Introduction to Technical Specifications

Question 1

Explain the priority of Technical Specifications in relation to any other plant procedures or publications.

Answer 1

Technical Specifications are a guide by which the plant is operated. All other procedures or plant publications must fall within the guidelines of the technical specifications.

Question 2

Define Action

Answer 2

ACTION shall be that part of a specification which prescribes remedial measures required under designated conditions.

Question 3

Define Channel Check

Answer 3

A CHANNEL CHECK shall be the qualitative assessment of channel behavior during operation by observation. This determination shall include, where possible, comparison of the channel indication and/or status with other indications and/or status derived from independent instrument channels measuring the same parameter.

Question 4

Define Containment Vessel Integrity

Answer 4

CONTAINMENT VESSEL INTEGRITY shall exist when:
a. All containment vessel penetrations required to be closed during accident conditions are either:
1. Capable of being closed by an OPERABLE containment automatic isolation valve system, or
2. Closed by manual valves, blind flanges, or deactivated automatic valves secured in their closed position except for valves that are open on an intermittent basis under administrative control.
b. All containment vessel equipment hatches are closed and sealed,
c. Each containment vessel air lock is in compliance with the requirements of
Specification 3.6.1.3,
d. The containment leakage rates are within the limits of Specification 3.6.1.2,
and
e. The sealing mechanism associated with each penetration (e.g., welds, bellows or O-rings) is OPERABLE.

Question 5

Define Controlled Leakage

Answer 5

CONTROLLED LEAKAGE shall be the seal water flow supplied from the reactor coolant pump seals.

Question 6

Define Identified Leakage

Answer 6

IDENTIFIED LEAKAGE shall be:
a. Leakage (except CONTROLLED LEAKAGE) into closed systems, such as pump seal or valve packing leaks that are captured, and conducted to a sump or collecting tank, or
b. Leakage into the containment atmosphere from sources that are both specifically
located and known either not to interfere with the operation of leakage detection systems or not to be PRESSURE BOUNDARY LEAKAGE, or
c. Reactor Coolant System leakage through a steam generator to the secondary system
(Primary-to-secondary leakage).

Question 7

Define Operable – Operability

Answer 7

A system, subsystem, train, component or device shall be OPERABLE or have OPERABILITY when it is capable of performing its specified function(s), and when all necessary attendant instrumentation, controls, electrical power, cooling or seal water, lubrication or other auxiliary equipment that are required for the system, subsystem, train, component or device to perform its function(s) are also capable of performing their related support function(s).

Question 8

Define Operational Mode

Answer 8

An OPERATIONAL MODE (i.e., MODE) shall correspond to any one inclusive combination of core reactivity condition, power level and average reactor coolant temperature specified in Table 1.2.

Question 9

Define Pressure Boundary Leakage

Answer 9

PRESSURE BOUNDARY LEAKAGE shall be leakage (except primary-to-secondary leakage) through a non-isolable fault in a Reactor Coolant System component body, pipe wall or vessel wall.

Question 10

Define Rated Thermal Power

Answer 10

RATED THERMAL POWER shall be a total reactor core heat transfer rate to the reactor coolant of 3020 MWt.

Question 11

Define Shield Building Integrity

Answer 11

SHIELD BUILDING INTEGRITY shall exist when:
a. Each door is closed except when the access opening is being used for normal transit entry and exit;
b. The shield building ventilation system is in compliance with Specification 3.6.6.1, and
c. The sealing mechanism associated with each penetration (e.g., welds, bellows or O-rings) is OPERABLE.

Question 12

Define Unidentified Leakage

Answer 12

UNIDENTIFIED LEAKAGE shall be all leakage which is not IDENTIFIED LEAKAGE or CONTROLLED LEAKAGE.

Question 13

Define the Operational Modes of plant operation (Technical Specification Table 1.2)

Answer 13

OPERATIONAL MODES
MODE REACTIVITY % RATED AVERAGE COOLANT
CONDITION, Keff THERMAL POWER* TEMPERATURE
1. POWER OPERATION > 0.99 > 5% > 325°F
2. STARTUP > 0.99 < 5% > 325°F
3. HOT STANDBY < 0.99 0 > 325°F
4. HOT SHUTDOWN < 0.99 0 25°F > Tavg> 200°F
5. COLD SHUTDOWN < 0.99 0 < 200°F
6. REFUELING** < 0.95 0 < 140°F
* Excluding decay heat.
** Fuel in the reactor vessel with the vessel head closure bolts less than
fully tensioned or with the head removed.