Information Notice 1996-33, Erroneous Data from Defective Thermocouple Results in a Fire

Erroneous Data from Defective Thermocouple Results in a Fire

ML031060060
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:	05/24/1996
From:	Cool D, Teneyck E NRC/NMSS/FCSS, NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
IN-96-033, NUDOCS 9605220019
Download: ML031060060 (8)

11 -I

UNITED STATES

NUC EAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUC EAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 24, 1996 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 96-33: ERRONEOUS DATA FROM DEFECTIVE THERMOCOUPLE

'RESULTS IN A FIRE

Addressees

All material and fuel cycle licensees that monitor temperature with

thermocouples.

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information

notice to alert addressees to an incident where a defective thermocouple

caused an evaporator to run at an excessively high temperature, resulting in a

fire. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applica- bility to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid

similar problems. However, suggestions in this information notice are not NRC

requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

On February 21, 1996, a licensee had a fire in the ventilation system of its

liquid waste process. The licensee's investigation determined that the fire

was caused by a type-J thermocouple manufactured with reverse polarity. The

type-J thermocouple was part of a Pulse Combustion Drier put into operation in

1985 to evaporate waste water. The drier operates with natural gas that

ignites inside the drier combustion chamber. Waste water is pumped into the

hot gases being expelled from the combustion chamber within an evaporation

cone. The temperature is controlled by regulating the amount of waste water

being fed into the system. This is based on temperature readings from a

thermocouple in the duct work.

The licensee had replaced the thermocouple with a spare unit while trouble- shooting a lead wire problem on February 15, 1996. The spare thermocouple was

found to have reverse polarity during a test run, and the licensee believed it

had corrected the problem by reversing the lead wire polarity at the

instrument. The system appeared to read correctly during a 10-minute test

run. However, approximately an hour into a full run the next day, the

temperature reading began to behave erratically. The temperature readings

dropped even though the actual temperature was increasing. By the time the

licensee identified the discrepancy, a fire had started in the dust collector- filter cartridges.

The defective type-J thermocouple was purchased in 1985 (as a spare part),

along with the Pulse Combustion Drier from Sonodyne Industries in Portland, Oregon. The thermocouple had been manufactured for Sonodyne Industries by

~~20O1 l Qdjoto

pi)t TE-E Aon 96-033-9(052c/

IN 96-33 May 24, 1996 Gulton Measurement and Control Systems Division (a division of Gulton

Industries) in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The licensee reported that

Sonodyne Industries is out of business and Gulton Industries is no longer

manufacturing thermocouples.

Discussion

NRC is not aware of any other Sonodyne driers currently being used by NRC

licensees. Licensees that operate waste water evaporators or other heat- generating systems using thermocouples may wish to consider reviewing the

source of the thermocouples and testing the polarity of thermocouples in

stock.

This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If

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

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.

ElizaI~%h Q. T6 ck, Di tctor Donald A. Cool, Director

Divis ton of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Industrial and

and Safeguards Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards and Safeguards

Technical contact: Kevin M. Ramsey, NMSS

(301) 415-7887 Internet:kmrenrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. lst of Recently Issued NRC Information s

P"&t' &-

A

Ki)

K-,

Attachment 1 IN 96-33 May 24, 1996 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NHSS INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

96-28 Suggested Guidance Relat- 05/01/96 All material and fuel cycle

1ng to Development and licensees

Implementation of Correc- tive Action

96-21 Safety Concerns Related 04/10/96 All NRC Medical Licensees

to the Design of the Door authorized to use brachy- Interlock Circuit on therapy sources in high- Nucletron High-Dose Rate and pulsed-dose-rate remote

and Pulsed Dose Rate

Remote Afterloading Brachy- therapy Devices

96-20 Demonstration of Associ- 04/04/96 All industrial radiography

ated Equipment Compliance licensees and radiography

with 10 CFR 34.20 equipment manufacturers

96-18 Compliance With 10 CFR 03/25/96 All material licensees

Part 20 for Airborne authorized to possess and

Thorium use thorium in unsealed form

96-04 Incident Reporting 01/10/96 All Radiography Licensees

Requirements for and Manufacturers of

Radiography Licensees Radiography Equipment

95-58 10 CFR 34.20; Final 12/18/95 Industrial Radiography

Effective Date Licensees.

Handling Uncontained 12/6/95 All Uranium Recovery

Yellowcake Outside of a Licensees.

Facility Processing Circuit

95-51 Recent Incidents Involving 10/27/95 All material and fuel cycle

Potential Loss of Control licensees.

of Licensed Material

95-50 Safety Defect in Gammamed 10/30/95 All High Dose Rate

121 Bronchial Catheter Afterloader (HDR) Licensees.

Clamping Adapters

I2

3. Attachment 2 IN 96-33 May 24, 1996 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

96-32 Implementation of 10 CFR 05/23/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A), for nuclear power reactors

Augmented Examination

of Reactor Vessel'

96-31 Cross-Tied Safety Injec- 05/22/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

tion Accumulators for pressurized water

reactors

96-30 Inaccuracy of Diagnostic 05/21/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

Equipment for Motor- for nuclear power reactors

Operated Butterfly Valves

96-29 Requirements in 10 CFR 05/20/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

