As usual, I don't have a clue how unusual this is (or is not), much less whether it's y2k-related or not, but am posting it just in case ... - Judy

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MANUAL REACTOR TRIP AT SALEM

Date: 07 Jan 2000

From: Norm and Karen Cohen {norco@bellatlantic.net}

Daily Events Report

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center

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Power Reactor Event Number: 36567

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FACILITY: SALEM REGION: 1 NOTIFICATION DATE: 01/06/2000

UNIT: [1] [] [] STATE: NJ NOTIFICATION TIME: 19:16[EST]

RXTYPE: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP EVENT DATE: 01/06/2000

-----------------------------------------EVENT TIME: 16:11[EST]

NRC NOTIFIED BY: FRANK SOENS LAST UPDATE DATE: 01/06/2000

HQ OPS OFFICER: LEIGH TROCINE

------------------------------------------PERSON ORGANIZATION

EMERGENCY CLASS: N/A LAWRENCE DOERFLEIN R1

10 CFR SECTION:

ARPS 50.72(b)(2)(ii) RPS ACTUATION

AESF 50.72(b)(2)(ii) ESF ACTUATION

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UNIT SCRAM CODERX CRITINIT PWR INIT RX MODE CURR PWR CURR RX MODE

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1 M/R Y 100 Power Operation 0 Hot Standby

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EVENT TEXT

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MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO LOSS OF A FEEDWATER PUMP AND DEGRADED FEEDWATER PUMP SUCTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE ISOLATION OF THE LOW PRESSURE FEEDWATER HEATER STRINGS

The following text is a portion of a facsimile received from the licensee:

"At 1611, a manual reactor trip was performed due to loss of [the #]12 steam generator [feedwater] pump (SGFP) and degraded SGFP suction pressure. At approximately the same time, [the #]11 SGFP also tripped.

The secondary transient was due to isolation of the low pressure feedwater heater strings. An [auxiliary] feedwater (AFW) [automatic] start signal was received due to low [steam generator] level due to normal shrink. All safety systems performed as designed except for [the #]12 AFW [pump] and source range N-31. No flow was observed from [the #]12 AFW [pump,] and operators manually initiated flow from the control room by depressing [the] low pressure override defeat. [The #]13 AFW pump started and fed all four [steam generators] as designed, and [the #]11 AFW [pump] started and delivered flow to [two] steam generators as designed. Source range N-31 was erratic when it automatically energized. At this time, the unit is stable in Mode 3."

The licensee stated that all control rod fully inserted as a result of the manual reactor trip, and none of the primary or secondary safety relief valves lifted. There were no related maintenance or surveillance activities ongoing at the time of the event. The causes of the issues mentioned above are currently under investigation. The licensee stated that (with the exception of the items previously mentioned) all systems functioned as required and that there was nothing unusual or misunderstood.

The unit is currently stable in Mode 3 (Hot Standby). Normal charging and letdown, pressurizer heaters and sprays, and the reactor coolant pumps are currently being utilized to maintain primary system inventory, pressure, and transport control. Secondary steam is being dumped to the condenser, and AFW is being supplied to the steam generators.

The licensee notified the NRC resident inspector, and the Lower Alloways Creek Township. The licensee plans to notify the State of New Jersey and also plans to issue a media/press release.

# # #

Coalition for Peace and Justice and the UNPLUG Salem Campaign; 321 Barr Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221; 609-601-8537 or 609-601-8583 (8583: fax, answer machine) UNPLUG SALEM WEBSITE: http://www.unplugsalem.org/COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE WEBSITE: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~norco/ ICQ# 54268619; The Coalition for Peace and Justice is a chapter of Peace Action.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2000

Answers

I get my electric from Salem, in part. They have a history of shutdowns, some very lengthy, though I don't know if they are more or less reliable than the industry average. Here it is Saturday morning, which should be a low demand time for electric use, and my voltage shows 120. While that is still good (and no fluctuations) it is normally supplied at 125 +/- 1 volt. So it is down a bit from normal. Now, last summer when demand exceeded supply I saw this voltage running as low as 108 at times. So I wonder if there is supply/demand situation in progress now with that Salem unit shutdown. Not worried, just curious. Also, for Dan, FactFinder, or others, why would they go to a manual shutdown? Is that just the normal procedure if they see a problem developing? In other words, not wait for an automatic shutdown? My presumption is that they were not *running* in manual at the time, but I don't know about that either.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2000

Steam Generators can boil dry in less than 2 minutes with the loss of feedwater. Automactic Scram is needed - without the steam generators, heat cannot be removed from the reactor as efficiently and safely.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2000

Judith, Without further information, I don't know why they lost the feedwater pump. These types of events are not uncommon however.

Gordon: "why would they go to a manual shutdown? Is that just the normal procedure if they see a problem developing? In other words, not wait for an automatic shutdown? My presumption is that they were not *running* in manual at the time, but I don't know about that either."

Gordon, a "manual reactor trip" just means the operator pushed the Reactor Trip button which inserts the rods into the core to shut it down. An automatic reactor trip on the other hand is done by the protection systems, and as the name implies no human intervention is needed. A manual reactor trip in certain events (such as this one) is a required operator response (by procedure). This is anticipatory for situations where there is no point in waiting or relying on the automatic reactor trip. As far as the voltage at your place goes, this can be due to a variety of reasons, number of generating plants running, status of bulk power users, and even what moderate loads are on/off NEAR you (moderately large users of electricity on the same retail power line as you for example). A T&D guy could help you more here though :) I believe that the voltage tolerance is 120 V +/- 10%, so 108V is right on minimum end, not too good at that time, sounds like a brownout. Not good on some equipment such as motors.

Scott has done his homework again, it sure doesn't take long for the SGs to boil dry on a loss of feedwater (this is for PWRs, BWRs feed to the reactor and don't have the secondary loop).

Regards,

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2000