Information Notice 1989-42, Failure of Rosemount Models 1153 and 1154 Transmitters

Failure of Rosemount Models 1153 and 1154 Transmitters

ML031180830
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:	04/21/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-042, NUDOCS 8904180193
Download: ML031180830 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 21, 1989 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-42: FAILURE OF ROSEMOUNT MODELS 1153 AND 1154 TRANSMITTERS

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is being provided to alert addressees about recent

failures of Rosemount models 1153 and 1154 pressure and differential pressure

transmitters. 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

During 1986 and 1987, five Rosemount model 1153 HD5PC differential pressure

transmitters malfunctioned at Northeast Utilities' (NU) Millstone Nuclear

Power Station, Unit 3. During power operation, the Millstone operators noted

that the signals from the Rosemount 1153 transmitters were deviating from

redundant channel signals and that the transmitters were indicating reduced

levels of process noise. The transmitters were declared out of service by

NU personnel, and the affected channels were placed in the tripped condition.

After attempts to calibrate the transmitters failed, NU returned the trans- mitters to Rosemount and informed them that the malfunctions had occurred

with transmitters of the same model and related serial numbers. Destructive

testing performed by Rosemount determined that the failures were caused by the

loss of oil from the transmitter's sealed sensing module. However, Rosemount

indicated that the failures appeared to be random and not related to any generic

problem with Rosemount 1153 pressure transmitters. NU submitted a 10 CFR Part 21 notification to the NRC on this issue on March 25, 1988, and provided additional

information on the failures via a letter dated April 13, 1989.

Discussion:

After additional evaluations by NU and Rosemount, Rosemount issued a letter

to its customers on December 12, 1988, regarding the potential malfunction

,.,MOdand1154 pressure and differential pressure transmitters. The

8904180193

IN 89-42 April 21, 1989 Rosemount letter was supplemented with a letter dated February 7, 1989, to

customers who had purchased transmitters from specific lots that were identi- fled by Rosemount as being potentially defective. Rosemount issued a separate

letter dated February 16, 1989, to customers who had purchased model 1153 and

1S4 transmitters from lots that were not considered suspect. Rosemount indi- cated that transmitters from the suspect lots were susceptible to a loss of

silicone oil from the transmitter sealed sensing module and to possible fail- ure. According to Rosemount, as the oil leaks out of the sensing module the

transmitter's performance gradually deteriorates and may eventually lead to

a detectable failure.

Some of the symptoms that have been observed during operation and before

failure include slow drift in either direction of about 1/4 percent or more

per month, lack of response over the transmitter's full range, increase in

the transmitter's time response, deviation from the normal signal fluctuations, decrease in the detectable noise level, deviation of signals from one channel

compared with redundant channels, "one sided" signal noise, and slow response

to a transient or inability to follow a transient. Some of the symptoms

observed by NU personnel during calibration include the inability to respond

over the transmitter's entire range, slow response to either increasing or

decreasing hydraulic test pressure, and drift of greater than 1% from the

previous calibration.

Although some of the defective transmitters have shown certain symptoms before

their failure, it has been reported that in some cases the failure of a trans- mitter may not be detectable during operation. In addition, Rosemount now

indicates that the potential for malfunction may not be limited to the speci- fied manufacturing lots previously identified in the February 1989 letter.

It is important for addressees to determine whether any Rosemount models 1153 and 1154 pressure and differential pressure transmitters', regardless of their

manufacturing date, are installed in their facilities and to take whatever

actions are deemed necessary to ensure that any potential failures of these

transmitters are identified. Although it may not be possible to detect the

onset of failure in all instances, some transmitters have exhibited some of

the aforementioned symptoms before failure. It is important for potential

failure modes to be identified and that operators be prepared for handling

potential malfunctions. In addition, careful examination of plant data, calibration records, and operating experience may yield clues that identify

potentially defective transmitters.

Addressees

may wish to contact Rosemount

for assistance in determining appropriate corrective actions whenever any of

the aforementioned symptoms are observed or if failures are identified.

On April 13, 1989, the NRC staff met and discussed this matter with Rosemount

and several industry groups. Rosemount has launched a program to identify the

root cause of the loss of oil from the sensing module and to determine recom- mendations for its customers to address potentially defective transmitters.

IN 89-42 April 21, 1989 Nc specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact one of the

technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appro- priate regional office.

o Di

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Kamal Naidu, NRR

(301) 492-0980

Jaime Guillen, NRR

(301) 492-1170

Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

\\Attachment

IN 89-42 April 21. 1989 Page 1 of I

LIST OF RECENTLY !SSUED

NRCINFORMATION NCTICES

I... . ..... r _ _

Late OT

NotiCEe No. Subiaet TG@II*flt* Issued to

8S-41 Operator Response to 4/20/89 All holders of OLs

Pressurization of Low- or CPs for nuclear

Pressure Interfacing pcer reactors.

