drywell and Torus Oxygen
Analyzer Calibration; and 107, Procedure Control
--
Control Room Log (August 4 to August 6,1985)
j --
Group Shift Supervisor Log (August 4 to August 6, 1985)
--
Oxygen Analyzer Calibration Data for calibrations performed August 4
and August 6, 1985
--
Nitrogen tank level records
The findings from the above review show that the facility procedures
associated with inerting the containment clearly specify the actions which
are required to achieve Technical Spectfication requirements. The review
,
also showed that Station Procedure 312 was,not fully adhered to during the
l inerting evolution.
Procedural requirements which were not fully implemented were:
--
A prerequisite to containment inerting, which required the oxygen
analyzers to be calibrated in accordance with a surveillance
procedure, was not performed until inerting was in progress.
--
The requirement to use 150" of nitrogen from the nitrogen storage
tank to achieve less than 4*.' oxygen concentration was not fully
accomplished in that only 139" - 144" were added.
--
The procedural step which states, " Ignore the oxygen analyzer reading
, until stopt 4.3.19 and 4.3.23 are completed," was not adhered to.
! (Steps 4.3.19 and 4.3.23 required drywell and torus oxygen analyzers
be calibrated at less than 4% containment oxygen concentration.)
i
l
g #
!
'
,
- _ - - - - _ _ . - - _ . - - - _ - - - - . - - - - - _ _ _ _ _ . - _ _ _ _ . _ - . . - _ _ - . _ . _ _ - _ - - - _ - - _ . _ _ . - - _ . _ _ . - . - - - . . _ . _ . _ _ - _ _ _ - _ . . _ . - _ . . . _ . - - - _ . _ _ - _ _ - . _ . - _ - - . _ _ _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
.
. .
-
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4
--
The required calibration of the drywell and torus oxygen analyzers
was not performed when oxygen concentrations were less than 4%.
(This was not accomplished due to depletion of a necessary
calibration gas.)
--
The note in the precedure which requires inerting until both the
torus and drywell are less than 3% oxygen concentration was not
adhered to.
--
The requirement to reduce the containment atmosphere to less than 4%
oxygen was not achieved due to reliance on analyzers which had not
been calibrated as required. A subsequent oxygen analyzer
calibration performed on August 6, .1985, after calibration gas was
obtained, showed a .4% nonconservative error existed in the drywell
oxygen analyzer readout. As a result of this error, operation was
being conducted at 4% drywell oxygen concentration as opposed to the
Technical Specification requirement of less than 4%.
Analysis of findings show the required prerequisite oxygen analyzer
calibrations were in fact performed during inerting with no procedure
change request having been prepared. No reason could be determined for
adding less than 150" of nitrogen from the storage tank. At the point in
the procedure where the drywell and torus oxygen analyzer calibrations
were required to be performed, it was determined no calibration gas, which
was needed to perform the calibration, existed on site. At this
point, a number of options were available to shift personnel; these
included the use of PASS for drywell and torus oxygen analyses, use of the
installed accident monitoring analyzer for drywell oxygen concentration,
addition of a more significant amount of nitrogen which was available,
expediting acquisition of calibration gas within the 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> allowed by
the Technical Specifications, or not placing the Mode Switch into RUN and
thereby avoiding having to reduce the oxygen concentration to less than 4%
within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />. These options were apparently not considered. Instead,
believing the calibration performed during startup was sufficient,
operations personnel continued plant startup. When calibration gas was
eventually received, the subsequent calibration showed a .4% error in the
oxygen reading. This verified that operation at 4% oxygen versus the
Technical Specification required less than 4% oxygen had occurred. The
failure to adhere to Station Procedures is a violation. (219/85-23-02)
The failure of shift personnel (which included two SR0s and a STA on
watch) to consider the use of other methods to draw oxygen samples is a
matter that should be further evaluated. The entire event could have been
avoided had an available option been selected and an appropriate procedure
change prepared.
The licensee's procedure for the procurement of the calibration gas, which
is required for the oxygen analyzer calibration, was briefly discussed
with licensee personnel. Calibration gas has been maintained as a " stock
item" since March 1984 with a maximum of 4 bottles and a minimum of 2
4
. - - --
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.
. .
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5
bottles specified (each bottle provides gas for approximately three
calibrations). A three week delivery is normal. The amount specified was
based on 1984 usage. During 1984 the plant was shutdown and calibrations
were not required or performed. The date could not be determined, but I&C
technicians stated the storeroom was notified when the next to the last
bottle was taken from the storeroom. A purchase requisition was prepared
for additional gas on June 28, 1985 and no further action was taken until
a purchase order (P0) was phoned to the supplier on July 30, 1985. After
running out, gas was picked up at the suppliers by the licensee on August
6, 1985. Steps have been taken to increase the specified amount of gas to
be maintained on site.
3. Operational Safety Verification
3.1 Control Room Observation
Routinely throughout the inspection period, the inspector
independently verified plant parameters and engineered safeguard
equipment availability. The following items were observed:
--
Proper Control Room manning and access control;
--
' Adherence to approved procedures for ongoing activities;
-- -Proper safety systems and emergency power sources valve and
breaker alignment; and
--
Shift turnover.
duringareviewofcontrolroommanningrequirements,itwas
identified that there is a conflict between the Regulations and the
Technical Specification and Station Procedure 106, " Conduct of
Operations," regarding the number of Senior Reactor Operators
(SR0s) required per shift. Specifically, paragraph 50.54 of 10 CFR
50 requires two SR0s per shift,'whereas the Technical Specifications i
and Station Procedure 106 require one SRO per shift. The licensee
responded to this concsrn by stating they do require two SR0s per
shift and will change the Technical Specifications and Procedure 106
to be consistent with the Regulations. Routine NRC inspections have
confirmed two SR0s per shift staffing. The inconsistency between the
Regulations and the Technical Specifications and Procedure 106 is an
unresolved item pending revisions to the Technical Specifications and
Procedure 106 to reflect the requirements of the Regulations.
(219/85-23-03)
3.2 Review of Logs and Operating Records
The inspector reviewed, on a sampling basis, the following logs and
instructions for the period July 1 to August 18, 1985:
_
,
,
. .
-
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6
--
Control Room and Group Shift Supervisor's Logs;
--
Control Room and Shift Supervisor's Turnover Check Lists;
--
Reactor and Turbine Building Tour Sheets;
--
Equipment Control Logs;
--
Standing Orders; and
--
Operational Memos and Directives.
The logs and instructions were reviewed to:
--
Obtain information on plant problems and operations;
--
Detect changes and trends in performance;
--
Detect possible conflicts with Technical Specifications or
regulatory requirements;
--
Assess the effectiveness of the communications provided by the
logs and instructions; and
--
Determine that the reporting requirements of Technical
Specifications are met.
The reviews indicated the logs and operating records were generally
complete. No inspector concerns were identified.
4. Observation of Physical Security
During daily entry and egress from the protected area, the inspectors
verified that access controls were in accordance with the security plan
and that security posts were properly manned. During facility tours, the
inspectors verified that protected area gates were locked or guarded and
that isolation zones were free of obstructions. The inspectors examined
vital area access points to verify that they were properly locked or
guarded and that access control was in accordance with the security plan.
A moderate loss of physical security was reported by the licensee. It
involved loss of power to the security computer for approximately two
hours during an early morning thunder and lightening storm. During the
time the computer was disabled, vital area access was adequately
controlled, however, all elements of the Security Plan were not
implemented as regards a small portion of the protected area adjacent to
the main security building. The actions taken to compensate for this
section of the protected area did, however, offer reasonable assurance
that the area was not trespassed. A subsequent search of the plant
confirmed no unauthorized entries were made during the period of time the
computer was disabled.
<
_ . . .. .. .
_ _ __ _ _ - _ . _ . ._ _
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i 7 )
i
5. Plant Tours
i
During the inspection period, the inspectors made frequent tours of plant
areas to make an independent assessment of equipment conditions, safety,
' and adherence to regulatory requirements. The following areas were among
those inspected:
e <
Turbine Building
'
4 --
,
--
Vital Switchgear Rooms
--
Cable Spreading Room
i --
Diesel Generator Building
i !
,
--
Reactor Building
The following items were observed or verified.
5.1 Fire Protection
--
Randomly selected fire extinguishers were accessible and
inspected on schedule.
i
- --
Fire doors were unobstructed and in their proper position.
--
Ignition sources and combustible materials were controlled in
.
accordance with the licensee's approved procedures.
l
'
--
Appropriate fire watches or fire patrols were stationed when
- equipment was out of service.
1
5.2 Equipment Controls
-- . Jumper and equipment mark-ups did not conflict with Technical '
Specification requirements.
<
--
Conditions requiring the use of jumpers received prompt licensee
attention.
l
--
Administrative controls for'the use of jumpers and equipment
mark-ups were properly implemented.
5.3 ' Vital Instrumentation
4
--
Selected instruments appeared functional and demonstrated
' parameters within Technical Specification Limiting Conditions
for Operation.
i
!
,
, - -- --.--.,.,.-,..amn, e.-.--.m. -,,v.----.w,---.w,,-- ..,,,-,,--nar,,.,,,,-,n,
.- - _ . . . . _ ~ -
. .
-
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8
5.4 Radioactive Waste System Controls
--
Gaseous releases were monitored and recorded. i
<
--
No unexpected gaseous releases occurred.
'
5.5 Housekeeping
,
--
Plant housekeeping and cleanliness were in accordance with
3
approved licensee programs.
!
6. Radiation Protection
During entry to and exit from the radiologically controlled area (RCA),
the inspectors verified that proper warning signs were posted, personnel
entering were wearing proper dosimetry, personnel and materials leaving
were properly monitored for radioactive contamination, and monitoring
1 instruments were functional and in calibration. Posted extended Radiation
Work Permits (RWPs) and survey status boards were reviewed to verify that ,
they were current and accurate. The inspector observed activities in the
RCA to verify that personnel complied with the requirements of applicable
RWPs and that workers were aware of the radiological conditions in the
area.
During this report period, ten individuals were slightly contaminated in
the New Radwaste (NRW) Building when a damper in the building's HVAC
system that isolates the building's HVAC-system from the main plant
discharge stack inadvertently opened while undergoing repairs. When the
damper opened, backflow from the plant stack into the NRW Building
resulted in airborne contamination that contaminated the ten individuals.
All individuals were decontaminated and whole body counted. No problems
were identified.
4
7. Return of Spent Fuel From West Valley
During this report period, the last shipments of spent fuel were received
onsite from West Valley, New York. The resident and region based
inspectors observed final spent fuel receipt at Oyster Creek and the
i handling and unloading of spent fuel from the TN-9 spent fuel shipping
cask. Radiation Control personnel were observed to be knowledgeable and
in control of radcon related activities. Once reaching the refueling
. floor, the TN-9 casks were moved and unloaded and spent fuel stored in the
'
spent fuel pool in accordance with controlling procedures. The overall
spent fuel shipping effort was conducted without a major incident.
8. Pipe Hanger Inspections
During this report period, pipe and pipe support inspections continued.
Also, efforts were initiated to repair deficiencies that were determined
by Technical Functions not to be acceptable as is. The overall scope of
f
. .. . a ,, a w g-~-, , - w s - - ,e , e-m -,v ,,---..e-em-m -
w~ ,, n. gre m-
. - - _ . - .
,
-
, ,
9
the inspection continued to increase and stood at 504 at the end of this
report period, 454 of which were inspected. Some of the more significant
problems identified during this report period were with supports on the
Core Spray System II full flow test line. The most significant of these
problems involved a cracked pipe clamp and cracked attachment welds used
to attach the pipe clamp to the pipe associated with snubber 411R11.
Other supports en the test line also had deficiencies, although not as
serious. Engineering evaluation of the problems determined the damage to
have resulted from water hammer in the piping prior to incorporation of a
" keep full" system installed nearly five years ago. The " keep full"
system eliminated the water hammer, but the damage to the supports was not
'
identified until this inspection. Prompt repairs were made to affected. *
supports.
9. ContainmentSprayEmergencyServiceWaterSystem(CSESWSJ
.
'
I
During routine surveillance testing of the ESW pumps, problems involving
differential pressure (DP) changes across the ESW side of the 1-3
Containment Spray heat exchanger (HX) were identified. Additionally, ESW
pump 52 C' was determined to have a loose impellor. As part of the
investigation of the DP changes in 1-3 HX, the HX head was removed and an
j inspection of the ESW side of the HX was performed. This inspection
4 revealed a meterial suspected to be "bitumastic" or a coal tar enamel
coating applied to the inside of the ESW system piping for corrosion
! protection. A sample was sent out for analysis to confirm suspicions.
Meanwhile, additional flushing of ESW System II (2 pumps and 2
'
heatexchangers are contained in ESW System I and ESW System II) was
resumed. While this flushing was in progress, a routine surveillance of
'
.
System I indicated inadequate pump performance thus requiring a plant
shutdown as System II was still considered inoperable because of the 52
C' pump. At this point discussions ensued between licensee and NRC
management as to whether or not at least one train of the ESW system could
be considered operable. The licensee suggested that if they could verify,
by use of other than normally used instrumentation, that the ESW pumps l
were putting out equal to or greater than minimum flow, then ESW System I '
or II could be considered operable. The NRC' suggested that the
operability of both loops was in question based on the presence of the
coal tar enamel in the 1-3 HX and increasing DP's in the other HX's
indicating a possible generic problem. The NRC and the licensee reached
an agreement that if adequate flow could be demonstrated in ESW System I
and a 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> run completed without encountering further problems, then
!
System I could be considered operable. However, System II would not be
considered operable until resolution of the problem of the foreign
material blocking flow to the HX's and, thereby affecting the ability of
the HX's to perform their design function. Less than 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> into the
run of System I, the DP across the HX's increased to the allowable limit.
- _ At this point, the licensee declared the ESW system inoperable, shut the
t
plant down, and commenced a major effort to resolve the problem.
4
. _~ _ . . _ _ _s . . . . _ . . . . _ _ , , _ . . - , . , - - _ . _ . . _ , _ . .
.- - -- - - ~ _ . . . _ . - -- -_
. .
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10
) Resident and region based inspectors reviewed the licensee's activities in
investigating the cause of the loss of bonding of the internal coating on
the ESW piping. The pipe lines affected were the redundant System I and
System II Emergency Service Water Inlets to Containment Spray Heat
4 Exchangers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and.1-4. These lines appear on special GPUN
isometric sketches SK-1, SK-2, and SK-3 which reference the original
! construction piping drawings. System I connects ESW pumps #1 and #2 to a
common line which supplies CSHX 1-1 and 1-2. System II connects ESW pumps
- 3 and #4 to a common line which supplies CSHX 1-3 and 1-4. The piping
from the pump to the common line is 10" in diameter and the common line
pipe itself is 14". At approximately 102. feet from the pumps on System I
and 73 feet from the pumps on System II the cooling water is chlorinated. '
The total pipe length from pump to HX is approximately 780 feet in
System I and approximately 40 feet less than this for System II (estimated
by inspector). Investigation of the pipe by the licensee (utilizing a TV '
optics system) of roughly 215 feet of System I and 280 feet of System II,
showed the coating problem to be limited to that portion of pipe between
the pumps' discharge and the point of chlorination.
The ESW piping system from the pumps to the CSHX consists of flanged pipe
- and elbows of carbon steel which were purchased as spool pieces then sent
to a coating application vendor. The licensee indicated they have not
been able to retrieve the purchasing information indicating the pipe
procurement and coating, however, licensee specifications called for the
coatings to meet American Water Works Association (AWWA) C 203-73 Type II
internal pipe coating system requirements. This coating system consists
l
'
of cleaning and blasting the pipe ID followed by application of a cold
primer coat of a coal tar pitch cut with a coal tar oil to a liquid
consistency which can be applied by brush or spray. Upon completion of
the primer coat, a hot coal tar enamel (pitch) containing inert mineral
fillers is cast in the pipe and a " pig" is drawn through the pipe to
'
produce a thick pliable coating in the order of 1/8-1/4" thick on the pipe
wall. The hot coal tar pitch coating is similar to a hot pitch roof,
however, the roof pitch does not contain the mineral fillers. The coating 1
does not extend around the radius of the flange attachment to the flange
face, but is given a guillotine cut in the same plane as the flange face
to produce an abutting (square butt) joint with adjacent spool pieces.
The coating continuity is, therefore, a function of the tightness of the
, square butt joint. Disassembly of the spool pieces near the pumps
! indicated that the worst area of coating de-bonding was in the first few
spool pieces.
The piping system immediately adjacent to the pumps consists of a short
<
horizontal straight pump extension piece (A), elbow (B), flow restrictor
(C), horizontal straight spool piece (D), elbow (E), vertical straight
spool piece (F), elbow (G), and a tee to the 14" common flow line.
Disassembly of the spool pieces near the pump indicated the worst
de-bonding of the coating was in the four horizontal straight spool pieces
1
-
(D). These pieces and two elbows (E) were removed and replaced. One of
'
these was cut up for evaluation by GPUN Reading Material Engineering
Laboratory and one left intact for visual examination. The inspector
.
, - _ _ - - - -.. ~ _ _ ~ _ _ . . - _ . , - - . . , . . . ~ __,._.,, _y
. . _ . . . .. _ . _ . _ _ _ - - _ _ _ - - - - _ _ _ _ - . . . - - _ . - _ __
,
-
. .
- .
.
11
,
'
visually inspected one section from the cut-up elbow and also inspected
- the other intact elbow. Marine life (barnacles, etc.) was attached to the
! coating. The coating thickness varied from approximately 1/8 to 1/4 " or
.
greater. There were " mud cracks" on the surface, but these cracks didn't i
! appear to go through the coating. On the elbow which was intact, the
!
coating was not present on portions of the elbow adjacent to the flange
face at the exposed edge (abutting edge area). On the elbow which was '
I
sectioned, the coating attachment was good except for the apex of the
" pie" cut section (introdos of elbow) where the cutting may have
,
,
l
mechanically loosened the coating (even though efforts were made to keep i
the saw cut cold).
Discussions with a representative of the GPUN Materials Engineering !
1 Laboratory indicated the following results of examination of the sectioned ,
j elbow:
1 !
]
--
" Mud cracking" pattern observed on surface -
1
! --
Undercutting at exposed coating edges observed (substrate corrosion
i causing loosening of coating).
!
j The laboratory had technical discussions with three people (representing
i field, laboratory, and technical area) of the Koppers Company on service
experience problems with AWA C203 coal tar enamels. Koppers indicated
that if the-coating is permitted to dry out and concurrently subjected to
ambient thermal cycles, it will produce " mud cracks." They also indicated
f that if the coating is dry and subject to. low temperatures in the order of
! O F, it will crack. A portion of the sectioned elbow was sent to Koppers ;
j for their analysis. The inspector requested copies of the GPUN Material
~
-
j Laboratory Report and the Koppers Co. report when available. The portion
} of pipe with the worst coating de-bonding was the horizontal run above the
i concrete mat which could have seen either of the two conditions described
i above. In addition this portion of the pipe line had severe barnacle
! attachment and is subject to mechanical loading forces due to pump
j starting and pump shut off.
1
! The licensee hydrolased the coating off the pipe in System I for !
i
approximately 60 feet from the pump and 75 feet from the pump (toward the
- chlorination point) in System II. Subsequent flushing was performed to
i- ensure removal of loose material.
I
- '
The inspector reviewed the following documents:
i
i
--
AWA C203-73 " Coal Tar Protective Coatings and Linings for Steel
Water Pipelines - Enamel and Tape - Hot Applied" (specified by the
j A . E ._ )
.
' --
GPU Nuclear OCNGSP No. 607.4.001 Rev. IB (DP acceptance criteria -
i para.-8.1.5 and .6)
i
t
,
,
,- -, -. - - . .
, - - , - , . -n, , , - , - , . - . , . - . - w,. ,m-..- - ,.,.,-- , -- ,,
. - . . . - -- . - - . -. --- - - - - - _ - - - -
.
,. ,
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'
12
--
GPU Nuclear 0CNGSP No. 607.4.003 Rev. 7 (requires check of CSHX tube
side pressures at various HX stages - Data Sheet 6.9)
--
LER 50-219/82-64/032 (HX DP problem caused by marine fouling)
I
Discussions with the licensee indicated the following additional
information on subject piping system:
,
--
In the area where there was coating de-bonding, the insulation had
been removed from the pipe for a long period of time.
