Information Notice 1991-27, Incorrect Rotation of Positive Displacement Pump

Incorrect Rotation of Positive Displacement Pump
	ML031190640
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, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	04/10/1991
From:	Rossi C; Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	;
References
	IN-91-027, NUDOCS 9104040062
	Download: ML031190640 (6)
	v • d • e

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 10, 1991 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 91-27: INCORRECT ROTATION OF POSITIVE

DISPLACEMENT PUMP

-

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is intended to alert addressees to the potential

'existence of positive displacement pumps with reverse rotation caused by

incorrect wiring. It is expected that recipients will review the information

for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to

avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information

notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or

written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

On February 15, 1990, one of the two positive displacement pumps in the standby

liquid control system at Brunswick Unit 2 was observed rotating in the reverse

direction. This discovery was made after maintenance; however, nothing in the

maintenance procedure could have affected the rotational direction of the pump, and the condition had apparently existed for some indeterminate period of time.

During the resulting investigation, Brunswick personnel discovered that two

electrical leads had been interchanged in the motor control center that fed

power to the standby liquid control pump causing the three-phase pump motor to

rotate in the reverse direction. Although Brunswick personnel routinely made

rotational checks following pump maintenance, apparently in this case the

maintenance personnel mistakenly believed that the existing direction of

rotation was correct.

Discussion:

The standby liquid control system includes positive displacement reciprocating

piston pumps. The direction of rotation has no immediate effect on the perfor- mance of these pumps. However, the pump internal drive train lubrication

system does depend upon the correct direction of pump rotation to fill an

elevated reservoir which then drains oil over the drive pistons. Oil splash

would provide some lubrication when the pump is rotated in the reverse direc- tion. According to the pump vendor, Union Pump, the splash effect could supply

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It

IN 91-27 April 10, 1991 sufficient lubrication for short-term operation, particularly for the slower

speed pumps used in the standby liquid control systems. Consequently, these

pumps, which are operated for approximately 15 minutes per month for surveil- lance testing, might not show any adverse effects for some time. In addition

to depriving the pump of adequate lubrication, reverse operation could cause

excessive wear to the pump seals and detectable oil leakage.

Positive displacement pumps are used in the standby liquid control system at

all boiling water reactors and are also used in the charging system at some

pressurized water reactors. Both of these applications involve important

safety systems that might be required to operate for extended periods of time

in the event of an accident. In keeping with this, Brunswick personnel have

labeled the standby liquid control system pumps to indicate their correct

direction of rotation. Careful visual rotational checks, included with the

pump surveillance procedures, are important in-ensuring that positive displace- ment pumps will continue to operate correctly.

This information n6tice requires no specific action or written response.

you have any questions about the.information in this notice, please contactIfone

of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

arles ossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Donald C Kirkpatrick, NRR.

(301) 492-1849 Ted Cintula, AEOD

(301) 492-4493 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

II)

Attachment 1 IN 91-27 April 10, 1991 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

89-90, Pressurizer Safety Valve 04/10/91 All holders of OLs or

Supp. 1 Lift Setpoint Shift CPs for nuclear power

reactors.

91-26 Potential Nonconservative 04/02/91 All fuel cycle licensees

Errors in the Working Format and other licensees, in- Hansen-Roach Cross-Section cluding all holders of

Set Provided with The Keno operating licenses for

and Scale Codes nuclear power reactors, who use physics codes to

support criticality

safety in the use of

fissile material.

91-25 Commercial-Grade Structural 04/01/91 All holders of OLs or

Framing Components Supplied CPs for nuclear power

As Nuclear Safety-Related reactors.

Equipment

91-24 Recent Operating Experience 03/26/91 All holders of OLs or

Involving Reactor Operation CPs for nuclear power, Without A Licensed Reactor test, and research re- Operatorior Senior Reactor actors, and all Part 55 Operator;Present in the licensed operators.

Control Room

91-23 Accidental Radiation Over- 03/26/91 All Nuclear Regulatory

exposures to Personnel Due to Commission (NRC) licens- Industrial Radiography Acces- ees authorized to use

sory Equipment Malfunctions sealed sources for indus- trial radiography.

91-22 Four Plant Outage Events In- 03/19/91 All holders of OLs or

volving Loss of AC Power or CPs for nuclear power

Coolant Spills reactors.

91-21 Inadequate Quality Assurance 03/19/91 All holders of OLs or

Program of Vendor Supplying CPs for nuclear power

Safety-Related Equipment reactors and all

recipients of NUREG-0040,

"Licensee Contractor and

Vendor Inspection Status

Report" (White Book).

OL = Operating License

CP = Construct ion Permit