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Tools Used to Collect, Screen, Communicate and Analyze Operating Experience (OpE) Data

Tools Used to Collect, Screen, Communicate and Analyze Operating Experience (OpE) Data. Improving Nuclear Safety Through Operating Experience Feedback Cologne, Germany May 30, 2006. Mary Jane Ross-Lee, Chief Operating Experience Branch. NRC OpE Program Objectives.

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Tools Used to Collect, Screen, Communicate and Analyze Operating Experience (OpE) Data

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  1. Tools Used to Collect, Screen, Communicate and Analyze Operating Experience (OpE) Data Improving Nuclear Safety Through Operating Experience Feedback Cologne, Germany May 30, 2006 Mary Jane Ross-Lee, Chief Operating Experience Branch

  2. NRC OpE Program Objectives • OpE is collected, evaluated, communicated, and applied to support the NRC’s goal of ensuring safety • OpE is used to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and realism of NRC decisions • Stakeholders are provided with timely, accurate, and balanced information

  3. NRC Reactor OpE • Program supports regulatory decision-making in our core programs • Licensing • Oversight • Incident Response • Rulemaking • Physical Security • Based on inter-dependent model where all organizations work toward applying OpE

  4. Reactor OpE Review Process • Current OpE Program launched January 2005 • Centralized screening organization • Various sources of OpE collected • Screening of domestic and international OpE in accordance with established guidelines • Evaluation of screened-in items by Clearinghouse team and technical staff • Communication with stakeholders • Analysis/trending of all OpE • Application of OpE lessons learned

  5. Reactor OpE ProgramInput-Output Overview Informing Stakeholders International OpE Generic Communications Morning Reports OpE Briefings COMMunications Web Page Incident Reporting System (IRS) Internal Nuclear Event Scale (INES)* OpE Clearinghouse Collection Screening Communication Evaluation Application Influencing Agency programs Domestic OpE: Industry Daily Events Reports* Plant Status Reports* Licensee Event Reports* Part 21 Reports* Inspection Licensing Domestic OpE: NRC Taking Regulatory Actions Inspection Findings* Morning Reports* Preliminary Notifications* Regional Project Calls Studies/Trends Rulemaking Information Request Storage * - available to public

  6. Overview of OpE Process – 4 Phases

  7. Reactor OpE Program - 2005 • Over 1000 specific OpE items screened • 127 OpE COMMunications to technical experts • 30 OpE issues evaluated and closed • 7 OpE senior management briefings • All daily reports evaluated for INES rating • 66 Generic Communications (e.g., IN, GL, RIS) issued • 30 technical groups formed to review OpE

  8. International Activities • International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) • All daily Event Notifications (10 CFR 50.72s) rated with INES • Level 2 or higher is communicated internationally • 2 events submitted in 2005 • Incident Reporting System (IRS) • Relevant Generic Communications submitted to IRS • IRS reports are reviewed in screening process • 20 US reports submitted in 2005 out of 70 total

  9. Information Technology Tools • OpE Information Gateway • Single web access point to multiple databases • Dataset assumptions and limitations explained • Improved OpE search capabilities • @Operating Experience Community • Web-based communication forum • Subscription notification to over 30 topical groups • Provides links to related documents • Searchable records

  10. OpE Community Posting

  11. Technical Review Group (TRG) • Agency-wide initiative to supplement Clearinghouse screening • Clearinghouse processes over 1000 items • Technical experts have more specific knowledge • Identifies issues that were overlooked • 30 TRGs created covering various technical areas with members from key offices and regions • Groups consisted of: Pumps & Valves, Fuel, Electrical, Piping, etc.

