ML101940355

Part 21 Report for Certain Model 3051N Pressure Transmitters

ML101940355
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	07/12/2010
From:	Pham D Rosemount Nuclear Instruments
To:	Sandin S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC/NSIR/DPR/DDIR/OB
References
Download: ML101940355 (3)

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0711212010 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission OperationsCenter Event Report Paze I General Information or Other (PAR) Event# 46085 Rep Org: ROSEMOUNT NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS, INC. Notification Date / Time: 07/12/2010 10:57 (EDT)

Supplier: ROSEMOUNT NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS, INC. Event Date / Time: 07/12/2010 (CDT)

Last Modification: 07/12/2010 Region: 3 Docket #:

City: CHANHASSEN Agreement State: Yes County: License #:

State: MN NRC Notified by: DUYEN PHAM Notifications: TAMARA BLOOMER R3DO HQ Ops Officer: STEVE SANDIN JUDY JOUSTRA R1DO Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY PART 21 via email 10 CFR Section:

21.21 UNSPECIFIED PARAGRAPH PART 21 REPORT FOR CERTAIN MODEL 3051N PRESSURE TRANSMITTERS Pursuant to 10 CFR Part 21, section 21.21 (b), Rosemount Nuclear Instruments, Inc. (RNII) is writing to inform you that a limited number of Model 3051 N pressure transmitters listed in the attachment may exhibit non-linear and non-repeatable performance. The affected transmitters were shipped from RNII between August 12, 2002 and September 27,2006.

1.0 Name and address of the individual providing the information; Mr. Marc D. Bumgarner Vice President & General Manager Rosemount Nuclear Instruments, Inc.

8200 Market Boulevard Chanhassen, MN 55317 2.0 Identification of items supplied:

Certain Model 3051 N pressure transmitters identified in the attachment.

3.0 Identification of firm supplying the item:

Rosemount Nuclear Instruments. Inc.

8200 Market Boulevard Chanhassen, MN 55317

07/12/2010 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission OperationsCenter Event Report Page2 General Information or Other (PAR) Event # 46085 4.0 Nature of the failure and potential safety hazard; The Model 3051 N Smart Pressure Transmitter is dedicated for nuclear use consistent with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 21. It is qualified for use in safety related applications per IEEE 323-1983 (mild environment) and IEEE 344.1987 for seismic applications as documented in its associated qualification reports.

Procurement and production records indicate that 53 Model 3051 N pressure transmitters (Ranges 1, 2 and 3) manufactured between August 2002 and September 2006 have sensor module castings that were rnot solution annealed, and therefore may contain elevated levels of hydrogen in the sensor module fill fluid. Solution annealing is a heat treatment process for castings. It is used to homogenize the casting by reducing any segregated elements that include carbon, which can greatly reduce corrosion resistance. This process also reduces the level of mobile hydrogen in the casting to a point where out gassing is no longer a reliability concern.

Elevated levels of hydrogen in the sensor module casting can create a reliability concern because mobile hydrogen can diffuse through the metal into the sensor module fill fluid and may eventually reach gas solubility limits of the fill fluid. When this occurs, gas vapor bubbles may form, primarily under vacuum process conditions, resulting in a sensor output shift. A transmitter with hydrogen bubbles in the sensor module fill fluid will annunciate itself by exhibiting non-linear and non-repeatable performance.

To date, RNII has not received any 3051N field returns for this issue. However, there have been two confirmed failures related to this issue on a commercially available Rosemount product using the identical sensor module casting. Additionally, there have been other confirmed failures related to this issue on a commercially available Rosemount product using a similar, but not identical casting. These commercial grade product returns prompted additional internal testing and analysis that indicated a potential reliability concern on 3051N transmitters that were manufactured with non-solution annealed module castings.

As a result, a thorough evaluation was completed and a notification about the potential substantial safety hazard identified on 7/1/10 is being made in accordance with 10 CFR Part 21 to customers that purchased a 3051N pressure transmitter from the potentially affected population.

5.0 The corrective action which is taken, the name of the individual or organization responsible for that action, and the length of time taken to complete that action:

--The last shipment of a 3051 N transmitter With a non-solution annealed sensor module casting was September 2006.

- Following September 2006, all sensor module castings utilized on the 3051 N have been solution annealed.

- Procurement drawings for the module castings have been reviewed and the requirement to solution anneal all module castings for a model 3051 N transmitter has been verified.

- Model 3051N pressure transmitters affected by this notification may be returned to RNII for replacement at no charge.

6.0 Any advice related to the potential failure of the item:

The end user is advised to determine the impact of this potential reliability issue upon its plant's operation and safety, and take action as deemed necessary. Affected transmitters may be returned to RNII for replacement at no charge.

Rosemount Nuclear Instruments, Inc. is committed to the nuclear industry and remains dedicated to the supply of high quality products to our customers. If you have any questions, or require additional information related to this issue, please contact: [REDACTED].

07/12/2010 U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission OperationsCenter Event Report Pame 3 General Information or Other (PAR) Event# 46085 The attachment provided with this notification identified pressure transmitters delivered to the following power plants: Vermont Yankee (U.S.), Krsko (Slovenia), Santa Marie de Garona (Spain), Kuosheng Nuclear Power Station (Taiwan), and Ulchin 5 and 6 facilities (Korea).