The following was received by the State of
Illinois via email:
On September 18, 2013, Equistar Chemical's Radiation Safety Officer contacted the Agency [Illinois Emergency Management Agency] to report that a shutter on a fixed gauge could not be closed at their Morris, Illinois facility. The shutter on the fixed level gauge, manufactured by Vega America, could not be closed during a routine shutter check. The gauge is located on a vessel that is not routinely accessible to personnel due to temperatures on their hot particle line. The gauge normally operates in the constant 'open' position. It remains in its normal operational configuration at this time. This situation does not pose an immediate threat to health or safety unless an emergency shutdown condition were necessary requiring access to the vessel. At the time of discovery, a consultant was on-site performing the shutter checks and he immediately performed a dose rate survey of the device with no unusual measurements noted. This device was last checked and found to be operational in June 2013. The manufacturer was contacted to arrange service of the device on-site.
The next day, the Radiation Safety Officer reported that following several additional attempts, they had been able to close the shutter. Per the manufacturer, the gauge shutter and handle shaft were sprayed with a light penetrating oil and after some time spent partially rotating the shutter, it will now rotate 90 degrees and allow the licensee to close the gauge if necessary. Arrangements were made with the manufacturer's field engineering group to have a shutter repair kit sent to the site within the next week when a field technician can perform the necessary repairs. The licensee believes that since all of the symptoms were very similar to previous device issues at the facility in the same area of the plant, water and resulting corrosion are inside of the gauge housing which is binding the shutter.
Illinois NMED Number: IL13029