Information Notice 1985-35, Failure of Air Check Valves To Seat

Failure of Air Check Valves To Seat

ML031180267
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, 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, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill, Crane
Issue date:	04/30/1985
Revision:	0
From:	Jordan E L NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-85-035, NUDOCS 8504250455
Download: ML031180267 (5)

SSINS No.: 6835IN 85-35UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20555April 30, 1985IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 85-35: FAILURE OF AIR CHECK VALVES TO SEAT

Addressees

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or aconstruction permit (CP).

Purpose

This information notice is being provided as a notification of a potentiallysignificant problem pertaining to Parker-Hannifin Corporation check valves,supplied by Anchor/Darling Valve Company, that may degrade the capability forclosing main steam isolation valves (MSIVs) or feed water isolation valves(FWIVs) or may inhibit other safety functions. It is expected that recipientswill review the information for applicability to their facilities and consideractions, if appropriate, to preclude a similar problem occurring at theirfacilities. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do notconstitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written responseis required.

Description of Circumstances

On March 14, 1985, at Byron Unit 1, two MSIVs failed to close on a main steamline isolation signal as required. The cause was determined to be failure ofinstrument air check valves to seat in response to gradually decreasing airpressure.At the time of the isolation signal, the unit was cooling down following thestartup test for loss of offsite power. The removal of offsite power haddeenergized the station air compressors, allowing the instrument air pressureto decrease. The leaking instrument air check valves had allowed air accumula-tors to bleed down, removing the air pressure needed to shift hydraulic spoolvalves so that the hydraulic circuits could close the MSIV (see Figure 1). Asa result, one of the four MSIVs did not close and one MSIV only partiallyclosed.In subsequent bench testing, 7 of 8 check valves removed from Unit 1 failed toseat, as did 4 of 11 replacement valves, when gradual loss of instrument airpressure was simulated. All valves seated when the supply pressure was rapidlydecreased. Preoperational testing using rapid depressurization was satisfacto-ry; however, preoperational testing did not require slow depressurization.Subsequent retesting has indicated continuing problems. The licensee hasdecided to replace all these Parker-Hannifin check valves with Parker-Hannifincheck valves of modified design.8504250455 IN 85-35April 30, 1985 The valves that leaked are identified in Parker-Hannifin literature as"Barstock Inline Check Valves, C Series, Catalog 2502." They were manufacturedby Parker-Hannifin and supplied by Anchor/Darling Valve Company (Part No.W30261). The replacement valves are described as Viton Seat Body Brass CheckValves with order number 8F-CAL-10-B. Anchor/Darling has notified the NRC thatthe same check valves have been supplied to the plants listed in Attachment 1for use in instrument air supply lines to MSIV actuators or to FWIV actuators.It should also be noted that the valves may be in use in other applicationsand/or other facilities.A previous Information Notice, 82-25, described a related event with differentequipment. Valves equipped with Ralph A. Hiller Co. actuators were capable ofachieving their fail-safe position when the instrument air header was suddenlydepressurized, but would not do so with a slow depressurization.No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the RegionalAdministrator of the appropriate regional office or this office.Edward L, Ardan, DirectorDivision Emergency Preparednessand Eng' eering ResponseOffice of Inspection and Enforcement

Technical Contact:

Vern Hodge, IE301-492-7275

Attachments:

1. Figure 1 MSIV Control System2. List of Known Applications3. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices y4' , Air SystemHydraulic SystemLeakingAir CheckValve.Air Vent toAtmosphere-o" Xr*-X 0001-- <Zn nI ;ro en m-I4D __0aL"CO1FIgure 1 MSIV Control System Attachment 2IN 85-35April 30, 1985List of Known ApplicationsThe Anchor/Darling Valve Company has supplied Parker-Hannefin air check valves,which leaked at Byron 1, to the following plants for applications in mainsteam isolation valve (MSIV) actuators or feed water isolation valve (FWIV)actuators.Plant ApplicationByron 1, 2Braidwood 1, 2CallawayWolf CreekWNP 1WNP 3Palo Verde 1, 2, 3Millstone 3SummerWaterford 3--Vogtle 1, 2MSIV :MSIVMSIV, FWIVMSIV, FWIVMSIV, FWIVMSIVMSIV, FWIVFWIVFWIVFWIV-FWIV Attachment 3IN 85-35April 30, 1985LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDIE INFORMATION NOTICESInformation Date ofNotice No. Subject Issue Issued to85-34Heat Tracing Contributes To 4/30/85Corrosion Failure Of StainlessSteel Piping84-84Rev. 185-3385-3285-3185-3085-2985-03Sup. 185-28Deficiencies In Ferro-Resonant TransformersUndersized Nozzle-To-ShellWelded Joints In Tanks AndHeat Exchangers ConstructedUnder The Rules Of The ASMEBoiler And Pressure VesselCodeRecent Engine Failures OfEmergency Diesel GeneratorsBuildup Of Enriched UraniumIn Ventilation Ducts AndAssociated Effluent TreatmentSystemsMicrobiologically InducedCorrosion Of ContainemntService Water SystemUse Of Unqualified SourcesIn Well Logging Applications4/24/854/22/854/22/854/19/854/19/854/12/85All power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll uranium fuelfabrication licenseesAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll well loggingsource licenseesAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPSeparation Of Primary Reactor 4/9/85Coolant Pump Shaft AndImpellerPartial Loss Of. AC Power AndDiesel Generator Degradation4/9/85OL = Operating LicenseCP = Construction Permit