--
The nominal cooling water conditions during operation are 4000 GPM
flow at ambient temperature with a pressure of 65 psig at the HX.
--
There has been no previous history of coating de-bonding. LER 064 in
- 1982 concerning marine biofouling was solved by chlorination.
-
,
--
Frequent periodic examination and cleaning of the water boxes on the
reactor building closed cooling water HXs required by biofouling
l problems has indicated the coal tar enamel coating in the plant
, Service Water system is intact. (The lined piping used in this
'
system is similar to that used in the ESW System.)
--
GPUN Engineering estimates a corrosion rate of 14 - 15 mils per year
(including pitting reactions) on the bare carbon steel piping.
1
--
TV optics examination of other portions of ESW system I and II where ,
'
coating was not removed from the pump to the chlorination point,
- indicates coating to be intact with no significant surface defects.
--
The nominal pipe wall thickness is 1/2" with a minimum design wall
(including 0.088" corrosion allowance) of 0.150".
i
--
Monthly ESW pump operability tests to 607.4.001 and 607.4.003 will
provide sufficient information on any tube blockage by DP readings.
--
The Perfex four pass Containment Spray HXs were originally tubed with
aluminum brass which had reasonable service, then retubed with 90-10
CU-NI, which failed in a relatively short time apparently due to wet
layup (static) pitting beneath surface films, and finally retubed
with unalloyed titanium tubes. The current tubes have great
!
resistance to partially blocked tube erosion problems. The water
1 boxes and tube sheets are CU-NI, but there is no evidence of galvanic
1
attack of the tube sheet.
>
--
No final engineering decision has been made by the licensee on the
long term plans regarding the uncoated ESW piping. Base line UT
! readings have been taken for monitoring purposes in the event it is
!
later determined that monitoring is necessary. The next refueling
outage is April 1986. The pipe line will.be run with no coating in
1
. . . . . -.,-_.,-,,-.,,__,~,-,,,,-,.--,~.m,-'r,m_ - , - . . . , . -
..
. .
.
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13
the pipe upstream of the chlorination point at least until April
1986. Replacement or recoating of the piping is being considered.
Estimated corrosion rates, if correct, would give long term (multiple
refueling cycle) satisfactory service with bare pipe.
--
The exact initiating mechanism of the coating de-bonding is not
known. The final reports from the GPUN Reading Lab and Koppers will
be supplied to the NRC when available.
--
No special surveillance requirements of the pipe corrosion rates (and
coating in the remainder of the pipe) are contemplated at this time.
The NRC considers the issues discussed above as unresolved pending the
licensee providing the following information for NRC review:
--
Koppers Company failure analysis report.
--
GPUN R(ading Materials Laborato y failure analysis report.
--
Final engineering decision and the long term solution to the coating
de-bonding problem.
--
Engineering justification for changes in pump operability tests which
will increase DP limits and possibly change testing time to ensure
sufficient transport time for loose coating to collect on HX tube
sheets. (219/85-23-04)
No violations were identified.
10. Followup of Operational Events
10.1 In NRC Inspection Report 85-19, a problem concerning drywell bulk
temperature was discussed. During this report period, the
calculation to arrive at drywell bulk temperature was revised to
factor in the gas contained in the large spherical volume at the
bottom of the drywell. This dropped the calculated bulk temperature
by several degrees from that value arrived at by the orevious
calculation.
As regards the concern of the deviation between the FSAR and plant
procedures as to the assumed drywell bulk temperature at the start of
a design basis accident and the failure of the licensee to notify NRC
licensing of this change, the licensee submitted LER 85-017. This
LER described the problem and stated their plans for corrective
action. The corrective action stated in the LER addresses the NRC
concerns regarding this issue, therefore, final resolution will be
tracked as part of closeout of LER 85-017.
