Information Notice 1989-21, Changes in Performance Characteristics of Molded-Case Circuit Breakers

Changes in Performance Characteristics of Molded-Case Circuit Breakers

ML031180541
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
Issue date:	02/27/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-021, NUDOCS 8902210564
Download: ML031180541 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 February 27, 1989 CHANGES IN PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-21: OF MOLDED-CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Addressees

power

or construction permits for nuclear

All holders of operating licenses

reactors.

Purpose

to alert addressees to an observed

This information notice is being provided to the performance characteristics

of

practice in which vendors make changes to

making any corresponding revisions

molded-case circuit breakers without that recipients will review the

the breaker part number. It is expected facilities and consider actions, as

information for applicability to their However, suggestions contained in

to avoid similar problems.

appropriate, NRC requirements; therefore, no

this information notice do not constitute is required.

specific action or written response

Description of Circumstances

manu- several inspections performed by the NRC, it was discovered that

During frequently altered the time-current

facturers of molded case circuit breakers a particular style or type of breaker.

characteristic curves pertaining to the part number of the breaker and

changes were made without changing

These

any specific notification to the customer. The changes identi- often without from very minor alterations to the

during the NRC inspections ranged

fied alterations to the magnetic instanta- thermal portion of the curves to major One change for ITE-type 100-amp breakers

neous trip portion of the curves. band from 600-1000 amps to 1200-2000

involved the movement of the instantaneous contains the appropriate curves, the

usually

amps. Although product literaturewith the breakers.

curves are not routinely provided

Discussion:

licensees who procure replacement breakers

As a result of these changes, many breakers with performance characteristics

by part number only are receiving If the

that may be different from those assumed in the original plant design.

installation

characteristics, upon

breakers are not analyzed for performance the electrical protection system

these breakers potentially could degrade the energizing of vital safety-related

and/or cause premature tripping upon failures of circuit breakers detected

systems. Additionally, many perceived

802 6

IN 89-21 February 27, 1989 during pre-installation or routine

testing may actually be the result

known changes in time-current characteristic of un- the breakers purchased conform curves. One way to ensure that

to a particular curve would be to

the specific curve (including the reference

requirements. If the breaker was applicable revision) as part of the purchase

cations of that specific curve, no longer manufactured to meet

the the specifi- its effect on the overall system. new curve would have to be analyzed

for

No specific action or written response

If you have any questions about is required by this information

this matter, notice.

contact listed below or the Regional please contact the technical

office. Administrator of the appropriate

regional

arl . si, Director

Division of Operational Events

Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

J. B. Jacobson, NRR

(301) 492-0996 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices

Attachment

IN 89-21 ;

February 27, 1989 Page 1 of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Informati on Date of

Subject Issuance Issued to

Notice No.

Direction-Dependent Leak 2/27/89 All holders of OLs

88-73, or CPs for nuclear

Supplement 1 Characteristics of Contain- power reactors.

ment Purge Valves

2/24/89 All holders of OLs

89-20 Weld Failures in a Pump or CPs for nuclear

of Byron-Jackson Design

power reactors.

Health Physics Network 2/23/89 All holders of OLs

89-19 or CPs for nuclear

power reactors, and

the following fuel

facilities: Nuclear

Fuel Services of Erwin, General Atomic, UNC

Montville, B&W LRC

Lynchburg, and B&W

Lynchburg.

Criminal Prosecution of 2/22/89 All holders of OLs

89-18 Wrongdoing Committed by or CPs for nuclear

Suppliers of Nuclear power reactors.

Products or Services

Contamination and Degra- 2/22/89 All holders of OLs

89-17 or CPs for nuclear

dation of Safety-Related

Battery Cells power reactors.

Excessive Voltage Drop 2/16/89 All holders of OLs

89-16 or CPs for nuclear

in dc Systems

power reactors.

Second Reactor Coolant Pump 2/16/89 All holders of OLs

89-15 or CPs for nuclear

Shaft Failure at Crystal

River power reactors.

89-14 Inadequate Dedication 2/16/89 All holders of OLs

Process for Commercial or CPs for nuclear

Grade Components Which power reactors.

Could Lead to Common Mode

Failure of a Safety System

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 89-21 February 27, 1989 during pre-installation or routine testing may actually be the result of un- known changes in time-current characteristic curves. One way to ensure that

the breakers purchased conform to a particular curve would be to reference

the specific curve (including the applicable revision) as part of the the purchase

requirements. If the breaker was no longer manufactured to meet specifi- analyzed for

cations of that specific curve, the new curve would have to be

its effect on the overall system.

notice.