  12. What Does the TRG Review? • Each TRG reviews relevant OpE data sources specific to the technical discipline. • OpE data sources include: • OpE COMMs which are emailed to members and posted on the OpE Community Forum • Inspection Findings • Licensee Event Reports • International OpE • Part 21 reports • INPO SEE-IN documents

  13. TRG Output • TRG reviews OpE in their area over the last 6 months • From the initial review, several issues were identified • 3 Generic Documents Initiated • Information Notice (IN) on diesel generator problems including corrosion issues and wear caused by non-lubricated starts • IN on emergency preparedness siren system failures caused by a single siren failure providing continuous feedback signal • IN on silt, biofouling and debris causing blockage and equipment failure • 2 High Priority Followups • Flow induced vibration problems • Reactor coolant pressure boundary degradation mechanisms • 12 Open Items

  14. TRG Benefits • Previously unidentified issues or trends identified • NRC technical experts used for review • Increased the use of OpE in the technical groups and the regional offices • Minimal resources required for benefit gained

  15. Accident Sequencer Precursor • Established 1979, in Office of Research • Staff reviews LERs to identify potential precursors • Three agency programs assess risk – ASP, SDP, M.D 8.3 • Challenges of ASP - timeliness for analysis, looking at graded approach

  16. ASP Search Results

  17. Upcoming OpE Activities • Developing international ties in the areas of new reactor construction • Improving OpE search capabilities

  18. Publicly Available OpE • Reports Associated with Events (http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/) • Power Reactor Status • Event Notification Report • Morning Report • Part 21 Reports • Preliminary Notifications • Generic Communications (http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/index.html) • Bulletins • Generic Letters • Information Notices • Regulatory Issue Summaries

  19. References (in ADAMS) http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html • Management Directive 8.7 (ML043570013) • MD 8.7 Handbook (ML043570032) • NRR Office Instruction LIC-401 (ML050130014) • Reactor Operating Experience Task Force Report (ML033350063) • Plan for Implementing Reactor Operating Experience Task Force Report (ML041180024)

  20. Recent OpE Examples Quad Cities ERV Vibration Issues Palo Verde Shutdown Cooling Isolation Valve Vibration

  21. Recent OpE Example 1 • Vibration-Induced Failure of Electromatic Relief Valves (ERVs) at Quad Cities • Quad Cities 1 and 2 • Generic Electric Boiling Water Reactors • Mark I containment • Commercial operation started in 1973 • Extended power uprate (EPU) of 17.8% (446 Mwt) approved in 2001

  22. Event Summary – Unit 2 • December 30, 2005: Internal damage of the ERV actuator found; plant shutdown initiated • Significant wear and loose parts identified on remaining 3 actuators • January 14, 2006: Unit 2 shutdown for inspection of the actuator pivot plate bolts (due to Unit 1 issue)

  23. Event Summary – Unit 1 • December 31, 2005: Unit 1 decreased to pre-EPU power due to Unit 2 issue • January 6, 2006: plant shutdown initiated • Three ERVs had unsuccessful stroke tests or inspection results • January 15, 2006; Unit 1 shutdown for inspection of the turnbuckle (Unit 2 had weld cracking)

  24. Electromatic Relief Valve

  25. As-found Conditionsof ERV Parts Actuator Plunger Post Plunger Roller

  26. Safety Significance • Degraded capability for overpressure protection/depressurization • Preliminary risk assessment: Conditional Core Damage Probability = 2.7E-6 • Three Green Findings

  27. NRC Response • Close monitoring by resident inspectors • Preliminary Notification - January 17, 2006 • Special Inspection - January 9 through February 7, 2006 • Internal communications of the event • Issue For Resolution: Screened-in for operating experience follow-up

  28. Recent OpE Example 2 • Shutdown Cooling Isolation Valve Vibration at Palo Verde 1 • Palo Verde 1 • Combustion Engineering Pressurized Water Reactor • Commercial operation started in 1986

  29. Event Summary • Vibration problem since 2001 • Worsened following steam generator replacement • December 2005: Vibration of Train A shutdown cooling suction line reached administrative limit • Plant reduced power to less then 35%

  30. Event Summary cont. • The licensee has attempted several modifications to reduce the vibration, but none have been fully successful • added masses • added supports • added heating blankets • installed a flow distribution plate • Since March 17, 2006: Plant maintenance outage ongoing

  31. Affected valve

  32. Safety Significance • Degraded shutdown cooling train • Shutdown cooling system used for low pressure heat removal • Significant operational constraint

  33. NRC Response • Close monitoring by resident inspectors • Internal communications of the event • Issue For Resolution: Screened-in for operating experience follow-up

  34. Questions & Comments

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