ML20085B254

Submits Current Status & Mods to Control Rod Drive Mechanisms Testing Program.Temporary Relubrication of Clutch Splines Reported in Will Continue Until Proposed Mods Become Permanent

ML20085B254
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	11/20/1972
From:	Sewell R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
To:	Oleary J US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20085B259	List: ML20085B254 ML20085B263 ML20085B278 ML20085B288
References
NUDOCS 8307080065
Download: ML20085B254 (2)

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General Omces: 212 West Michigan Aver.ue. Jackson. Mecnigan 49201. Area Code S17 788-0550 m.,

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Mr. John F. O' Leary, Director Directorate of Licensing

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Dear Mr. O' Leary:

Our letter of September 8,1972 informed you of difficulties encountered with four control rod drive mechanisms (CRDM) during trip testing at the Palisades Plant, corrective action taken and additional testing programs implemented to verify clutch operability. During each of two recent outages, all CBDM clutch splines were relubricated.

These relubrications were described in our September 26,1972 and November 2, 1972 letters. This letter is written to describe our present CRDM testing program.

Our September 26 letter described the testing program as follows:

1.

Trip test one peripheral CRDM on an alternating basis per day during plant operation.

2.

Trip test all CRDMs prior to returning the plant to service following a cold shutdown.

At a recent Safety Audit and Review Board (SARB) Meeting, CRDM testing was reviewed. SARB modified the testing program slightly as follows:

1.

Trip test at least 14 peripheral CRDMs at intervals of not greater than once every two weeks during plant operation.

2.

Trip test all CRDMs prior to returning the plant to service following a cold shutdown.

The new testing program provides for the same statistical sampling as the previous program. There was an unquantifiable feeling that long-term fuel performance might be enhanced by performing testing I

essentially at one time. As of this writing, the new testing program is being implemented at the Palisades Plant.

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Again, the relubrication of the clutch splines and the testing program are considered temporary corrective action. They wiD remain in effect until a testing program on proposed modifications car. ce com-pleted, the results evaluated, and a permanent modification installed.

As in the past, we will keep both Directorate of Licensing and Directorate of Regulatory Operations representatives infotined as to the progress to-ward a permanent solution.

Yours very truly, i

Ralph B. Sewell (Signed) 4 RBS/ map Ralph B. Sewell Nuclear Licensing Administrator 1

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