Junk Plant Pilgrim: The "C" MSIV Has At Least Been Broken For Six Months

Originally posted on 8/19, reposted because on new information.

Update 8/21

Today at 11:14 AM

Michael Mulligan <steamshovel2002@yahoo.com>

 To allegation@nrc.gov allegation@nrc.gov

Dear Sir,  

Could you past pass this onto the direct supervisor of the Pilgrim Plant NRC inspectors. It is my opinion the current NRC residents in Pilgrim are doing an exemplary job and are heroic in nature against the tremendous negative forces of Entergy. I give the NRC my permission to pass this e-mail onto Entergy.  

Mike Mulligan  

Hinsdale, NH

 

Dear Sir,

Better yet, could you put my preceding degraded MSIV e-mail on the docket?

 

Thanks,

Mike Mulligan

Hinsdale, NH 

Proposing rust particles degrading MSIVs in safety compressed air indicates they had known this was a widespread problems seen in other components. All safety components supplied by safety related compressed air should have been called inop. That would get them to fix it.

Was the recent MSIV testing part of the normal scheduled testing, or was Entergy suspicious something was wrong with this valve? 

As I told the inspector, this MSIV issue is the exact pattern leading to the SRV failures. How could the NRC let them get away with this?

I ask the inspector to look into the similarities of the C main steam line SRV degradations and C MSIVs timing degradation and air tube crack . 

My god, look at how deeper C SRV degraded and the much shorter time the C SRV was in the plant compared to A? You now need to do a evaluation on all the C SRV leakages from new installation in 2011. Was there some mysterious forces going on in the C SRV causing this guy to degrade faster and deeper.

Main Steam Safety Relief Valves Determined to be Inoperable Following Evaluation

On January 27, 2015, during winter storm Juno,

On March 12, 2015, after further evaluation of system performance of SRV-3A and SRV-3C, along with results of valve internal conditions identified during physical inspection, the valves were determined to have been inoperable for an indeterminate period during the last operating cycle. Specifically, SRV-3C was determined to be inoperable based on its on-demand performance at low reactor pressures, as well as the visual conditions that were identified during the inspection process. SRV-3A was considered inoperable based on it having similar internal indications as SRV-C when it was disassembled and inspected. SRV-3A was installed in May 2011 and SRV-3C was installed in October 2013.

Remember, Dead-Ender plants like Oyster Creek and Pilgrim are exempt from federal regulations.

If this inops all MSIVs retroactively, there is going to be hell to pay???     

Update

The NRC resident told me half the problem are the weaselly rules of the NRC. Didn't have proof it was inop.

Why in the world is the NRC allowing the plant to operate till the weekend.

My theory is abnormal vibrations in the Main Steam Lines...

***This is from the inspector...they are pissed as hell.

They basically got quarterly test cycling of the main steam isolation valve. This is the same valve that failed a year ago. Three quarters ago, this MSIV failed testing. I asked the inspector, well why didn't they shutdown. Pilgrim came back with, we think is a particle in the valve or air system causing the valves testing failure. We cycled the piss out of the valve, we're good now...we think we blew out the particle. A bunch of valve position cycling came within tech specs. I think she said after, one quarter testing showed normal timing, while the other showed within tech specs, but longer than normal times. The latest then failed testing leading to the shutdown.

The NRC is assuming the valve was inop and incapable of working since the first failed test 6 months to 9 months ago. It might never been operable since last shutdown.

 This is a big deal.

Let play this out. Lets say the Entergy explains to the NRC, we are shutting the plant down because we think something is wrong with the C inboard MSIV. The NRC would emediately think this is suspicious. Lets say they pop open the valve finding significant damage imparing long term operability. Then the NRC would come back asking well, what is your evidence the valve was impaired leading to the testing causing the shutdown. They would be looking for a falsification issue.

Now a ginned up failed test a day ago, might get them cover to enter a shutdown and repair of valve, with the prying questions of the NRC...

I questioned her on the SRVs. Are there any leaks and abnormal tailpiece temperature indications. She said there were none. I asked, are they going to yank out the SRVs and do pressure lift testing. She said its not required and she does expect Pilgrim to do this testing. But the NRC is requiring Pilgrim to cycle the SRVs during this cool down or shutdown. The NRC is going to be in the drywell to observe the testing results. The is highly abnormal.