Information Notice 1987-04, Diesel Generator Fails Test Because of Degraded Fuel

Diesel Generator Fails Test Because of Degraded Fuel

ML031140351
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:	01/16/1987
From:	Jordan E NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-87-004, NUDOCS 8701140224
Download: ML031140351 (5)

SSINS No.: 6835 IN 87-04

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

January 16, 1987

IE INFORMATION NOTICE NQ. 87-04:

DIESEL GENERATOR FAILS TEST BECAUSE

OF DEGRADED FUEL

I

I

Addressees

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license or a con- struction permit.

Purpose

This notice is to alert recipients to a potentially significant problem per- taining to long-term storage of fuel for diesel engines for emergency service.

This problem highlights the importance of a carefully structured inspection, sampling, and test program to verify continuing acceptability of the fuel for

emergency use. The NRC expects that recipients will review this notice 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.

Reference

Documents:

1. Licensee Event Report No. 50-368/86-14, "Emergency Diesel

Generator Failure Due to Fuel Supply System Fouling as a

Result of Fuel Oil Degradation," November 18, 1986

2. , IE Circular No. 77-15, "Degradation of Fuel

Emergency Diesel Generator," November 23,

Oil Flow to the

1977

Description of Circumstances

On June 27, 1986, at Arkansas Nuclear One Unit 2 (ANO 2), one of the two

emergency diesel generators (EDGs) failed to complete a prescribed 24-hour

endurance test because of fuel starvation (Reference 1).

The licensee found

the screen element in the Y-strainer between the day tank and the engine

severely fouled (component B in Figure 1), restricting flow of fuel to the

engine.

Cleaning the element required using a hand-held torch to remove a hard

carbonaceous coating. The licensee cleaned the tank and piping and success- fully completed the endurance test.

PM

T..A

g9oia0 (

)ol4Ce 8760

IN 87-04 January 16, 1987 The corresponding strainer for the redundant EDG was found to not be as

severesy fouled.

The redundant EDG successfully performed a 24-hour endurance

test begun after the faulted EDG was made operable.

Discussion:

The licensee vi-ually inspected and cleaned the fuel supply system for each EDG

as short-term corrective action.

In addition, the licensee installed temporary

piping, pumps, and filters to recirculate and clean the fuel inventory.

The

interior surfaces of the day tanks and underground vault tanks had coatings of

sludge that were easily removed.

The fuel suction line foot valves and

strainers (component A in Figure 1) did not appear to be fouled.

During the evaluation of the event, the licensee determined that the day tank

strainers (components A and B in Figure 1) had not been routinely inspected and

cleaned because the station procedures did not address this action. Althoughi

these components are identified on the fuel supply system piping drawings, they

had not been considered in station procedures.

The licensee also determined

that the function of the component B strainers was adequately served by the

engine mounted strainers (Cuno-type; component C in Figure 1), which are

capable of removing particulates smaller than the rated removal size of the

component B strainers and are readily cleaned in service.

In addition, the

Cuno-type strainers are equipped with differential pressure indication.

Subsequently, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.59, the licensee removed the screen

element from the component B strainers for both EDGs.

The licensee engaged a contract laboratory to analyze the fuel.

The contractor

reported that a high concentration of particulates existed in the fuel as a

result of oxidation and biological contamination.

The licensee instituted a

program to enhance fuel quality by periodic inspection and cleaning of the

storage tanks and frequent sampling of the fuel.

The laboratory strongly

recommended use of a proprietary additive to prevent oxidation and to inhibit

biological growth; however, a decision has not been made on the use of any

additive.

Further, the licensee is considering design modifications to include

dual filters and strainers and a permanent storage tank recirculation system to

facilitate filtering of the complete inventory each refueling outage.

It should

Unit 2 in

_

on.-

be noted that the fuel supply systems differed between uniVL . alu

the absence on Unit 1 of the day tank strainers (components A and B

in riyur.:s}

On July 14, 1977, at Cooper, a clogged strainer had caused an EDG to similarly

starve of fuel oil.

This event was described and discussed in Reference 2.

IN 87-04 January 16, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If YOu have any questions about this matter, please contact tfie Regicnal

Admnistrator of the appropriate regional office or this office.

Edward

fJoroin, Director

Divisi qn/of mergency Preparedness

and q~g neering Response

Office of lnspection and Enforcement

Technical Contacts:

Vern Hodge, IE

(301) 492-7275

Jim Henderson, IE

(301) 492-9654 Attachments:

1. F9gure 1 - Schematic Fuel Supply System for Emergency

Diesel Generator at Arkansas 2

2. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices

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i

TYPICAL

l_INJECTOR l_MICRON

I

FILTER

100 MESH

l2 Y-STRAINER

I

II

N- -I

SRAINER

LDRAINl

U

l

$~

TO DAY TANK

IE

.NK

SAMPLE

EABOVE BOTTOM

TRANSFER PUMP

-DIESEL

ENGINE0

F fUEL PUMP

SKID

L

L____

S-

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--

40 MESH

Y-STRAINER

Figure 1. Schematic Fuel Supply System for Emergency Diesel

Attachment 2

IN 87-04

January 16, 1987

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Infoin~ati on

Date of

Notice No.

Subject

Issue

Issued to

87-03 Segregation of Hazardous

1/15/87

All NRC licensees

87-02

87-01

86-110

86-109

86-108

86-107

86-106

86-105

86-104 Inadequate Seismic Quali- fication of Diaphragm

Valves by Mathematical

Modeling and Analysis

RHR Valve Misalignment

Causes Degradation of

ECCS in PWRs

Anomalous Behavior of

Recirculation Loop Flow

in Jet Pump BWR Plants

Diaphragm Failure In Scram

Outlet Valve Causing Rod

Insertion

Degradation Of Reactor

Coolant System Pressure

Boundary Resulting From

Boric Acid Corrosion

Entry Into PWR Cavity With

Retractable Incore Detector

Thimbles Withdrawn

Feedwater Line Break

Potential For Loss Of

Reactor Trip Capability

At Intermediate Power

Levels

Unqualified Butt Splice

Connectors Identified In

Qualified Penetrations

1/15/87

116/87

12/31/86

12/29/86

12/29/86

12/29/86

12/16/86

12/19/86

12/16/86

All power reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

All PWR facilities

holding an OL or CP

All BwR facilities

holding an OL or CP

All BIR facilities

holding an OL or CP

All PwR 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 holders of OL or CP

for PWR or BWR

All pressurized and

boiling-water reactor

facilities holding

an OL or CP

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit