Event Notification Report for July 30, 2000
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
07/29/2000 - 07/30/2000
EVENT NUMBERS
37199
Power Reactor
Event Number: 37199
Facility: ARKANSAS NUCLEAR
Region: 4 State: AR
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: TOM MOSBY
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Region: 4 State: AR
Unit: [] [2] []
RX Type: [1] B&W-L-LP,[2] CE
NRC Notified By: TOM MOSBY
HQ OPS Officer: STEVE SANDIN
Notification Date: 07/30/2000
Notification Time: 18:39 [ET]
Event Date: 07/30/2000
Event Time: 16:35 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/01/2000
Notification Time: 18:39 [ET]
Event Date: 07/30/2000
Event Time: 16:35 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 08/01/2000
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(i) - DEG/UNANALYZED COND
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)(i) - DEG/UNANALYZED COND
Person (Organization):
BILL JONES (R4)
BILL JONES (R4)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N | N | 0 | Cold Shutdown | 0 | Cold Shutdown |
INDICATION OF REACTOR COOLANT LEAKAGE ON PRESSURIZER HEATER PENETRATIONS
"Boron was discovered on the reactor coolant system (RCS) pressurizer heater power cables. An inspection of the heater sleeves was performed and it appears that two heaters (B2 and D2) are leaking. B2 is on backup heater bank #4 and D2 is on backup heater bank #6. The leakage appears to be the result of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) of either the heater sleeve or the J-groove weld between the heater sleeve and the pressurizer cladding. The insulation will need to be removed to positively determine which heater sleeve(s) had been leaking. Currently, Unit 2 is in reduced inventory with the pressurizer empty. The pressurizer heater sleeve penetrations were inspected during 2R-13 [between 1/9/99 and 2/25/99] as part of the routine I-600 inspections performed each refueling outage. No indication of leakage was evident during that inspection. Pressurizer heater sleeve leakage is considered RCS pressure boundary leakage."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 0052 ON 07/31/00 BY LARRY McLERRAN TO JOLLIFFE * * *
After removing insulation from the pressurizer and RCS hot legs, the licensee discovered 9 or 10 additional pressurizer heater sleeves that are leaking and also a hot leg temperature element (TE) that is leaking. The licensee is continuing to inspect the hot leg penetrations for evidence of leakage.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. The NRC Operations Officer notified R4DO Bill Jones.
* * * UPDATE AT 0829 ON 07/31/00 BY WAYNE AHO TO JOLLIFFE * * *
The licensee discovered indications on RCS hot leg TE #2TE-4710-3 that is indicative of a RCS pressure boundary leak. The TE is installed above the water line in the 'B' hot leg on the reactor coolant pump #2P-32C side. The licensee is continuing to inspect the hot leg penetrations for evidence of leakage.
The licensee plans to notify the NRC Resident Inspector. The NRC Operations Officer notified R4DO Bill Jones.
*** UPDATE/PARTIAL RETRACTION AT 1047 ON 08/01/00 FROM WAYNE AHO TO BOB STRANSKY ***
The licensee is retracting the last update. The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:
"This information is provided as an update to Event #37199, and applies only to the update given on 07/31/00 at 0829 EDST, and only to the RCS boundary at the nozzle for 2TE-4710-3.
"The remaining information in Event #37199 remains correct at this time.
"The nozzle for 2TE-4710-3 was re-inspected, and there was a very fine ring of white material immediately around the nozzle penetration into the hot-leg. No indication of leakage was observed down the side of the hot-leg pipe. Chemistry personnel took a small sample of the white material for analysis. The results of the analysis was conclusive that the white material was not boron. Because of the location of the white material and the results of the chemistry analysis, it is concluded there is high confidence that 2TE-4710-3 is not leaking around this nozzle.
"The source of the white ring was from a Component Cooling Water (CCW) leaking flange located above the TE-4710-3 nozzle."
The NRC operations officer notified the R4DO (Spitzberg).
"Boron was discovered on the reactor coolant system (RCS) pressurizer heater power cables. An inspection of the heater sleeves was performed and it appears that two heaters (B2 and D2) are leaking. B2 is on backup heater bank #4 and D2 is on backup heater bank #6. The leakage appears to be the result of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) of either the heater sleeve or the J-groove weld between the heater sleeve and the pressurizer cladding. The insulation will need to be removed to positively determine which heater sleeve(s) had been leaking. Currently, Unit 2 is in reduced inventory with the pressurizer empty. The pressurizer heater sleeve penetrations were inspected during 2R-13 [between 1/9/99 and 2/25/99] as part of the routine I-600 inspections performed each refueling outage. No indication of leakage was evident during that inspection. Pressurizer heater sleeve leakage is considered RCS pressure boundary leakage."
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
* * * UPDATE AT 0052 ON 07/31/00 BY LARRY McLERRAN TO JOLLIFFE * * *
After removing insulation from the pressurizer and RCS hot legs, the licensee discovered 9 or 10 additional pressurizer heater sleeves that are leaking and also a hot leg temperature element (TE) that is leaking. The licensee is continuing to inspect the hot leg penetrations for evidence of leakage.
The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector. The NRC Operations Officer notified R4DO Bill Jones.
* * * UPDATE AT 0829 ON 07/31/00 BY WAYNE AHO TO JOLLIFFE * * *
The licensee discovered indications on RCS hot leg TE #2TE-4710-3 that is indicative of a RCS pressure boundary leak. The TE is installed above the water line in the 'B' hot leg on the reactor coolant pump #2P-32C side. The licensee is continuing to inspect the hot leg penetrations for evidence of leakage.
The licensee plans to notify the NRC Resident Inspector. The NRC Operations Officer notified R4DO Bill Jones.
*** UPDATE/PARTIAL RETRACTION AT 1047 ON 08/01/00 FROM WAYNE AHO TO BOB STRANSKY ***
The licensee is retracting the last update. The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:
"This information is provided as an update to Event #37199, and applies only to the update given on 07/31/00 at 0829 EDST, and only to the RCS boundary at the nozzle for 2TE-4710-3.
"The remaining information in Event #37199 remains correct at this time.
"The nozzle for 2TE-4710-3 was re-inspected, and there was a very fine ring of white material immediately around the nozzle penetration into the hot-leg. No indication of leakage was observed down the side of the hot-leg pipe. Chemistry personnel took a small sample of the white material for analysis. The results of the analysis was conclusive that the white material was not boron. Because of the location of the white material and the results of the chemistry analysis, it is concluded there is high confidence that 2TE-4710-3 is not leaking around this nozzle.
"The source of the white ring was from a Component Cooling Water (CCW) leaking flange located above the TE-4710-3 nozzle."
The NRC operations officer notified the R4DO (Spitzberg).