Headquarters Daily report

                              DECEMBER 20, 1994

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                    REPORT             NEGATIVE            NO INPUT
                    ATTACHED           INPUT RECEIVED      RECEIVED
HEADQUARTERS                           X                   
REGION I                                                  X
REGION II           X                                      
REGION III                             X                   
REGION IV                              X                   
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PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED  MORNING REPORT - REGION II  DECEMBER 20, 1994

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Florida Power Corporation              MR Number: 2-94-0110
Crystal River 3                        Date: 12/20/94
Crystal River,Florida                                                     
Dockets: 50-302
PWR/B&W-L-LP                          

Subject: LOSS OF VACUUM                                                  
                                                                         
Reportable Event Number: N/A

Discussion:

On December 16, 1994, at approximately 2:30 p.m., during maintenance on  
air removal valve, ARV-24, the suction valve for the idle vacuum pump,   
the valve went open without a signal to do so allowing air to be drawn   
into the main condenser through the idle vacuum pump.   Shortly after    
that the Turbine Exhaust Steam Temp High alarm was received.   Operators 
initiated hood spray.   The Turbine Vacuum Pre-Trip alarm was received   
soon after that. The indicated condenser vacuum (by pen recorder) in the 
control room did not change appreciably throughout the event.   The      
control room received a Reactor Demand Limited High alarm from the       
Integrated Control System (ICS).  The ICS had sensed the decreasing      
turbine power, due to the decreasing efficiency, and pulled control rods 
and opened the turbine governor valves.  Due to the pulled rods and the  
increase in cooling (increased steam demand), reactor power increased and
stopped at approximately 102% by the neutron instrumentation which is the
ICS load limit.  The control room operators took manual control and      
decreased power within two minutes.  An operator was dispatched and read 
the decreasing vacuum from the turbine front standard. Concurrently,     
another operator located the problem on the air removal valve and        
isolated it.  Vacuum was restored and the reactor stabilized at          
approximately 98% power. Following the event, investigation of the       
maintenance on ARV-24, revealed that the technicians had replaced a      
leaking solenoid valve.  When the valve failed open, it allowed air to be
sucked into the condenser through the idle vacuum pump. Testing of the   
replacement solenoid valve revealed that the valve body was ported       
oppositely from the solenoid valve that it was replacing, causing it to  
open the suction valve instead of closing the valve.  The old solenoid   
was reinstalled on ARV-24.  The licensee is investigating the problem    
with the replacement solenoid valve not being identical with the         
originally installed solenoid valve.  Overall, the ICS responded properly
and operator action appeared to be timely and appropriate.  The event    
highlighted three concerns: (1) effect on turbine while operating at     
reduced vacuum, (2) improper operation of the replacement solenoid valve 
for the application intended (3) vacuum pen recorder failure in the CR.  
The licensee is following up on both of these concerns.                  

Regional Action:

The resident inspectors will continue to follow resolution of the        
concerns.                                                                

Contact:  K. Landis                  (404)331-5509