Methyl Cellulose and Ice Condenser Technology - 1984

Here are some email exchanges as I seek data.

Subject:	Fwd: Attention Sardar
Date:	2/24/2016 9:52:41 A.M. Mountain Standard Time
From:	Bobleyse@aol.com
Reply To: To: chairman.resource@nrc.gov CC: PDR.Resource@nrc.gov

Chairman:

The PDR is great!

I need those documents regarding use of methylcellulose bags in ice baskets that are non-public.  Please arrange for PDR to send me those.

With the impending startup of Watts Bar-2, I have renewed my quest for the evolution of ice condenser containment.  I have docs that go back to 1966, however, the ice condenser started sooner than that.

There is no justification for maintaining this significant history as non-public.  It is significant that methylcellulose was considered as late as 1984 which was about 20 years into ice condenser work.

Bob Leyse

---

From: PDR.Resource@nrc.gov
To: Bobleyse@aol.com
Sent: 2/24/2016 7:38:14 A.M. Mountain Standard Time
Subj: RE: Attention Sardar

Bob,

Today is a good day, I have found the reference document in Adams, but this is non-public.  The other document dated June 28, 1984 is attached.

NON-public

Document Title: Forwards requests for addl info re GDC 51, "Fracture Prevention of Containment Pressure Boundary," TMI Item III.D.1.1 on primary coolant outside containment & use of methylcellulose bags in ice baskets. Response due 840627.

  In Main Library: 

  Date Docketed: 

  Document Date: 6/18/84

  Estimated Page Count: 8

  Document Type: "CORRESPONDENCE-LETTERS"; "OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE"

Author Name: "ADENSAM E G"

  Addressee Affiliation: "DUKE POWER CO."

  Microform Addresses: 67397:001-67397:008

  FACA Document: No

  Case/Reference Number: "TASK-3.D.1.1"; "TASK-TM"

Thanks

Sardar

From: Bobleyse@aol.com [mailto:Bobleyse@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 8:09 PM
To: PDR Resource <PDR.Resource@nrc.gov>
Subject: [External_Sender] Attention Sardar

Sardar:

I appreciate your patience.  I am curious.  Is it possible to find the attached document in Adams or elsewhwere?  I just happened to have this old copy when I was resurrecting some old files. 

bob

So, it is now March 5, 2016, and via FOIA, NRC has sent old docs regarding potential use of methyl cellulose bags in ice condensers at Duke's Catawba.  I doubt if Duke ever provided answers to the following, however, I am pursuing this to get insight into how complex the ice condenser technology became over two decades following its conception:

Enclosure 3

CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION

CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS BRANCH

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

June 18, 1984
 

1. A more detailed discussion of methyl cellulose bag material behavior in the presence of steam/water ts needed. Of concern is the time it would take for the bag material to disintegrate.

2. The potential for, and effect of, steam bypassing of the bagged baskets

before the bags disintegrate should be addressed.

3. The potential for non-uniform ice melting, due to the presence of the

bagged baskets, should be addressed. Non-uniform ice melting early in an

accident could lead to selected ice basket meltout and subsequent steam

bypass of the remaining ice.

4. The potential for the methyl cellulose, or the anti-foaming agent included

in the design, beco~ing sources of hydrogen gas should be addressed.

5. The impact on the subcompartment analysis due to the reduced effectiveness  of the ice condenser during the early phase of a LOCA should be analyzed in greater detail and justifications provided for the assumptions used.

Enclosure 4

Structural concerns which should be addressed as a result of removing the

cruciform supports from the bagged ba~kets and replacing them with a cable cruciform system, include:

a) seismic design adequacy of modified ice-basket systems;

b) potential for changes in vibration loads, and dynamic response

characteristics of the modified ice-basket systems when subje~t to

LOCA and/or SSE conditions;

c) the implication of ice weight support being concentrated at the top

of the ice baskets and design adequacy of localized support connections;

d) structur~l integrity of connections between ice-basket segments;

e) the implication of potential changes in load distributions, support

and anchoring conditions;

f) the implication of potential reduction of strengths of materials due to

corrosion or other chemical changes ~s a result of using plastic ice

bags; and

g) the implication of potential changes in the design, erection and maintenance procedures of the ice-basket systems due to the adoption of the ice bags.