Information Notice 1985-05, Pipe Whip Restraints

Pipe Whip Restraints

ML031180704
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, 05000262, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill, Crane
Issue date:	01/23/1985
From:	Jordan E NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-85-005, NUDOCS 8501230229
Download: ML031180704 (3)

SSINS No.:

6835 IN 85-05

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

January 23, 1985

IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 85-05:

Addressees

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a

construction permit (CP).

Purpose

This information notice is provided to alert recipients of a potentially

significant problem pertaining to the energy absorbing material used in pipe

whip restraints.

It is expected that recipients will review the information

for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to

preclude a similar problem occurring at their facilities. However, suggestions

contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements;

therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

The Byron Nuclear Generating Station retested the energy absorbing material

used in the pipe whip restraints and on October 31, 1984, reported that the

dynamic crush strength of some samples was considerably lower than the values

used in the design. The "6 KSI" material supplied by HEXCEL/MCI Division

should have a strength between 5,400 and 7,000 psi.

The manufacturer's test

results were between 5,800 and 6,200 psi, but 40X of the material from Byron

had a strength between 3,800 and 4,500 psi.

In one instance, the dynamic crush

strength was only 2,700 psi.

The function of the material is to slow the motion of major piping, such as the

main steam line, in the event of a double-ended guillotine pipe break. The

material is contained within the pipe whip restraint.

This structure is not

intended to serve as a restraint in normal operation or seismic loading.

The material consists of stainless steel sheets formed into a honeycomb shape

and joined by a nickel brazing alloy. The product is in the form of rectangu- lar plates up to 36 in. in length, width, or depth.

HEXCEL manufactured the material for the Byron Nuclear Generating Station in

1978 and 1979. A recent audit by the Office of Inspection and Enforcement

found that an acceptable quality assurance program was not in effect during the

period from 1978 to 1982.

This material has been supplied by HEXCEL to other

nuclear generating stations. It is not known if the material supplied by other

vendors was made by HEXCEL.

8501230229

IN 85-05 January 23, 1985 The licensee is conducting a further investigation and assessing the impact on

the unit. HEXCEL is continuing their internal investigation. It should be

noted that separate from this specific problem the NRC is presently reviewingi.

the pipe break criteria to determine if some whip restraints may be eliminated.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice;.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the Regional

Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

-1Ed~wad4 .Jordan, Director

Divisipt

of Emergency Preparedness

and' ngineering Response

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

Notices

P. Cortland, IE

(301) 492-4175 Attachment:

-

List of Recently Issued IE Information

.

.

.

Attachment

IN 85-05

January 23, 1985

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information

Date of

Notice No.

Subject

Issue

Issued to

85-04

85-03

Inadequate Management Of

Security Response Drills

1/17/85 Separation Of Primary Reactor 1/15/85

Coolant Pump Shaft And

-

Impeller

85-02

85-01

84-94

84-93

84-92

84-91

Improper Installation And

Testing Of Differential

Pressure Transmitters

Continuous Supervision Of

Irradiators

Reconcentration Of Radio- nuclides Involving Discharges

Into Sanitary Sewage Systems

Permitted Under 10 CFR 20.303

Potential For Loss Of Water

From The Refueling Cavity

Cracking Of Flywheel On

Cummins Fire Pump Diesel

Engines

Quality Control Problem

Of Meteorological

Measurements Problems

1/15/85

1/10/85

12/21/84

12/17/84

12/17/84

12/10/84

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP, & fuel

fabrication & pro- cessing facilities

All pressurized water

power reactor

facilities holding an

OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All material licensees

possessing irradiators

that are not self- shielded and contain

more than 10,000

curies of radioactive

material

All NRC materials

licensees other than

licensees that use

sealed sources only

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit