ML101530564
| ML101530564 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point, Grand Gulf, Sequoyah, Susquehanna, Columbia, Cook  |
| Issue date: | 05/28/2010 |
| From: | Tufarolo K C & D Technologies |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| 45961 | |
| Download: ML101530564 (7) | |
Text
0512812010 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Event Report Paze I General Information or Other (PAR)
Event#
45961 Rep Org: C&D TECHNOLOGIES INC Notification Date I Time: 05/28/2010 11:23 (EDT)
Supplier: C&D TECHNOLOGIES INC Event Date / Time: 05/28/2010 (EDT)
Last Modification: 05/28/2010 Region:
1 Docket #:
City:
BLUE BELL Agreement State:
Yes County:
License #:
State:
PA NRC Notified by: KRIS TUFAROLO Notifications: JAMES DWYER R1DO HQ Ops Officer: CHARLES TEAL ROBERT HAAG R2DO Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY KENNETH RIEMER R3DO 10 CFR Section:
MICHAEL SHANNON R4DO 21.21 UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH PART 21 GROUP EMAIL POST CORROSION ON DCU BATTERIES The following was received via fax:
C&D Technologies, Inc. (C&D) received a report from a non-domestic customer who is not a U.S. licensee concerning cracks in positive post seals in C&D 3DCU-9 batteries. As a precautionary measure, C&D has chosen to treat this customer's report in the same manner as if the report involved a defect claim by parties regarding matters subject to 10 CFR Part 21. This defect is believed to affect DCU product line batteries 3DCU-7, 2DCU-9, and 3DCU-9, manufactured in the period January 1993 through May 2008. These batteries are used in class 1E applications.
The facilities affected by this are DC Cook, Nine Mile Point, Grand Gulf, Susquehanna, Columbia, and Sequoyah.
cJ~'9
MAY-28-2010 12:23 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 91301eiG5151 P.01 an = I HNOLOGIES, INC.
Power Solutions FAX DATE:
May 28, 2010 TO:
NRC Operations Center FROM:
Kris Tufarolo Legal Department C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422-0858 Fax: (215) 619-7816 Phone: (215) 619-7817 TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES (INCLUDING COVER SHEET): 6 PLEASE NOTIFY KRIS TUFAROLO IMMEDIATELY AT (215) 619-7855 IF NOT PROPERLY RECEIVED.
MAY-28-2010 12:23 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 913018165151 P.02 May, KH1N May 28, 2010 OLOG 1400 Union Mecing Road P.O. Box 3053 Blue Bell, PA 19422-0858 Telephone (215) 619-2700 Fax (215) 619-7840 VIA FACSIMILE U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center Fac. (301).816-5151 VIA REGULAR MAIL Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-001 VIA OVERNIGHT DELIVERY U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2746
Subject:
Interim Report - Inability to Complete 10 CFR Part 21 Evaluation regarding Post Corrosion for DCU Batteries The Purpose of this letter is to provide the NRC a report in general conformity to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 21.21(a) (2), C& D Technologies, Inc. (C&D) received a report from a non-domestic customer enterprise which is not a U.S. licensee (as defined in 10 CFR Part 21.2) on 30 March 2010 concerning cracks in positive post seals in C&D 3DCU-9 batteries. In one case a cell's post was reported to have been broken off. Despite C&D's request for return of the allegedly defective battery(ies), they have not been returned so as to allow C&D to complete a root cause technical evaluation and affirm whether there is any defect in the manufacturing process or whether the reported conditions may be due to user abuse of product, improper maintenance, or other negligence or error. As a precautionary measure, C&D has chosen to treat this customer's report in the same manner as if the report involved a defect claim by parties regarding matters subject to 10 CFR Part 21. Thus, C&D is submitting this report to the NRC and is notifying it's customers that are US-licensee's utilizing C&D DCU batteries of such report, and is initiating an-action plan to evaluate the reported potential defect and determine whether it could pose a substantial safety hazard for any US licensee using such batteries.
Required Information as per 10 CFR Part 21.21(d) (4) follows.
(i)
Name and address of the individual or individuals informing the Commission.
Jeffrey Graves, PhD [or designate]
President and Chief Executive Officer C&D Technologies, Inc.
1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422-0858
MAY-28-2010 12:23 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 913018165151 P.03 (ii)
Identification of the facility, the activity, or the basic component supplied for such facility or such activity within the United States which fails to comply or contains a defect.
DCU Product line batteries 3DCU-7, 2DCU-9 and 3DCU-9, manufactured in the period January 1993 through May 2008 (Battery manufacturing date is on the battery label). Note: C&D has not completed its evaluation of the reported potential defect and whether it could pose a substantial safety hazard at any US licensee using such batteries.
(ii)
Identification of the firm constructing the facility or supplying the basic component which fails to comply or contains a defect.
C&D Technologies, Inc.
1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422-0858 (iv)
Nature of the defect orfailure to comply and the safety hazard which is created or could be created by such defect or failure to comply.
The defects reported by a non-US customer enterprise have not been fully evaluated and may or may not indicate a potential defect which could create a substantial safety hazard..
(y)
The date on which the information of such defect or failure to comply was obtained.
30 March 2010.
(vi)
In the case of a basic component which contains a defect or fails to comply, the number and location of these components in use at. supplied for, being supplied for, or may be supplied for, manufactured, or being manufactured for one or more facilities or activities subject to the regulations in this part.