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10.2 A scram from full power operation due to low condenser vacuum
occurred on July 8, 1985. The inspectors responded immediately and
particulary noted that no problems with the scram discharge volume
drain valves recurred. The scram resulted when the steam jet air
ejector drain pumps malfunctioned and ultimately affected the steam
jet air ejectors (SJAEs). With erratic SJAE operation, condenser
vacuum dropped to the setpoint of the low condenser vacuum scram.
Plant response and recovery was considered normal. However, operator
action to restore reactor vessel water level resulted in a high level
condition which has been a problem in previous recoveries from
various events. The licensee intends to address this issue in future
training activities.
10.3 In NRC Inspection Report 85-19, the MSIV closure scram from full
power was discussed. In this discussion, some abnormal and normal
equipment responses that raised concerns were presented. These
included two series scram discharge volume drain valves leaking,
inability to reset the scram until reactor pressure decreased to less
than 600 psig, and potentially inoperable safety-related
equipment due to initiation of a plant deluge system. Further
discussion of these concerns follows:
10.3.1 The licensee conducted an investigation into the cause of
the leaky scram discharge volume (SDV) drain valves. The
investigation disclosed that, on one of the valves
(V-15-121), the stroke was improperly adjusted such that
the valve did not fully close and, on the other valve
(V-15-134), the closing springs were undersized thus
failing to hold the valve closed against reactor coolant
system pressure. The stroke on V-15-121 was properly
adjusted and the proper size closing springs were installed
.
in V-15-134. A licensee self-critique of the undersized
sorings identified a multitude of problems and situations
tnat contributed to the installation of V-15-134 during the ,
last outage. Action has been taken to address the '
identified concerns. A concern remaining, however, that
did not appear to be addressed was that V-15-134 was
installed such that reactor pressure tended to open the
valve rather than to help seat it. A second concern was
raised in NRC Inspection Report 84-09. In particular,
Unresolved Item 219/84-09-08 questioned why the SDV vent
,
and drain valves were not included as part of the
containment pressure boundary and, therefore, tested in
accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50 Appendix J.
These two concerns are unresolved pending licensee
justification for the installed position of V-15-134
(219/85-23-05) and a response to address why the SDV vent
and drain valves are not considered containment isolation
valves and, therefore, tested in accordance with the
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requirements of 10 CFR 50 Appendix J. (219/85-23-06)
(Note: Urresolved Item 219/84-09-08 is closed as it will
now be tracked as Unresolved Item 219/85-23-06.)
10.3.2 Another concern raised as result of the MSIV closure scram
on June 12, 1985 was the inability to reset the scram until
the reactor was depressurized to 600 psig. This became
significant as a result of the failure of the Scram
Discharge Volume drain valves to seat properly.
A Technical Specification amendment changed the MSIV
closure and low condenser vacuum scram bypass from 600 psig
to 800 psia. The actual plant setpoint, however, remains
at 600 psig as a result of some concerns the licensee
developed as a result of the Intermediate Range Monitoring
(IRM) nuclear instrumentation system Range 10 modification.
The particular concern involved a reactivity addition
accident (excessive feedwater addition; idle recirculation
loop startup) and subsequent power excursion event from IRM
range 9. The hypothesized event would have the operator
erroneously responding to resulting power excursion by
upranging from IRM range 9 to 10. This would replace the
IRM range 9 scram setpoint of 12% with the IRM range 10
scram setpoint of 38.4%. If the resultant reactor scram
occurred due to the 38.4% trip point, the 25% safety limit
associated with the GEXL correlation would be violated.
The 25% safety limit associated with GEXL correlation is
provided to limit core power when reactor pressure is less
than 800 psia and core flow is less than 10*. to protect the
integrity safety limit. This event theorizes that the
neutronic trip of 38.4". would be reached prior to the MSIV
closure and low condenser vacuum scram being unbypassed as
pressure increases to the bypass setpoint.
Based on this and similar hypothesized accident scenarios,
the licensee elected to leave the MSIV closure and low
condenser vacuum scram bypass setpoint at 600 psig instead
of increasing the setpoint to the amended 800 psia point.
