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North Anna Fuel Failure

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BetaAnt:
Power Reactor Event Number: 50457
Facility: NORTH ANNA
Region: 2 State: VA
Unit: [ ] [2] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-3-LP,[2] W-3-LP,[3] M-4-LP
NRC Notified By: PAGE KEMP
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN SHOEMAKER  Notification Date: 09/15/2014
Notification Time: 14:54 [ET]
Event Date: 09/15/2014
Event Time: 09:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/15/2014 
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) - DEGRADED CONDITION
 Person (Organization):
SCOTT SHAEFFER (R2DO)
 

Unit SCRAM Code RX CRIT Initial PWR Initial RX Mode Current PWR Current RX Mode
2 N N 0 Refueling 0 Refueling

Event Text

FAILED FUEL ASSEMBLY IDENTIFIED DURING CORE OFF-LOAD

"With North Anna Unit 2 in Mode 6 during a scheduled refueling outage, discharged assembly 4Z9 was identified as a failed fuel assembly by In-Mast Sipping. The fuel assembly was located in core location B11. Initial inspection of the fuel assembly identified two (2) visibly split fuel pins of eight (8) to ten (10) inches long with visible damage to the top of the pins. The internals of the affected pins are visible and the springs from the top of each pellet stack are touching the top nozzle. The fuel assembly has been placed into its designated location in the Spent Fuel Pool. No abnormal increase was noted on any radiation monitor either after or during fuel assembly movement. This fuel assembly had been used during three (3) previous operating cycles and is not scheduled for reuse.

"On September 15, 2014, at 0900 [EDT], subsequent video inspection of the fuel assembly identified that the top springs of the two (2) fuel pins were dislodged. Video inspection of the reactor vessel identified debris that has the potential to be fragments of fuel pellets resting on the core plate. Additional investigations are in progress.

"Due to the fact that the failure exceeded expected conditions, this event is being reported per 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A), as any event or condition that results in the condition of the nuclear plant, including its principle safety barriers, being seriously degraded."

The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector and will notify local county authorities.

DRPs and Alpha for everyone. Any more details as why the fuel failed (FME or another crushed bundle like Oconee)? 3rd cycle fuel pellets on the core plate will be toasty. Be careful.

 8) 8) 8)

cheme09:
initial indications dont point to FME, but to an industry recognized phenomenon. the root cause eval is underway so i'll wait to comment any further until that's complete.

atomicarcheologist:
That outage just turned into FME from hell.

Contract SRO:

--- Quote from: cheme09 on Sep 18, 2014, 12:34 ---initial indications dont point to FME, but to an industry recognized phenomenon. the root cause eval is underway so i'll wait to comment any further until that's complete.

--- End quote ---

By chance, do you know who manufactures their fuel for them?

cheme09:
Has been Areva, but we're in the process of going to W fuel. I think the last Areva bundles come out next outage.

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