ML14085A012
| ML14085A012 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee, Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire  |
| Issue date: | 03/21/2014 |
| From: | Looft K United Controls International |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| 49940 | |
| Download: ML14085A012 (9) | |
Text
0312112014 U.S. Nuclear Regulatorv Co ission Onerations Center Event Renort Pomp
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r 1w Part 21 (PAR) Event# 49940 Rep Org: UNITED CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL Notification Date I Time: 03/21/2014 08:46 (EDT)
Supplier: UNITED CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL Event Date I Time: 03/21/2014 (EDT)
Last Modification: 03/21/2014 Region: 1 Docket #:
City: NORCROSS Agreement State: Yes County: License #:
State: GA NRC Notified by: KORINA LOOFT Notifications: SCOTT SHAEFFER R2DO HQ Ops Officer: CHARLES TEAL PART 21 GROUP EMAIL Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section:
21.21(a)(2) INTERIM EVAL OF DEVIATION PART 21 - SBM SELECTOR SWITCHES CONTACT ASSEMBLY UNPLANNED MANUFACTURING CHANGE The following is an excerpt from a fax received from Unified Controls International (UCI):
"...there was a significant manufacturing process change to the General Electric SBM series switches in 2009. The high resistance across switch contacts in the GE SBM switches could lead to a failure of the switch to change state when required. Concerns have been raised regarding Tin Plated movable contacts used for make or break service and in use without protective lubrication. UCI is not capable to complete an evaluation of the affect that this change may have on in storage SBM switches or already installed SBM switches that were provided to the customers on the purchase orders listed in section [below]. UCI does not know the storage conditions, in service environmental conditions or in service cycling rates of the switches or how the each of these items may affect the change in contact resistance. Each affected customer needs to evaluate their in storage and in service switches and determine if the change in contact material could possibly create a safety hazard and effect the ability of the switches to perform in their safety related application."
The applicable purchase orders are:
Duke Energy, Purchase Orders: 131116,133980, 147875,129193,130989 (Non-Safety Related), 133920, 148974 (Non-Safety Related), 152090 (Non Safety Related), 133972, 169525 Antung Trading Company, Purchase Order: PP120210 CFE, Purchase Order: 700327408 Fluor, Purchase Order: A3PB-6-0016-OOQ1
03/21/2014 U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission OperationsCenter Event Report PareI MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:46 AM United Controls FAX No. P.003 United Controls International 205 Scientific Drive Norcross, Georgia 30002 (770) 496 1406 tel (770) 496 1422 fax UNITED CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING EVALUATION REPORT EER-14-94013-02 Revision 0 SBM Selector Switches Prepared B4*K5--------,. N Date:
/ E~nini**'er-"
Reviewed By: Date: __,;______
Enuaeering't Approved By:
Quality Assurance Date:3 -
www.unitedcontrols.com
MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:47 AM United Controls FAX No. P. 004 EER-14-94013-02, Rev. 0 Revision History:
Date Revision Description 03/17114 0 Initial Issue 1.0: Customers and Applicable Purchase Orders:
Duke Energy, Purchase Orders: 131116, 133980, 147875, 129193, 130989 (Non-Safety Related), 133920, 148974 (Non-Safety Related), 152090 (Non-Safety Related),
133972, 169525 Antung Trading Company, Purchase Order: PP120210 CFE, Purchase Order: 700327408 Fluor, Purchase Order: A3PB-6-0016-OOQ1 2.0: Manufacturer:
General Electric 3.0: Part Numbers:
16SBMA2A02S3A2K1, 16SBMA2A06S1A3K1, 16SBME4B34T1 Fl1 P1, 16SBMB3A19S1S2P1, 16SBMD2B77S3A2K1, 16SBMH2A73S3A2KI, 16SBMD3G41S1A2K1, 16SI3MB3A30S1S2P1, 16SBMC3A01T1S2L1, 16SBMD2B82SIA3K1, 16SBMD3B27TI S2PI, 16SBMD3B31T1S2P1, 16SBME3A79S1S2P1, 16SBMH2A75S1A3KI 4.0:
References:
- 1. General Electric Material Process E-Mail Dated 3/5/2014 5.0:
Description:
This Engineering Evaluation is being written as a 10CFR 50, Part 21 Interim letter to document findings regarding switch failures and switch contact material of the GE SBM series of switches.
