Power Reactor

Event Number: 43329

Facility: SALEM
Region: 1 State: NJ
Unit: [1] [ ] [ ]
RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP
NRC Notified By: RICHARD DESANCTIS
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER

Notification Date: 04/30/2007
Notification Time: 16:49 [ET]
Event Date: 04/30/2007
Event Time: 15:02 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 04/30/2007

Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(2)( iv)(B) - RPS ACTUATION - CRITICAL

Person (Organization) :
DANIEL HOLODY (R1)

 

Unit

SCRAM Code

RX CRIT

Initial PWR

Initial RX Mode

Current PWR

Current RX Mode

1

N

Y

80

Power Operation

0

Hot Standby

Event Text

REACTOR TRIP DUE TO GRASS INTRUSION INTO CIRCULATING WATER INTAKE STRUCTURE

"A manual trip of Salem Unit 1 was initiated due to a loss of the circulators from heavy grassing at the circulating water intake structure. All rods fully inserted on the trip and all systems responded as designed, with decay heat being removed via the atmospheric relief valves and subsequently the steam dump system. All Auxiliary Feedwater pumps auto started as expected on low steam generator levels from the trip. Salem Unit 1 had entered the abnormal operating procedure for circulating water due to two (2) circulators being out of service; one circulator previously emergency tripped due to excessive traveling water screen [differential pressure] and a second circulator emergency tripped soon thereafter. The procedure provides guidance to trip the plant if less than three (3) circulators are in service and power is above ten (10) percent. Two (2) of the remaining four (4) in-service circulators emergency tripped due to excessive traveling water screen differential pressure. At this point the manual reactor trip was initiated. The crew entered emergency operating procedures and stabilized the plant at no load conditions.

"No personnel injuries have occurred as a result of the trip. Salem Unit 2 was not affected and is operating at 100% power.

"Salem Unit 1 is currently in Mode 3. Reactor Coolant System temperature is 547° F with pressure at 2235 psig.

"All ECCS and ESF Systems are available. Actions are being taken to return circulators to service."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.


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Power Reactor

Event Number: 43331