Part 21 for Reporting and for nuclear power reactors

Evaluating Software Errors

96-28 Suggested Guidance Relating 05/01/96 All material and fuel cycle

to Development and Imple- licensees

mentation of Corrective

Action

96-27 Potential Clogging of High 05/01/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

Pressure Safety Injection for pressurized water

Throttle Valves During reactors

Recirculation

96-26 Recent Problems with Over- 04/30/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

head Cranes for nuclear power reactors

96-25 Transversing In-Core Probe 04/30/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

Overwithdrawn at LaSalle for nuclear power reactors

County Station, Unit 1

96-24 Preconditioning of Molded- 04/25/96 All holders of OLs or CPs

Case Circuit Breakers for nuclear power reactors

Before Surveillance Testing

OL - Operating License

CP - Construction Permit

J

11--.11 IN 96-33 May 24, 1996 Gulton Measurement and Control Systems Division (a division of Gulton

Industries) in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The licensee reported that

Sonodyne Industries is out of business and Gulton Industries is no longer

manufacturing thermocouples.

Discussion

NRC is not aware of any other Sonodyne driers currently being used by NRC

licensees. Licensees that operate waste water evaporators or other heat- generating systems using thermocouples may wish to consider reviewing the

source of the thermocouples and testing the polarity of thermocouples in

stock.

This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If

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

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.

Elizabeth Q. Ten Eyck, Director Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Industrial and

and Safeguards Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards and Safeguards

Technical contact: Kevin M. Ramsey, NMSS

(301) 415-7887 Internet:kmr~nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: 96-33.IN

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE -O

IMOB* C NMSS* I IMOB* lCSS I FCSS4I IMNS I

NAME KRamsey/kr/ll EKraus CHaney PTing ETentyck

DATE 4/15/96 4/15/96 4/18/96 4/18/96 5/15/96 5/16/96 j

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

l)

IN 96- April , 1996 Gulton Measurement and Control Systems Division (a division of Gulton

Industries) in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The licensee reported that

Sonodyne Industries is out of business and Gulton Industries is no longer

manufacturing thermocouples.

Discussion:

NRC is not aware of any other Sonodyne driers currently being used by NRC

licensees. Licensees that operate waste water evaporators or other heat- generating systems using thermocouples may wish to consider reviewing the

source of the thermocouples and testing the polarity of thermocouples in

stock.

This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If

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

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.

Elizabeth Q. Ten Eyck, Director Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Industrial and

and Safeguards Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards and Safeguards

Contact(s): Kevin M. Ramsey, NMSS

(301) 415-7887 Attachments:

1. Lis t of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. Lis,t of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: G:INTHERMO.KMR

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

OFC I 0B* I _ NMSS* I IMOB* IjI FCSS I IM A

NAME KRamsey/kr/ll EKraus CHaney PTinETen k

DATE 4/15/96 - 4/15/96 m4/18/96 4//j'96 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

FN 96- April , 1996 Page 2 of 2 Gulton Measurement and Control Systems Division (a division of G ton

Industries) in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The licensee rep ted that

Sonodyne Industries is out of business and Gulton Industries s no longer

manufacturing thermocouples.

Discussion:

NRC is not aware of any other Sonodyne driers curren y being used by NRC

licensees. Licensees that operate waste water evap rators or other heat- generating systems using thermocouples may wish t consider reviewing the

source of the thermocouples and testing the pol ity of thermocouples in

stock.

This information notice requires no specifi action nor written response. If

you have any questions about the informat n in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or th appropriate regional office.

Donald A. Cool, Director

.Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Contact(s): Kevin M. msey, NMSS

(301) 41 7887 Attachments:

1. List of Recenty Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Rec tly Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: G: THERMO.KMR

• SEE PREVI S CONCURRENCE

lOFC l- IMW l lNMSS* I l1I40B I FCSS l l IMNS I

NAME KR seylkrll1 EKraus Haney PTing DCool

DATE 4/15/96 4/15/96 4//K/96 4/ /96 4/ /96 j

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

IN 96- April , 1996 Gulton Measurement and Control Systems Division (a division of Gulton

Industries) in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The licensee reported that

Sonodyne Industries is out of business and Gulton Industries is no longer

manufacturing thermocouples.

Discussion:

Based on licensee statements and NRC inspection experie, e the Pulse

Combustion Drier marketed by Sonodyne Industries did rj5 sell very well. NRC

is not aware of any other Sonodyne driers currently }Sing used by NRC

licensees. Licensees that operate waste water evap rators or other heat- generating systems using thermocouples may wish 14 consider reviewing the

source of the thermocouples and testing the po ity of thermocouples in

stock.

This information notice requires no specif c action nor written response. If

you have any questions about the informaCion in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or e appropriate regional office.

Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Contact(s): Kevin4 . Ramsey, NMSS

2 1) 415-7887 Attachments;

1.Ls ~Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. Li of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT X ME: G:INTHERMO.KMR

OFC IMOB l NMSS l IMOB Il FCSS I IMNS

NAME KRamseyr Eaus CHaney PTing l DCool

DATE[ 4/15/96 4/15/96 T 4/ /96 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

4/ /96 [ 4/ /96