Information Notice 1987-26, Cracks in Stiffening Rings on 48-Inch-Diameter Uf6 Cylinders
.6. I ItSSINS No.: 6835IN 87-26UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL .SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDSWASHINGTON, D. C. 20555June 11, 1987NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 87-26: CRACKS IN STIFFENING RINGS ON48-INCH-DIAMETER UF6 CYLINDERS
Addressees
- All uranium fuel fabrication and conversion facilities.
Purpose
- This notice is being issued to alert recipients to a possible safety problemrelated to UF cylinders. It is suggested that recipients review the informa-tion and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude possible safety problemsat their facilities. However, suggestions contained in this Information Noticedo not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or writtenresponse is required.
Description of Circumstances
- The NRC has received information from the manufacturer that some 48-inch-diameterUF cylinders manufactured by the W. H. Stewart Company of Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, have stiffening rings fabricated from a material (ASTM A306, Grade 75steel) which is not specified in ANSI Standard N14.1-1982, or in a previousedition thereof and which is not an equivalent approved material under the ASMEBoiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section VIII, Division 1. The cylinders inquestion are identified by the following manufacturer's serial numbers:2309 through 23332442 through 26172782 through 2828However, because W. H. Stewart Company records are incomplete, other48-inch-diameter cylinders manufactured after May 1975 may be affected. There-fore, this Information Notice is also applicable to any other UF cylinder youhave cause to believe contains stiffening rings made of ASTM A30, Grade 75 steel.Discussion:The Department of Transportation (DOT) has published a rule (see 51 Fed. Reg.46675, December 24, 1986) that after June 30, 1987, will reouire UF6 shippingcontainers to meet the provisions of ANSI Standard N14.1-1982, or a previousedition thereof [49 CFR Part 373.420(a)(2)l. The ANSI Standard specifies thedesign of UF6cylinders, including materials of construction for stiffening IN 87-26June 11, 1987 rings. The ANSI Standard also permits substitute materials to be used forstiffening rings provided they are equivalent approved materials under theASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section VIII, Division 1, which are:compatible with fabrication of the cylinders involved. Shipment of cylindersthat do not meet the ANSI Standard is not authorized under the new DOT rule'scheduled to become effective on June 30, 1987.Wedge-shaped cracks have been detected on some of the stiffening rings onidentified cylinders.The cause and safety significance of the cracks have not been determined. Thestiffening rings may serve multiple safety and functional purposes; they arewelded to the lifting lugs and may contribute to the strength of those lugs.Therefore, licensees may want to consider inspecting the cylinders in questionfor cracks in the stiffening rings, lifting lugs, and associated weldments,including those weldments that join the stiffening rings to the cylindricalshell and to the lifting lugs. Extra care and caution should be used whenlifting or handling any cylinder that has cracked stiffening rings, liftinglugs, or weldments.DOT regulates the transport of UF cylinders. Shipment of UF cylinders thatdo not meet the ANSI Standard is hiot authorized under the new6 DOT rule scheduledto become effective on June 30, 1987. DOT should be consulted before you shipany-of the-identified cylinders off site. ___ -No specific action or written response is required by this Information Notice.If you have questions about this matter, please contact those listed below.Richard E. Cunningham, r orDivision of Fuel Cycle, Medical,Academic, and Commercial Use SafetyOffice of Nuclear Material Safetyand SafeguardsDOT Technical Contact ontransportation questions:Michael E. WanglerTelephone: (202)366-4498NRC Technical Contact onall other questions:Leland C. RouseTelephone: (301)427-4309
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
.Attachment 1IN 87-26June 11, 1987LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDINFORMATION NOTICES 1987Information Date ofNotice No. Subject Issuance Issued to87-2587-2487-23:87-2287-2187-2086-108Sup. 186-64Sup. 185-61Sup. 187-19Potentially SignificantProblems Resulting fromHuman Error InvolvingWrong Unit, Wrong, Train,or Wrong Component Events.Operational ExperienceInvolving Losses ofElectrical InvertersLoss of Decay Heat RemovalDuring Low Reactor CoolantLevel Operation6/11/876/4/875/27/875/22/87All nuclear powerreactor facilitiesholding an OL or CP.All nuclear powerreactor facilitiesholding an OL or CP.All PWRholdingfacilitiesan OL or CP.OperatorficationNonpowerShutdownLicensedWhile onHydrogenBuildingLicensing Requali-Examinations atReactorsOrder Issued Because 5/11/87Operators AsleepDutyAll research andnonpower reactorfacilities.All nuclear powerfacilities holdingan OL or CP and alllicensed operators.All nuclear powerfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll PWR facilitiesholding an OL or CP.Leak in Auxiliary4/20/874/20/87Degradation of ReactorCoolant System PressureBoundary Resulting fromBoric Acid CorrosionDeficiencies in UpgradePrograms for PlantEmergency OperatingProcedures.Misadministrations toPatients Undergoing ThyroidScans4/20/87 All nuclear powerfacilities holdinga CP or OL.4/15/87All