Lightning Strikes at Nuclear Power Generating Stations| ML031180204 |
| Person / Time |
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| 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 |
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| Issue date: |
11/05/1985 |
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| From: |
Jordan E
NRC/IE |
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| To: |
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| References |
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| IN-85-086, NUDOCS 8511010020 |
| Download: ML031180204 (5) |
|
Similar Documents at 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 |
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Category:NRC Information Notice
[Table view]The following query condition could not be considered due to this wiki's restrictions on query size or depth: <code> [[:Beaver Valley]] OR [[:Millstone]] OR [[:Hatch]] OR [[:Monticello]] OR [[:Calvert Cliffs]] OR [[:Dresden]] OR [[:Davis Besse]] OR [[:Peach Bottom]] OR [[:Browns Ferry]] OR [[:Salem]] OR [[:Oconee]] OR [[:Mcguire]] OR [[:Nine Mile Point]] OR [[:Palisades]] OR [[:Palo Verde]] OR [[:Perry]] OR [[:Indian Point]] OR [[:Fermi]] OR [[:Kewaunee]] OR [[:Catawba]] OR [[:Harris]] OR [[:Wolf Creek]] OR [[:Saint Lucie]] OR [[:Point Beach]] OR [[:Oyster Creek]] OR [[:Watts Bar]] OR [[:Hope Creek]] OR [[:Grand Gulf]] OR [[:Cooper]] OR [[:Sequoyah]] OR [[:Byron]] OR [[:Pilgrim]] OR [[:Arkansas Nuclear]] OR [[:Braidwood]] OR [[:Susquehanna]] OR [[:Summer]] OR [[:Prairie Island]] OR [[:Columbia]] OR [[:Seabrook]] OR [[:Brunswick]] OR [[:Surry]] OR [[:Limerick]] OR [[:North Anna]] OR [[:Turkey Point]] OR [[:River Bend]] OR [[:Vermont Yankee]] OR [[:Crystal River]] OR [[:Haddam Neck]] OR [[:Ginna]] OR [[:Diablo Canyon]] OR [[:Callaway]] OR [[:Vogtle]] OR [[:Waterford]] OR [[:Duane Arnold]] OR [[:Farley]] OR [[:Robinson]] OR [[:Clinton]] OR [[:South Texas]] OR [[:San Onofre]] OR [[:Cook]] OR [[:Comanche Peak]] OR [[:Yankee Rowe]] OR [[:Maine Yankee]] OR [[:Quad Cities]] OR [[:Humboldt Bay]] OR [[:La Crosse]] OR [[:Big Rock Point]] OR [[:Rancho Seco]] OR [[:Zion]] OR [[:Midland]] OR [[:Bellefonte]] OR [[:Fort Calhoun]] OR [[:FitzPatrick]] OR [[:McGuire]] OR [[:LaSalle]] OR [[:05000000]] OR [[:Zimmer]] OR [[:Fort Saint Vrain]] OR [[:Shoreham]] OR [[:Satsop]] OR [[:Trojan]] OR [[:Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant]] OR [[:Skagit]] OR [[:Marble Hill]] OR [[:Crane]] </code>. |
SSINS No.: 6835 IN 85-86
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555
November 5, 1985
IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 85-86:
LIGHTNING STRIKES AT NUCLEAR POWER
GENERATING STATIONS
Addressees
All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a
construction permit (CP).
Purpose
This notice is provided to alert recipients of a potentially significant
problem of reactor trips and instrument damage caused by lightning strikes.
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
notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or
written response is required.
The NRC is continuing to evaluate pertinent information.
Recipients of this
notice will be notified of additional information or if specific actions are
required.
Description of Circumstances
A number of plant trips and instrumentation problems attributable to lightning
have occurred over the past 6 years.
Since solid state circuitry designs are
being increasingly employed in safety related systems, the impact of lightning
induced line surges on those circuits is emphasized in this notice.
Descrip- tions of several of the more significant events are presented below.
Events
involving lightning strikes of switchyards and the consequential impact on
power distribution systems are not covered by this notice.