Systems

PC-15, Disabling of Diesel 4/17/89 All holders of OLs

Supplement I Generator Output Circuit or CPn for nuclear

Breakers by Anti-Pt mp power reactors.

Circuitry

89-40 Unsatisfactory Operator Test 4/14it9 All holders of OLs

Results and Their Effect on or CPs for nuclear

the Requaltficat10n Program power reactors.

9-39 List of Parties Excluded 415/89 All holders of OLS

from Federal Procurerent or CPs for nuclear

or Non-Procurement Prograns power reactors.

89-*E Atmospheric Dump Valve 4/5/89 All holders of OLIS

Failures at Palo Yerde or CPs for nuclear

Units 1, 2, and 3 power reactors.

89-37 Proposed Amendments to 4/4/89 All U.S. NRClicensees.

40 CFR Part 61. Air

Emission Standards

for Radionuclides

89-36 Excessive Temperatures 4/4/89 All holders of OLs

In Emergency Core Cooling or CPs for nuclear

Systom Piping Located power reactors.

Outside Containmnt

68-86. Operating with Multiple 3/31/89 All holders of OLs

eupp. I Grounds In Direct Current cr CPs for nuclear

Cistribution Systems power reactors.

C9-35 Loss and Theft of Un. 3/30/89 All U.S. NRCbyproduct.

secured Licensed Material source and special

nuclear material

licensees.

OL

• Operating License

CP- Construction Pemit

UNITED STATES FR CLASSMAIL

POSTAGE 0 FEESMAIDL

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PAID

UsNRCl

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 PERMIT No. G47 l

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

IN 89-42 April 21, 1989 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact one of the

technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appro- priate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Kamal Naidu, NRR

(301) 492-0980

Jaime Guillen, NRR

(301) 492-1170

Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS ICONCURRENCES

• C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR *RPB:ARM *D/DEST:NRR

CHBerlinger TechEd LCShao

04/17/89 04/12/89 04/17/89

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR *VIB:DRIS: R *C/VIB:DRIS:NRR *C/SICB:DEST:NRR*AD/SAD:DEST:NRR

JGuillen KNaidu BBrach SNewberry AThadani

04/13/89 04/17/89 04/17/89 04/17/89 04/17/89

IN 89-XX

April xx, 1989 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact one of the

technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropri- ate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Kamal Naidu, NRR

(301) 492-0980

Jaime Guillen, NRR

(301) 492-1170

Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRR C/O gI EA:NRR *RPB:ARM D/D 4 CERossi CHBerlinger TechEd LCStaio

04/ /89 04///89 04/12/89 04/1/89

• OGCB:DOEA:NRIR VIB:DRIS:NRR C/V IB:DRIS:NRR C/SICB:DEST:NRR AD/SAD:DEST:NRR

JGuillen KNaidu BBrach SNewberry AThadani

04/13/89 04// 04 /89

0~g 0 46

IN 89-XX

April xx, 1989 customers who had received transmitters from specific lots that were identified

by Rosemount as being potentially defective.

Rosemount indicated that transmitters from these specific lots were susceptible

to a loss of silicone oil from the transmitter sealed sensing module and to

possible failure. According to Rosemount, as the oil leaks out of the sensing

module the transmitter's performance gradually deteriorates and may eventually

lead to a detectable failure. Some of the symptoms that have been observed

before failure include slow drift in either direction of about 1/4 percent or

more per month, lack of response over the transmitter's full range, increase in

the transmitter's time response, deviation from the normal signal fluctuations, decrease in the detectable noise level, and deviation of signals from one

channel from redundant channels.

Although some of the defective transmitters have shown certain symptoms before

their failure, it has been reported that in some cases the failure of a trans- mitter may not be detectable during operation. In addition, Rosemount now

indicates that the potential for malfunction may not be limited to the speci- fied manufacturing lots previously identified in the February 1989 letter.

It is important for addressees to determine whether any Rosemount models 1153 and 1154 pressure and differential pressure transmitters, regardless of their

manufacturing date, are installed in their facilities and to take whatever

actions are deemed necessary to ensure that any potential failures of these

transmitters are identified and to preclude any deterioration of the safety

functions of these transmitters. Although it may not be possible to detect the

onset of failure in all instances, some transmitters have exhibited some of the

aforementioned symptoms before failure.

The NRC staff is continuing to investigate this matter and plans to meet with

Rosemount and several industry groups in the near future to discuss this

matter.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact one of the

technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropri- ate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Kamal Naidu, NRR

(301) 492-0980

Jaime Guillen, NRR

(301) 492-1170

Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Informatn Notices

D/DOEA:NRR C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR RPB:%liuAN D/DEST:NRR

CERossi CHBerlinger Tecb LCShao

04/ /89 04/ /89 04/1z489 04/ /89 OG . R VIB:DRIS:NRR C/VIB:DRIS:NRR C/SICB:DEST:NRR AD/SAD:DEST:NRR

JGu en KNaidu BBrach SNewberry AThadani

04/ 89 04/ /89 04/ /89