[DNFSB
LETTERHEAD]
March 1, 2004
The Honorable Everet H. Beckner
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs
National Nuclear Security Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585-0104
Dear Dr. Beckner:
Enclosed is a report containing observations
of members of the staff of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board)
concerning the design of the electrical system for the Highly Enriched Uranium
Materials Facility (HEUMF) at the Oak Ridge Y-12 National Security Complex. These observations are based on reviews of
available documents, as well as discussions with representatives of the
National Nuclear Security Administration and contractor personnel at Oak Ridge
on November 19-20, 2003 and February 2, 2004. The Board appreciates the prompt action taken
by the HEUMF project team to resolve some of these issues in a timely manner.
The enclosed staff report is forwarded for
your information and use as appropriate.
Sincerely,
John T. Conway
Chairman
c: Mr.
William J. Brumley
Mr. Mark B.
Whitaker, Jr.
Enclosure
DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD
Staff Issue Report
February 12,
2004
MEMORANDUM
FOR: J. K. Fortenberry, Technical Director
COPIES: Board
Members
FROM: A.
Gwal
SUBJECT: Review
of Electrical Systems for Highly Enriched Uranium
Materials
Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex
This report documents observations resulting
from a review of the electrical system for the Highly Enriched Uranium
Materials Facility (HEUMF) at the Y-12 National Security Complex. This review was conducted by members of the
staff of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) A. Gwal, W.
Linzau, C. March, and M. Moury on November 19-20, 2003. This report also documents the results of a
review of supporting documentation received on January 28, 2004, related to the
issues raised by the Board’s staff, as well as subsequent discussions with site
representatives on February 2, 2004. In
general, the electrical design work is proceeding in a logical manner, and the
HEUMF project team has been responsive to issues raised by the staff. Detailed observations are presented below.
Rating
of the Safety-Significant Diesel Generator. According to its initial design,
the Secondary Confinement Isolation System (SCIS) was to be a fail-safe system
that would not require electrical power to perform its safety function. Subsequently, the design was changed, so that
the SCIS is now an active system that requires a safety-significant power
source for fans and control systems. The
corresponding design for the electrical distribution system was also revised,
and now includes a safety-significant diesel generator as a backup power source
during loss of normal offsite power to comply with the requirements of a safety-significant
system. However, it is not clear that
the current rating of the diesel generator can handle the starting transients
of the connected motors. The contractor
has committed to performing a calculation to confirm that the starting of the
connected electric motors will not overload the diesel generator.
Emergency
Lighting. In the event of an earthquake, emergency
lighting would be needed for egress of personnel from the facility. The Board’s staff observed that emergency lighting
equipment in the facility is not designed to be seismically supported or
qualified. The contractor has committed
to evaluating this issue.
Electrical
Calculations. Comprehensive short-circuit, voltage profile,
and coordination studies are essential to safeguard personnel and maintain a
safe and reliable power system. Such studies
are typically performed in accordance with Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) STD-141, IEEE
Recommended Practice for Electric Power Distribution for Industrial Plants,
and STD-242, IEEE Recommended Practice
for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems.
The contractor has completed most of the
required calculations. However, during
its November 2003 review, the Board’s staff found that calculated short-circuit
values had not been compared and evaluated against the equipment rating. Therefore, the staff could not verify the
capability of the electrical equipment to perform its intended functions. The contractor has now evaluated the calculations
and found 27 discrepancies. The Board’s
staff will review these discrepancies and their resolutions to confirm the
adequacy of the electrical systems.
Penetration
Seals. The Board’s staff requested details of the
design of cable penetration seals, which are part of the safety-significant
confinement system. The contractor
recently provided a list of the seals, the fire rating of the seals and
penetration assemblies, and qualification requirements. However, these documents do not contain an
evaluation of the ampacity-derating effect (reduction in the rated current of
the cable) of the penetration seals in accordance with the IEEE STD-848, IEEE Standard Procedure for the
Determination of the Ampacity Derating of Fire-Protected Cables. Project personnel have stated they will
address this issue during the procurement process.
Electrical
Distribution System. Three independent Y-12 utility sources will
provide 13.8 kV underground service into HEUMF. Switching equipment is provided for
multiple-source arrangements, and all facility loads can be carried by any one
of the incoming sources. The indoor
secondary double-ended unit substation has two transformers rated at 2000 kVA. These transformers step down the voltage from
13.8 kV to 480 V and either one can supply all 480 V loads and panels. Because the current design load of the plant
is approximately 2330 kVA (16.5 percent higher than the 2000 kVA rating of the
transformers), the staff suggested increasing the transformer rating to
accommodate the design load with a margin for future design changes. The contractor promptly evaluated the loads
and revised the rating of the transformers to 2500 kVA, as shown on the current
drawings submitted to the Board on January 28, 2004.