However. INPO SER
76-84 covers this latter subject as well as summarizing earlier INPO documents
dealing with lightning strikes at nuclear power plants.
Zion Power Station Units 1 and 2
On August 17, 1979, both units tripped simultaneously during a severe lightning
storm.
Investigation indicated that a lightning strike in close proximity to
the plant caused either a momentary surge or interruption in the ac power
supply circuits to the rod control power supply cabinets.
This transient
tripped the overload protection devices for the dc power supply cabinet, resulting in a power interruption to the control rod stationary gripper coils,
8511010020
IN 85-86 November 5, 1985 which caused the rods to drop into the core.
The resulting high, negative flux
rate initiated the reactor trip signal.
Tests verified that noise induced on
the ac input to one power supply would actuate the overvoltage protection trips
on the main and auxiliary power supplies. In addition to the noise spikes, one
Unit 2, 24-V positive power supply was' damaged by the lightning strike and had
to be replaced. The following corrective actions were initiated:
o The control rod system neutral was isolated from the station ground.
o The overvoltage protection trip setting was changed from 27 to 29 V.
o A low-pass filter was installed on the input to each 24-V positive power
supply, o A volt trap (a voltage suppressor'circuit designed to reduce large voltage
surges and noise induced by lightning strikes) was installed across the
50-ohm motor generator neutral resistor.
o A volt trap was installed across the power feed to the auxiliary power
s upply.
The power feed for the auxiliary power supply was changed from the 480-V
system to'the control rod drive (CRD) motor generators.
Zion Unit Z experienced additional reactor-trips'attributed-to lightning-on
April 3 and July 16, 1980, before the above listed corrective actions were
implemented. In these cases it was determined that the transient tripped the
overload protection devices, as was the case in the trip of both units on
August 17, 1979.
However, no power supplies or other equipment were damaged
during the latter two trips.
Again, on December 2, 1982, Zion Unit 2 reactor tripped from 100% power during
an electrical storm. It was concluded that lightning induced a disturbance in
the electrical system causing a reactor trip from a generator trip.
Additional- lightning protection for the containment building was provided and the static
wire associated with the 345-kV line was isolated from the power station
structural 'steel.
Salem Power Station Unit 1
On June 8, 1980, the reactor tripped during an electrical storm.
Lightning
struck at the south penetration area of reactor containment causing a transient
on seven main steam pressure transmitters. Two of these pressure transmitters
were damaged and had to be replaced.
The transient caused a high steam line
pressure differential reactor trip signal and a safety injection signal.
The
licensee believes the lightning strike hit main steam vent pipes which extend
above the penetration area roof and the surge was carried into the building via
piping connections.
IN 85-86
November 5, 1985 Kewaunee Power Station
On August 19, 1980, two of four instrument busses lost power during an electri- cal storm.
This resulted in a spurious safety injection (SI) actuation signal, and the unit tripped from full power.
In addition to inducing the instrumenta- tion transients, the inverter fuses were blown.
These fuses were replaced, and
no other evidence of equipment failure was observed.
Byron Power Station Unit 1
On July 13, 1985, when lightning struck the Unit 1 containment, the reactor
tripped from approximately 11% power becauseiof induced voltage surges in
instrument and control cables in one of four containment penetration areas.
The induced voltage caused failure of four rod drive power supplies, including
1 redundant pair.
The failure of the redundant supplies resulted in 10 control
rods dropping into the core. A power range negative-flux-rate reactor trip
resulted from the rod insertion. In addition to the reactor trip, damage
occurred to 30 plant instruments.
The following systems were affected by the
damaged instrumentation:
protection channel II,
one train of the 48-volt power
supply for the solid state protection system, the meteorological tower, control
rod drive, and loose-parts monitoring.
A review of cable routings showed that a significant common denominator existed
in containment penetrations.
All damaged instruments were associated with
cables passing through penetrations located in one containment region.
In
addition to the damaged instrumentation, the lightning damaged a significant
amount of security equipment.
The licensee determined that an improved lightning protection system was
required to prevent recurrence of a similar incident.
By installing copper
conductors, external to containment, from the roof mounted lightning rods
directly to ground rods in the earth, a low impedance path to ground was
provided for future lightning strikes.
This modification is similar to the
Zion modification described above.
Arkansas Power Station Unit 2
On August 5, 1985, the reactor tripped from 100% power on a low departure-from- nucleate-boiling ratio (DNBR) signal as the result of a lightning strike
transient induced in two of the core protection system channels.
The licensee's
followup investigation revealed no damage to the plant's electrical equipment
or instrumentation measuring systems.
IN 85-86 November 5, 1985 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 regional office or this office.
£ ~rdact
r
Division
Emergency Preparedness
and Engineering Response
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Ray S. Love, RIII
(312) 790-5593- Technical Contacts:
Vincent 0. Thomas, IE
(301) 492-4755 RI
N
~Recently Issued 1E Information Notices
Attachment:
List of
I .
f
.
I
Attachment 1
IN 85-86
November 5, 1985
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
IE INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issue
Issued to
85-85
85-84
85-83
85-82
85-81
85-80
85-17 Sup. 1
85-79 Systems Interaction Event
10/31/85
Resulting In Reactor System
Safety Relief Valve Opening
Following A Fire-Protection
Deluge System Malfunction
Inadequate Inservice Testing 10/30/85
Potential Failures Of General 10/30/85 Electric PK-2 Test Blocks
Diesel Generator Differen- tial Protection Relay Not
Seismically Qualified
Problems Resulting In
Erroneously High Reading
With Panasonic 800 Series
Thermoluminescent Dosimeters
Timely Declaration Of An
Emergency Class Implementa- tion Of An Emergency Plan,
And Emergency Notifications
Possible Sticking Of ASCO
Solenoid Valves
Inadequate Communications
Between Maintenance,
Operations, And Security
Personnel
10/18/85
10/17/85
10/15/85
10/1/85
9/30/85
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
All power reactor
facilities holding
an OL or CP
All power reactor
facilities holding
an OL or CP and
certain material
and fuel cycle
licensees
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; research
and nonpower reactor
facilities; fuel
fabrication and
processing facilities
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
|
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|
| list | - Information Notice 1985-01, Continuous Supervision of Irradiators (10 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-02, Improper Installation and Testing of Differential Pressure Transmitters (11 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-03, Separation of Primary Reactor Coolant Pump Shaft and Impeller (15 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-04, Inadequate Management of Security Response Drills (17 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-05, Pipe Whip Restraints (23 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-06, Contamination of Breathing Air Systems (23 January 1985, Topic: Spent fuel rack)
- Information Notice 1985-07, Contaminated Radiography Source Shipments (29 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-08, Industry Experience on Certain Materials Used in Safety-Related Equipment (30 January 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-09, Isolation Transfer Switches and Post-Fire Shutdown Capability (31 January 1985, Topic: Safe Shutdown)
- Information Notice 1985-10, Posttensioned Containment Tendon Anchor Head Failure (6 February 1985, Topic: Stress corrosion cracking)
- Information Notice 1985-11, Licensee Programs for Inspection of Electrical Raceway and Cable Installations (11 February 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-12, Recent Fuel Handling Events (11 February 1985, Topic: Eddy Current Testing)
- Information Notice 1985-13, Consequences of Using Soluble Dams (21 February 1985, Topic: Hydrostatic)
- Information Notice 1985-14, Failure of a Heavy Control Rod (B4C) Drive Assembly to Insert on a Trip Signal (22 February 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-15, Nonconforming Structural Steel for Safety-Related Use (22 February 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-16, Time/Current Trip Curve Discrepancy of ITE/Siemens-Allis Molded Case Circuit Breaker (27 February 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-17, Possible Sticking of Asco Solenoid Valves (1 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-18, Failures of Undervoltage Output Circuit Boards in the Westinghouse-Designed Sold State Protection System (7 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-19, Alleged Falsification of Certifications and Alteration of Markings on Piping, Valves, and Fittings (11 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-20, Motor-Operated Valve Failures Due to Hampering Effect (12 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-21, Main Steam Isolation Valve Closure Logic (18 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-22, Failure of Limitorque Motor-Operated Valves Resulting from Incorrect Installation of Pinion Gear (21 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-23, Inadequate Surveillance and Postmaintenance and Postmodification System Testing (22 March 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-24, Failures of Protective Coatings in Pipes and Heat Exchangers (26 March 1985, Topic: Ultimate heat sink, Coatings)
- Information Notice 1985-25, Consideration of Thermal Conditions in the Design and Installation of Supports for Diesel Generator Exhaust Silencers (2 April 1985, Topic: Coatings)
- Information Notice 1985-26, Vacuum Relief System for Boiling Water Reactor Mark I and Mark II Containments (2 April 1985, Topic: Coatings)
- Information Notice 1985-27, Notifications to the NRC Operations Center and Reporting Events in Licensee Event Reports (3 April 1985, Topic: Coatings)
- Information Notice 1985-28, Partial Loss of AC Power and Diesel Generator Degradation (9 April 1985, Topic: Coatings, Overspeed)
- Information Notice 1985-30, Microbiologically Induced Corrosion of Containment Service Water System (19 April 1985, Topic: Hydrostatic, Coatings, Biofouling)
- Information Notice 1985-31, Buildup of Enriched Uranium in Ventilation Ducts and Associated Effluent Treatment Systems (19 April 1985, Topic: Coatings)
- Information Notice 1985-32, Recent Engine Failures of Emergency Diesel Generators (22 April 1985, Topic: Coatings)
- Information Notice 1985-33, Undersized Nozzle-To-Shell Welded Joints in Tanks and Heat Exchangers Constructed Under the Rules of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (22 April 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-34, Heat Tracing Contributes to Corrosion Failure of Stainless Steel Piping (30 April 1985, Topic: Hydrostatic)
- Information Notice 1985-35, Failure of Air Check Valves to Seat (30 April 1985, Topic: Loss of Offsite Power)
- Information Notice 1985-35, Failure of Air Check Valves To Seat (30 April 1985, Topic: Loss of Offsite Power)
- Information Notice 1985-37, Chemical Cleaning of Steam Generators at Millstone 2 (14 May 1985, Topic: Feedwater Heater, Eddy Current Testing)
- Information Notice 1985-38, Loose Parts Obstruct Control Rod Drive Mechanism (21 May 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-39, Auditability of Electrical Equipment Qualification Records at Licensees Facilities (22 May 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-40, Deficiencies in Equipment Qualification Testing and Certification Process (22 May 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-43, Radiography Events at Power Reactors (30 May 1985, Topic: High Radiation Area, Scaffolding)
- Information Notice 1985-44, Emergency Communication System Monthly Test (30 May 1985, Topic: Health Physics Network)
- Information Notice 1985-46, Clarification of Several Aspects of Removable Radioactive Surface Contamination Limits for Transport Packages (10 June 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-47, Potential Effect of Line-Induced Vibration on Certain Target Rock Solenoid-Operated Valves (18 June 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-48, Respirator Users Notice: Defective Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders (19 June 1985, Topic: Hydrostatic)
- Information Notice 1985-49, Relay Calibration Problem (1 July 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-50, Complete Loss of Main and Auxiliary Feedwater at a PWR Designed by Babcock & Wilcox (8 July 1985, Topic: Overspeed trip, Overspeed)
- Information Notice 1985-51, Inadvertent Loss or Improper Actuation of Safety-Related Equipment (10 July 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-52, Errors in Dose Assessment Computer Codes and Reporting Requirements Under 10 CFR Part 21 (10 July 1985, Topic: Basic Component)
- Information Notice 1985-53, Performance of NRC-Licensed Individuals While on Duty (12 July 1985)
- Information Notice 1985-54, Teletherapy Unit Malfunction (15 July 1985)
... further results |
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