No specific action or written response is required by this information

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical

contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional

office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

J. B. Jacobson, NRR

(301) 492-0996 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D < *C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR *PPMB:ARM

CHBerlinger TechEd

2/89 02/09/89 02/17/89

• VIB:DRIS:NRR *SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR *BC/AB:DRIS:NRR *BC/SELB:DEST:NRR *D/DRIS:NRR

JJacobson UPotapovs EWBrach FRose BKGrimes

01/30/89 02/01/89 02/07/89 02/06/89 02/07/89

IN 89-XX

January XX, 1989 could

plant design. If unanalyzed, upon installation these breakers premature

and/or cause

potenttally degrade the electrical protection system Additionally, many

tripping upon energization of vital safety-related systems.

pre-installation or routine

perceived circuit breaker failures detected during

testing may actually be due to an unknown change in Time - Currentconform to a

Characteristic Curves. One way to ensure that received breakers revision

particular curve would be to reference the specific curve (including breaker needed is no

applicable) as part of the purchase requirements. If the

new curve would need to be

longer manufactured to that specific curve, the

analyzed for its effect on the overall system.

notice.

No specific action or written response is required by this information the technical

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact

regional

contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate

office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

J. B. Jacobson, NRR

(301) 492-0996

• See previous concurrence.

SC:VIB:DRIS :BC:VIB:DRIS :BC:SELB:DEST :D:DRIS:NRR :BC:GCBI /w')

OFC :VIB:DRIS

UPotapovs* :EWBrach* :FRosa* :BKGrimes* 1 CBerlinger

9 NAME :JJacobson:nrp

02/01/89 :02/07/89 :02/06/89 :02/07/89 :02i 1 /89 DATE :01/30/89*

OFC :D:DOEA  : (To

rb,

---

:I--------

NAME :CERossi :f

DATE :0 - - --- -/

DATE :02/ /89 2/75

IN 89-XX

January XX, 1989 plant design. If unanalyzed, upon installation these breakers could

potentially degrade the electrical protection system and/or cause premature

trip ing upon energization of vital safety related systems. Additionally, many

perce ed circuit breaker failures detected during pre-installation or routine

testing ay actually be due to an unknown change in Time - Current

Characterstic Curves. One way to ensure that received breakers conform to a

particular urve would be to reference the specific curve (including revision

applicable) part of the purchase requirements. If the breaker need is no

longer manufac ured to that specific curve, the new curve would need o be

analyzed for it effect on the overall system. No specific actio r written

response is requi ed by this information notice. If you have a questions

about this matter, lease contact the technical contact liste below or the

Regional Administrat r of the appropriate regional office.

Charles E. i, Director

Division Operational Events Assessment

Office o Nuclear Reactor Regulation

J. B. Jacobson, RR

(301) 492-0996 DISTRIBUTION

Central Files

VIB R/F

DRIS R/F

BKGrimes

EWBrach

UPotapovs

JJacobson

• See pr ious concurrence.

IB:D I :SC: VIB- IS :BC: TORIS D- HERR  : C:GCB :D:DDE

---

NAME :JJaco son:nrp :UPotap vs :EW')ch  : i es :CBerlinger :CERo!

DATE :01 0/89* :02/ /89 :02/2 /89 :02/ /89 :02/ /89 :02/

"rrt0

IN 89-XX

January XX 1989 Page 2 of

plant design. If analyzed, upon installation these breakers cou d

potentially degrade e electrical protection system and/or caus premature

tripping upon energiza on of vital safety related systems. Ad tionally, many

perceived circuit breake failures detected during pre-install ion or routine

testing may actually be du to an unknown change in Time - Cu rent

Characteristic Curves. One y to ensure that received brea ers conform to a

particular curve would be to reference the specific curve ( ncluding Revision

applicable) as part of the purc se requirements. If the reaker needed is no

longer manufactured to that spec ic curve, the new curve ould need to be

analyzed for its effect on the ove 11 system. No speci ic action or written

response is required by this informa ion notice. If yo have any questions

about this matter, please contact the echnical contac listed below or the

Regional Administrator of the appropria regional of ice.

Charles E. or

Divisi o Op ational Events Assessment

Off' e of Nuclea Reactor Regulation

J. B. Jacobson, RR

(301) 492-0996 DISTRIBUTION

Central Files

VIB R/F

DRIS R/F

BKGrimes

EWBrach

UPotapovs

JJacobson

OFC :VIB:DRIS :9C: IB:DRIS :BC:VIB:DRIS  :

______------- -- - - -- - - - - - - - ---- -----

NAME :JJacob .nrp 1 / :UPotapovs :EWBrach

---

:1------ --------------

01/ /8--

9-  ::01/ -/ ---_ ---------

DATE :01/0o/8 :01/ /89 :01/ /89  :::