Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
March 31, 1982
TO ALL OPERATING BWRs
SUBJECT: HIGH BURNUP MAPLHGR LIMITS (Generic Letter 82-03)
Gentlemen:
The General Electric Company requested (Refs. 1 & 2) that credit for
approved, but unapplied, ECCS evaluation model changes be used to offset
MAPLHGR penalties due to high burnup fission gas release on operating
reactors with GE fuel. The staff has evaluated these changes and has
approved application of credit for these changes for certain plants.
If the positions stated in the referenced letters from GE are applicable to
your plant, you may wish to apply the GE proposal to offset previously
applied MAPLHGR penalties. For the positions to be applicable it is
necessary that:
1. No. additional credit is taken in the analysis for the ECCS
evaluation model changes and
2. The peak cladding temperature for each fuel type and burnup does
not exceed that assumed in Table 2 of Reference 2.
Based on the above considerations, we would find a plant-specific reference
to the GE position acceptable in supporting requests for high burnup MAPLHGR
Technical Specification changes.
Sincerely,
Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director
Division of Licensing
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References:
1. RE Engel (GE) to T. A. Ippolito (NRC) on "Extension of
ECCS Performance Limits" dated May 6, 1981
2. RE Engel (GE) to T. A. Ippolito (NRC) on "Extension of
ECCS Performance Limits" dated May 28, 1981
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