This provides additional margin, possibly to insure the 25%
core thermal power limit is not exceeded. The licensee is
contemplating hardware and software modification (s) to
eliminate the reliance on the 600 psig setpoint for core
, protection. The inspector will review the licensee's
analysis to support these modifications and the Technical
Specification basis change to 800 psia in a future
inspection report. (219/85-23-07)
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10.3.3 An Unusual Event was declared when a fire protection
- deluge system initiated and wetted down safety-related
equipment thereby rendering operability status
questionable. The fire protection system performed as
, designed but did have a potential impact on the operability i
of safety-related equipment. This conflict in safety i
! system objectives, that apparently was only partially
1 addressed when spray shields were installed, is unresolved
! pending licensee corrective action to address the conflict. i
- (219/85-23-08)
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11. 480 Volt Unit Substation Transformers-Low 011 Level
i
The licensee shutdown the plant to perform an oil filling operation on
vital transformers 1A2 and 182 on August 9, 1985. The shutdown resulted
when the licensee determined, using a thermographic process, that the
,
vital transformers might not be able to perform their design function.
Using a thermographic photography process, the oil (ASKAREL) in the IA2
1 and 182 transformers was determined to be low and not flowing in some of
j the cooling fins. This situation could be significant during a LOCA
-
coupled with a single-failure of one of the transformers. A single
4
transformer failure would result in both transformer LOCA loads being
! supplied through one vital transformer. (LER 85-009 provides further
discussion of this area.) Under these conditions the vital transformer
may not be able to perform its design function with a degraded cooling
capability.
.
] The licensee's investigation into the low level concern determined that '
4
approximately five quarts of oil samples could have been taken since the
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transformer installation. It could not be determined if any routine
'
sampling of these transformers was conducted or spectfied on any l
preventative maintenance schedule. As a result of the filling operation
- and load / cooling tests performed on the vital transformers, the licensee ,
determined that the oil level in the transformer cooling header was not
sufficient to fill all the cooling fins protruding into the headers.
During the filling operation the licensee established a new oil level
i approximately l" higher than the specified nameplate data required. This
i
was done to insure all the cooling fins would be filled with oil and thus
restore full cooling capability to the transformers. The 1A2 and 182
- transformers required 16 and 12 gallons, respectively, to establish this
- new oil level. The IA2 transformer may have required more oil to
!
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establish the new level as a result of the transformer being slightly out
' of level. The licensee calculated the cold (25 C) as found oil level to
be slightly less than specified by the nameplate data. A General Electric
representative was present during the filling operation. Upon completion
of the filling operation, the licensee verified that all cooling fins had
proper oil flow using thermographic photography,
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Some problems with instrumentation were discovered during the licensee's
investigation. The liquid temperature indicator did not give an accurate
reading of the oil temperature. The temperature indicator is installed in
a cooling fin and to display an accurate liquid temperature reading its
sensor must be submerged in the transformer oil. This particular cooling
fin was one of the cooling fins that did not receive any oil flow as a
result of the low oil level. During licensee testing of the vital
transformer, a portable pyrometer was used to measure the oil temperature.
Once oil flow in the cooling fin with the installed temperature device was
established, the pyrometer and installed temperature sensor compared
favorably. Another instrument problem was the liquid-level gage. The
accuracy of the level gage required to sense small level changes in the
transformer cooling headers is critical. The present level gage may not
have the required accuracy to indicate these small level changes in the
cooling header to the extent that an operator could determine the onset of
cooling degradation.
The licensee's immediate corrective action was to shut down and fill the
transformers to the newly established oil level which is higher than the
manufacturer's (GE) recommended level stated on the transformers. The
long term corrective action has not been finalized. A number of action
items are being considered including:
--
A thermographic testing program
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Transformer replacement
--
Issue filling and sampling procedures and requirements
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Instrumentation upgrading
In addition the licensee is planning to request General Electric to review
the vital transformer cooling problem. The cooling capability of the
vital transformers in regard to the oil level in the transformers has the
potential to be a generic issue. This will remain an Inspector Followup
Item pending final resolution of long term corrective action and analysis.
(219/85-23-09)
12. Exit Interview
At periodic intervals during the course of this inspection, meetings were
held with senior facility management to discuss the inspection scope and
findings. A summary of findings was presented to the licensee at the end
of this inspection. The licensee stated that, of the subjects discussed
at the exit interview, no proprietary information was included.