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Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

Part 21 Report - 2001-233

Power Reactor				Event Number:		38119
FACILITY: FERMI		REGION: 3		NOTIFICATION DATE:		07/05/2001
UNIT: [ 2 ] [ ] [ ]		STATE: MI		NOTIFICATION TIME:		16:03[EDT]
RXTYPE: [2] GE-4				EVENT DATE:		07/05/2001
				EVENT TIME:		10:00[EDT]
NRC NOTIFIED BY:		COSEI		LAST UPDATE DATE:		07/05/2001
HQ OPS OFFICER:		CHAUNCEY GOULD
				PERSON		ORGANIZATION
EMERGENCY CLASS:		NON EMERGENCY		ROGER LANKSBURY		R3
10 CFR SECTION:
\|AINA 50.72(b)(3)(v)(A) POT UNABLE TO SAFE SD

UNIT	SCRAM CODE	RX CRIT	INIT PWR	INIT RX MODE	CURR PWR		CURR RX MODE
2	N	Y	100	Power Operation	100		Power Operation
EVENT TEXT

NON-CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS FOR OPRM SCRAM SETPOINTS

On July 5, 2001, Detroit Edison received confirmation from General Electric of a non-conservative analysis that supports Operation Power Range Monitor (OPRM) scram setpoints. The non-conservative analysis is generic and been determined to affect Fermi 2. The OPRM had been conservatively declared inoperable on June 27, 2001, at 1333 hours as a result of preliminary notification by General Electric.

The consequences of the non-conservative analysis are that the associated OPRM Reactor Protective System (RPS) scram setpoints are non-conservative. The non-conservative RPS setpoints may result in violating the Minimum Critical Power Ratio (MCPR) safety limit during a thermal-hydraulic instability.

All OPRM channels have been declared inoperable. Technical Specification 3.3.1.1 Action J requires an alternate method of detecting and suppressing thermal-hydraulic instabilities to be implemented within 12 hours. Alternate methods have been established, thus, the Technical Specification required action is satisfied. Fermi 2 has 120 days to restore the OPRMs to an operable condition.

This initial report is being made in accordance with 10CFR50.72 (B)(3)(V)(A) as a condition that could have prevented the fulfillment of the safety function of a system needed to shutdown the reactor.

See EN #38104, GE Nuclear Energy 10CFR21 report.

The NRC Resident Inspector will be notified.

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