Damon, we have exactly the same problem. We have a recorder and alarm for all control banks. The setpoints change every cycle based on our fully withdrawn rod position for that cycle. The setpoints for CBA and CBB are around 213 for Lo-Lo and 223 for Lo. The setpoints for CBC and CBD very with power. We've tried to clarify to the operators that the alarm indicates that you need to check your shutdown margin.

We also have a statement in TS that says the control banks will not be inserted beyond the insertion limit specified in the COLR. If it is then restore the bank within 2 hours or reduce power to the power specified in the COLR or be in HSD within 6 hours. Well the COLR says the insertion limit for Shutdown A and B is fully withdrawn. The same applies for Control A and B. Only C&D vary with power.

So basically we have in our annunciator response procedures if you get the alarm to do a shutdown margin and if you don't have adequate SDM then reduce power until you do. Otherwise I think the recorders for CBA and CBB are useless as are the alarms.

Michael J. Fanguy Nuclear Analysis & Fuel Lead Reactor Engineer Surry Power Station Email: Michael.Fanguy@Dom.com Phone: 757-365-2155 Pager #: 3453

"BRYSON, DAMON V" DBRYSON@scana.com Sent by: pwrrm-bounces@retaqs.com 10/02/2007 05:23 PM Please respond to PWR Reactivity Management pwrrm@retaqs.com

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Subject [Pwrrm] Rod Insertion Limits vs. Shutdown Margin

This question is for the Westinghouse crowd. We at VC Summer have recently found some inconsistencies between our Rod Insertion Limit (RIL) Lo-Lo alarm and our RIL in the Core Operating Limits Report (COLR). For all control banks besides the lead bank, the installed RIL alarm setpoint is at 213 steps, while our COLR limit is 230 steps. The COLR limit is consistent with our reload shutdown margin analysis, which assumes all rods except the lead bank at 230 steps (the all rods out position).

As far as we can tell, our alarm has always been set to 213 for all previous cycles. In previous cycles the COLR only listed the lead bank limit, but no limits for other banks. We placed that limit in the COLR based on our analysis assumptions.

Do other plants use similar setpoints? I know many plants have repositioning strategies that require rod motion during the cycle, but our plant does not. I also haven't found any mention of the RIL alarm in the Westinghouse reload design process checklists. My control room operators want some justification for this discrepancy, since I just taught them in our last requal session that the purpose of the RIL alarm is to verify you have shutdown margin. Thanks for any help you can give...

Damon Bryson dbryson@scana.com 803-345-4814 _______________________________________________ PWRRM mailing list PWRRM@retaqs.com http://www.keffective.com/mailman/listinfo/pwrrm

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