licenseesauthorized to usebyproduct materialAll Westinghousepower PWR facilitiesholding an OL or CPPerforation and Cracking of 4/9/87Rod Cluster Control AssembliesOL = Operating LicenseCP = Construction Permit IN 87-26June 11, 1987 rings. The ANSI Standard also permits substitute materials to be used forstiffening rings provided they are equivalent approved materials under theASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section VIII, Division 1, which arecompatible with fabrication of the cylinders involved. Shipment of cylindersthat do not meet the ANSI Standard is not authorized under the new DOT rulescheduled to become effective on June 30, 1987.Wedge-shaped cracks have been detected on some of the stiffening rings onidentified cylinders.The cause and safety significance of the cracks have not been determined. Thestiffening rings may serve multiple safety and functional purposes; they arewelded to the lifting lugs and may contribute to the strength of those lugs.Therefore, licensees may want to consider inspecting the cylinders in questionfor cracks in the stiffening rings, lifting lugs, and associated weldments,including those weldments that join the stiffening rings to the cylindricalshell and to the lifting lugs. Extra care and caution should be used whenlifting or handling any cylinder that has cracked stiffening rings, liftinglugs, or weldments.DOT regulates the transport of UF cylinders. Shipment of UF6 cylinders thatdo not meet the ANSI Standard is got authorized under the new DOT rule scheduledto become effective on June 30, 1987. DOT should be consulted before you shipany of the identified cylinders off site.No specific action or written response is required by this Information Notice.If you have questions about this matter, please contact those listed below.Richard E. Cunningham, DirectorDivision of Fuel Cycle, Medical,Academic, and Commercial Use SafetyOffice of Nuclear Material Safetyand SafeguardsDOT Technical Contact on NRC Technical Contact ontransportation questions: all other questions:Michael E. Wangler Leland C. RouseTelephone: (202)366-4498 Telephone: (301)427-4309
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices* SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCEOFC: PPMB* FCOB* SGTB* SGTB* SGTB* FCOB* FCOB*-_-__________________________-__________________________________________________NAME:RSanders/jp JRMetzger CRChappell CEWilliams CEMacDonald DACool JWNHickey-_____- ______________________________- ________________________________________DATE:05/ /8 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87OFC: FCSB NRR FCMA FCMA-____-__-__-__-__________-_________-_________-____-____________________-_________NAME:LCRouse* CRossi* GLSjoblom RECunningham-___-____-__________________________________-_____-__-_____-___-_______-________DATE:05/ /87 05/ /87 06/ /87 06/ /87OFFICIAL RECORD COPY i CIN 87-June ', 1987 rings. The ANSI Standard also permits substitute materials to be used forstiffening rings provided they are equivalent approved materials under theASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section VIII, Division 1, which arecompatible with fabrication of the cylinders involved. Shipment of cylindersthat do not meet the ANSI Standard is not authorized under the new DOT rulescheduled to become effective on June 30, 1987.Wedge-shaped cracks have been detected on some of the stiffening rings onidentified cylinders.The cause and safety significance of the cracks have not been determined. Thestiffening rings may serve multiple safety and functional purposes; they arewelded to the lifting lugs and may contribute to the strength of those lugs.Therefore, licensees may want to consider inspecting the cylinders in questionfor cracks in the stiffening rings, lifting lugs, and associated weldments,including those weldments that Join the stiffening rings to the cylindricalshell and to the lifting lugs. Extra care and caution should be used whenlifting or handling any cylinder that has cracked stiffening rings, liftinglugs, or weldments.DOT regulates the transport of UF cylinders. Shipment of UF6 cylinders thatdo not meet the ANSI Standard is got authorized under the new DOT rule scheduledto become effective on June 30, 1987. DOT should be consulted before you shipany of the identified cylinders off site.No specific action or written response is required by this Information Notice.If you have questions about this matter, please contact those listed below.Original Signed byRichard E. CunninghatmRichard E. Cunningham, DirectorDivision of Fuel Cycle, Medical,Academic, and Commercial Use SafetyOffice of Nuclear Material Safetyand SafeguardsDOT Technical Contact on NRC Technical Contact ontransportation questions: all other questions:Michael E. Wangler Leland C. RouseTelephone: (202)366-4498 Telephone: (301)427-4309
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices* SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCEOFC: PPMB* FCOB* SGTB* SGTB* SGTB* FCOB* FCOB*-____-___________________-__-_____-________-_____-__-__________________________NAME:RSanders/jp JRMetzger CRChappell CEWilliams CEMacDonald DACool JWNHickey-____-_-_______________________________-____________-__________________________DATE:05/ /8 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87 05/ /87OFC: FCSB NRR WA CMA-- ---- -------------- --- --- --- ---- --- -NAME:LCRouse* CRossi* lom RECunningham-____________ _ _______ ___----------------------------------------------__DATE:05/ /87 05/ /87 06/ /87 061ao/87OFFICIAL RECORD COPY