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, Three Mile Island, 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
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 DIESEL GENERATOR FAILS TEST BECAUSE

IE INFORMATION NOTICE NQ. 87-04: OF DEGRADED FUEL

I

Addressees

or a con- power reactor facilities holding an operating license

All nuclear

struction permit.

Purpose

problem per- is to alert recipients to a potentially significant service.

This notice of fuel for diesel engines for emergency

taining to long-term storage inspection, of a carefully structured

This problem highlights the toimportance of the fuel for

verify continuing acceptabilitythis notice for

sampling, and test program

that recipients will review appropriate, to

emergency use. The NRC expects and consider actions, if

applicability to their facilities occurring at their facilities. However, suggestions

preclude a similar problem therefore, no

not constitute NRC requirements;

contained in this notice do response is required.

specific action or written

Reference Documents:

"Emergency Diesel

1. Licensee Event Report No. 50-368/86-14, Supply System Fouling as a

Generator Failure Due to Fuel November 18, 1986 Result of Fuel Oil Degradation,"

"Degradation of Fuel Oil Flow to the

2. , IE Circular No. 77-15, Generator," November 23, 1977 Emergency Diesel

Description of Circumstances

of the two

Nuclear One Unit 2 (ANO 2), one

On June 27, 1986, at Arkansas(EDGs) failed to complete a prescribed 24-hour

emergency diesel generators starvation (Reference 1). The licensee

found

endurance test because of fuel engine

between the day tank and the

the screen element in the Y-strainer in Figure 1), restricting flow

of fuel to the

fouled (component B to remove a hard

severely

Cleaning the element required using a hand-held torch and success- engine.

coating. The licensee cleaned the tank and piping

carbonaceous test.

fully completed the endurance

I

g9oia0 (

PM T..A )ol4Ce 8760

IN 87-04 January 16, 1987 to not be as

strainer for the redundant EDG was found a 24-hour endurance

The corresponding EDG successfully performed

severesy fouled. The redundant EDG was made operable.

test begun after the faulted

Discussion:

system for each EDG

vi-ually inspected and cleaned the fuel supply installed temporary

The licensee In addition, the licensee inventory. The

as short-term corrective action. to recirculate and clean the

fuel

of

piping, pumps, and filtersday tanks and underground vault tanks had coatings

interior surfaces of the The fuel suction line foot

valves and

that were easily removed. fouled.

sludge 1) did not appear to be

strainers (component A in Figure

day tank

of the event, the licensee determined that the inspected and

During the evaluation and B in Figure 1) had not been routinely

A Althoughi

strainers (components

the station procedures did not address this action. drawings, they

cleaned because piping

are identified on the fuel supply system also determined

these components station procedures. The licensee served by the

had not been considered in B strainers was adequately which are

that the function of the component (Cuno-type; component C in Figure 1), size of the

mounted strainers

engine smaller than the rated removal In addition, the

capable of removing particulates are readily cleaned in service.

B strainers and indication.

component

strainers are equipped with differential pressure removed the screen

Cuno-type with 10 CFR 50.59, the licensee

Subsequently, in accordance B strainers for both EDGs.

element from the component

contractor

a contract laboratory to analyze the fuel. The as a

The licensee engaged the fuel

a high concentration of particulates existed in instituted a

reported that contamination. The licensee

result of oxidation and biological by periodic inspection and cleaning

of the

program to enhance fuel quality laboratory strongly

sampling of the fuel. The oxidation and to inhibit

storage tanks and frequent additive to prevent

recommended use of a proprietary a decision

of any

has not been made on the use to include

growth; however, biological is considering design modifications system to

additive. Further, the licensee and a permanent storage tank

recirculation

filters and strainers outage.

dual

filtering of the complete inventory each refueling

facilitate

supply systems differed between uniVL . alu

It should be noted that the fuel (components A and B

on Unit 1 of the day tank strainers

Unit on.-2 in the absence

_

in riyur.:s} to similarly

at Cooper, a clogged strainer had caused an EDG 2.

On July 14, 1977, Reference

oil. This event was described and discussed in

starve of fuel

IN 87-04 January 16, 1987 action or written response is required by this information notice.

No specific matter, please contact tfie Regicnal

If YOu have any questions about this

regional office or this office.

Admnistrator of the appropriate

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: Supply System for Emergency

1. F9gure 1 - Schematic Fuel

Diesel Generator at Arkansas 2 Notices

2. List of Recently Issued IE Information

---

- - - - - - - - - - - -- - I

i TYPICAL

l_INJECTORl_MICRON

I

FILTER

100 MESH l2 II

Y-STRAINER I

N- -I

SRAINER

LDRAINl

U l $~ TO DAY TANK

IE

.NK SAMPLE

EABOVE BOTTOM

ENGINE0  ;

TRANSFER PUMP -DIESEL

SKID

FfUEL PUMP

L

L____ S- -- - --

40 MESH

Y-STRAINER

Diesel

Figure 1. Schematic Fuel Supply System for Emergency

Generator at Arkansas 2

Attachment 2 IN 87-04 January 16, 1987 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Date of

Infoin~ati on Issue Issued to

Notice No. Subject

1/15/87 All NRC licensees

87-03 Segregation of Hazardous

1/15/87 All power reactor

87-02 Inadequate Seismic Quali- facilities holding

fication of Diaphragm an OL or CP

Valves by Mathematical

Modeling and Analysis

116/87 All PWR facilities

87-01 RHR Valve Misalignment holding an OL or CP

Causes Degradation of

ECCS in PWRs

12/31/86 All BwR facilities86-110 Anomalous Behavior of holding an OL or CP

Recirculation Loop Flow

in Jet Pump BWR Plants

12/29/86 All BIR facilities86-109 Diaphragm Failure In Scram holding an OL or CP

Outlet Valve Causing Rod

Insertion

12/29/86 All PwR facilities86-108 Degradation Of Reactor holding an OL or CP

Coolant System Pressure

Boundary Resulting From

Boric Acid Corrosion

12/29/86 All power reactor

86-107 Entry Into PWR Cavity With facilities holding

Retractable Incore Detector an OL or CP

Thimbles Withdrawn

12/16/86 All power reactor

86-106 Feedwater Line Break facilities holding

an OL or CP

12/19/86 All holders of OL or CP

86-105 Potential For Loss Of for PWR or BWR

Reactor Trip Capability

At Intermediate Power

Levels

12/16/86 All pressurized and

86-104 Unqualified Butt Splice boiling-water reactor

Connectors Identified In facilities holding

Qualified Penetrations an OL or CP

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit