Headquarters Daily Report
MAY 14, 1999
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REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT
ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED
HEADQUARTERS X
REGION I X
REGION II X
REGION III X
REGION IV X
PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - HEADQUARTERS MAY 14, 1999
Licensee/Facility: Notification:
MR Number: H-99-0044
River Bend Date: 05/14/99
Subject: General Electric Fuel Issues
Discussion:
On May 12, 1999 members of NRR and Region IV staffs participated in a
conference call with members of the River Bend and General Electric (GE)
organizations on the status of licensee's investigation of fuel failures
that occurred last cycle.
Preliminary results indicate that the failures were caused by deposition
of a unusually thick layer of crud on the fuel in areas of particularly
high heat flux. For reasons not yet fully understood, the thickest
depositions and all the cladding failures occurred in first cycle fuel.
These depositions were different from those previously seen at River Bend
or other GE facilities, in that the coating was less adherent, of much
lower density hence the greater thickness and more porous. At the most
affected locations the crud thickness on adjacent fuel rods was such that
the open flow channel between the rods was significantly reduced.
Licensee intends to replace all the affected fuel and to identify the
oxide deposition mechanism prior to restart. Samples of the crud and of
fuel rods are being transferred to GE facilities at Wilmington and
Vallecitos for further examination.
Contacts: Margaret Chatterton, NRR
(301) 415-2889
Email: msc1@nrc.gov
Edward Goodwin, NRR
(301) 415-1154
Email: efg@nrc.gov
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