Information Notice 1979-34, Inadequate Design of Safety-Related Heat Exchangers

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Inadequate Design of Safety-Related Heat Exchangers
ML031180203
Person / Time
Site: 05000000
Issue date: 12/27/1979
From:
NRC/OI
To:
References
IN-79-034, NUDOCS 7910250517
Download: ML031180203 (2)


UNITED STATES SSINS Mo.: 6870

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Accession No.:

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 7910250517 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 December 27, 1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-34 INADEQUATE DESIGN OF SAFETY-RELATED HEAT EXCHANGERS

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submitted an initial 50.55(e) report on October 25,

1979, that identified defects in the four Containment Spray (CS) heat exchangers at

the Sequoyah facility.

The heat exchanger tube bundles were damaged by excessive vibrations of the tubes

against each other. These vibrations were caused by a support arrangement that

allows excessive unsupported tube lengths. The large amplitude tube vibration

has resulted in reductions in wall thickness and some tube leakage. The CS heat

exchangers at Sequoyah had only been in operation for a short period of time prior

to the failure being detected.

These heat exchangers were manufactured by Industrial Process Engineers, Inc.,

(IPE), a vendor now out of business. The Component Cooling Water (CCWI) heat

exchangers at the Sequoyah facility were also made by IPE. TVA has identified

some reduction in wall thickness and minor tube leakage in the CCW heat exchangers.

The licensee plans to plug the damaged tubes on the CS heat exchangers and "stake"

(support) the tube bundles to prevent further damage. Further corrective action

is under review by the licensee. The following data applies to the CS heat

exchangers:

Manfacturer: Industrial Process Engineers, Inc.

Type: CFU (Special)

Size: 55-342 Serials: 6662-1; 6662-2

6663-1; 6663-2 This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly signi- ficiant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff. It is expected that

recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their

facilities. No specific action or response is requested at this time. If NRC

evaluations so indicate, further licensee actions may be requested or required.

No written response to this Information Notice is required. If you have any

questions regarding this matter please contact the Director of the appropriate

NRC Regional Office.

IE Information Notice No. 79-34 Enclosure

December 27, 1979

RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Subject Date Issued To

Notice No. Issued

79-33 Improper Closure of 12/21/79 All power reactor facilities

Primary Containment holding OLs and CPs

Access Hatches

79-32 Separation of Electrical 12/21/79 All power reactor facilities

Cables for HPCI and ADS holding OLs and CPs

79-31 Use of Incorrect Amplified 12/13/79 All holders of power reactor

Response Spectra (ARS) OLs and CPs

79-30 Reporting of Defects and 12/6/79 All power reactor facilities

Noncompliance, 10 CFR Part 21. holding OLs and CPs and

vendors inspected by LCVIP

79-29 Loss of NonSafety-Related 11/16/79 All power reactor facilities

Reactor Coolant System holding OLs or CPs

Instrumentation During

Operation

79-28 Overloading of Structural 11/16/79 All power reactor facilities

Elements Due to Pipe Support with an OL or CP

Loads

79-27 Steam Generator Tube 11/16/79 All power reactor facilities

Ruptures At Two PWR holding OLs and CPs

Facilities79-12A Attempted Damage To New 11/9/79 All Fuel Facilities, Fuel Assemblies research reactors, and

power reactors with an

OL or CP

79-26 Breach of Containment 11/5/79 All power reactor facilities

Integrity holding OLs and CPs

79-25 Reactor Trips At Turkey 10/1/79 All power facilities with

Point Units 3 And 4 an OL or a CP