DCU Batteries used at Nuclear Plants in I E Applications*
Utility Plant Name Battery Qty of Model Batteries AEP - Indiana DC Cook 3DCU-9 80 Michigan Power Constellation Energy Nine Mile Pt.
3DCU-9 20 Entergy Grand Gulf 3DCU-9 20 PPL Susquehanna 3DCU-7 32 Energy Northwest Columbia 3DCU-9 40 Energy Northwest Columbia 2DCU-9 8
- may include batteries that were made outside of the suspect time range and batteries that have since been replaced by different models 2
MAY-28-2010 12:23 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 913018165151 P.04 (vu) i no correcave action wnicn nas veen, is veing, or will oe taKen; thle name oJ the individual or organization responsible for the action; and the length of time that has been or will be taken to complete the action.
Concurrent Actions underway to complete evaluation:
a) Upon return of batteries from the non-US customer enterprise, C&D shall conduct full battery testing and assessment to identify any failure modes present and their causes - maximum estimated completion date 7 days from receipt of returned batteries.
b) In conjunction with licensees identified in section (vi), C&D will recommend maintenance assessment of all DCU batteries at these locations to determine their status and specifically the presence of any evidence of potential defects via visual examination, maintenance records review, and where possible load testing. For any cells exhibiting the presence of potential defect, C&D shall further recommend that they be returned for breakdown testing and analysis - estimated completion dates
- 7 days from receipt of returned batteries, depending upon licensee timing considerations.
(viii) Any advice related to the defect or failure to comply about the facility, activity, or basic component that has been, is being, or will be given to purchasers or licensees.
The non-US customer enterprise has been notified to return the problem batteries for breakdown analysis at C&D. U.S. licensees using batteries possibly containing the alleged defect have been notified of the filing of this report with recommendations that they examine their batteries for any signs of problems, See attached.
(ix)
In the case of an early site permit, the entities to whom an early site permit was transferred.
Not Applicable If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter or this report, please call or email Matthew Frick, Quality Director, C&D Technologies, Inc., tel. 215.619.7849, mfrick@cdtechno.com.
Sincerely, Jeffrey Graves, PhD President and Chief Executive Officer Atteh: Foxr of C&D letter to Users of C&D Model DCU Batteries entitled Possible Problem with DCU batteries dated 28 May 2010.
3
MAY-28-2010 12:23 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 913018165151 P.05 CTECHNOIDGESf INOC Power Solutions Nuclear Product Management 1400 Union Meeting Road Blue Bell, PA 19422 Phone: (215) 775-1314 Fax: (215) 619-7887 VIA CERTIFIED MAIL May 28, 2010 To:
User of C&D Model DCU Batteries in I E Applications
Subject:
Possible Issue with DCU Batteries To Whom It May Concern:
Recently, C& D Technologies. Inc. (C&D) received a report from a non-domestic customer enterprise concerning reported cracks in positive post seals in C&D 3DCU-9 batteries, and in one case, the alleged shearing of a positive terminal while torquing connectors. We have requested that this battery be returned so we can evaluate the cause and determine if other batteries or other models could be at risk of a similar occurrence.
Although the reporting customer enterprise is not a Licensee (as defined by 10 CFR 21) and C&D has not yet received the battery(ies) in question so as to allow us to complete a root cause technical evaluation and affirm whether there is any defect in the manufacturing process of the battery(ies), or whether the reported conditions may be due to user abuse of product, improper maintenance, or other negligence or error, as a precautionary measure we have made report to the NRC and are providing this notice to users of the following models of the DCU product line.
As part of this notice C&D recommends that 3DCU-7, 2DCU-9 and 30CU-9 battery models be inspected for cracks and corrosion to determine if there may be any potential issues or concerns at your location. All other models of C&D batteries have terminal posts with a completely different design and are not applicable to this notification.
C&D recommends inspection of these batteries as soon as possible, consisting of the following;
- 1.
Visual inspection: Closely inspect the terminals on the batteries for indication of a suspect battery. Signs of significant corrosion can include corrosion deposit under or around the bushing where the terminal comes through the cover; misalignment or tilting of the terminals or intercell connectors, or any indication of a break in the post to terminal or intercell connectors. If there is no evidence of corrosion, then the battery is not suspect and no further testing is needed.
Otherwise, further testing is required.
- 2. Internal ohmic readings (data can be collected while the battery is on line on float charge in a fully charged condition): If baseline values have been previously established for your batteries, then a change of greater than 50% from the baseline indicates that the battery should be replaced-In the absence of baseline values, a variation of greater than three standard deviations from the group mean (average) would indicate that the battery should be replaced.
(Continued)
MAY-28-2010 12:23 FROM C&D TECHNOLOGIES LEGAL TO 913018165151 P.06
- 3. Terminal Maintenance (can be performed while batteries are on line): Any unusual movement, twisting, or deformation of a terminal during terminal maintenance may indicate a weak connection between the terminal post and terminals. If these are noted, the battery should be replaced.
- 4. Load test (to be performed when the battery is disconnected from load): Load testing per your duty cycle will detect high resistance connections between terminal posts and connectors.
Variations in voltage performance between batteries can indicate if a terminal post's current carrying capability is compromised.
C&D recommends replacement for any batteries exhibiting conditions of concern in accordance with applicable warranty terms and conditions. Do not hesitate to contact the undersigned If you have any questions.
- Regards, Larry A. Carson Nuclear Product Manager C&D Technologies, Inc.
Direct: 215-775-1314 Icarson@cdtechno.com cc: Matthew Frick, C&D Director of Quality 2
TOTAL P.06