6.0: Technical Evaluation I Analysis I Disposition:
Duke energy returned three SBM switches, 004013-01-0002, 004013-01-0003 and 004013-01-0008 to UCI after they had failed on-site contact resistance testing. UCI performed as-found testing and determined that several contacts had resistance readings over the recommended tolerance of 0.1ohms. All three switches were loaded with their rated maximum continuous amperage for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the switch was actuated. This was repeated until the switches had been actuated while under load a total of 5 times. The contact resistance for all contacts was then measured and all Page 2 of 5 United ControlsInternationalD 205 Scientific Dr. Norcross, GA 30092 CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT: Do not disclose to third party without express written consent from United Controls.
MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:47 AM United Controls FAX No. P. 005 EER-14-94013-02, Rev. 0 6.0: Technical Evaluation I Analysis / Disposition: (cont) contacts were found to have contact resistances of less than 0.1 ohms, Further failure analysis was requested by Duke Energy to attempt to determine the cause of the high resistance failures. UCI performed material analysis of the contacts. The initial findings found oxidation and metallic tin present on the contact surface. Further testing was performed and it was determined that the contacts were tin plated silver.
Duke Energy performed material testing on an older SBM switch and discovered that the contacts were silver only with no plating. It was determined on 3/3/2014 that the switch contact failures may have been due to a material issue or manufacturing process and not an isolated storage or in service condition.
United Controls International contacted General Electric to determine ifthe switches supplied to Duke Energy on PO 133972 were manufactured incorrectly and why the material of the contacts had changed. General Electric confirmed that the findings by UCI that the contacts are tin plated is correct. The manufacturing process of the SBM switch contact assemblies was changed in 2009 to have the entire assembly tin plated.
7.0
Conclusions:
Based on the above findings, there was a significant manufacturing process change to the General Electric SBM series switches in 2009. The high resistance across switch contacts in the GE SBM switches could lead to a failure of the switch to change state when required. Concerns have been raised regarding Tin Plated movable contacts used for make or break service and in use without protective lubrication. UCI is not capable to complete an evaluation of the affect that this change may have on in storage SBM switches or already installed SBM switches that were provided to the customers on the purchase orders listed in section 1.0. UCI does not know the storage conditions, in service environmental conditions or in service cycling rates of the switches or how the each of these items may affect the change in contact resistance. Each affected customer needs to evaluate their in storage and in service switches and determine if the change in contact material could possibly create a safety hazard and effect the ability of the switches to perform in their safety related application.
8.0 Attachments
- 1. General Electric Material Process E-Mail, Dated 31512014 Page 3 of 5 United Controls International0 205 Scientific Dr. Norcross, GA 30092 CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT: Do not disolose to third party without express written consent from United Controls.
MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:47 AM United Controls FAX No, P.006 EER-14-94013-02, Rev. 0 Attachment 1 General Electric Material Process Email Dated 315/2014 Page 4 of 5 United Controls International0 205 Scientific Dr.Norcross, GA 30092 CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT: Do not dihclosc to third party without exprcss written consent from United Controls.
MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:47 AM United Controls FAX No, P.007 EER-14-94013-02, Rev. 0 Jim Garrison From; Statton, Jim (GE Energy Management) <James.Statton@ge.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March OS, 2014 11:31 AM To, Jim Garrison; Colson, Kados Cc: Jeannette Martin
Subject:
RE: SBM Switch Question Hello Jim, Please see comments from our designer The SBM contacts are pure silvr 'tips coined to a brass contact holder. Since the beginning of 2009, the process changed to have the whole ausembly (contact holder and contact rip) tin plated.
However, this process dots not affects the resistivity and reliability of the contacts. Both the old process and the new process are decmed equivalent.
There is no particular contact resistance value and/or tolerance that can be used for a pawsfail criteria found on the product's department published data. Mlono of the switches product publications indicate any numerical value or to-cranec for contact resistance.
Uling a resistance meter to ascertain contact resistance for SB type switches is not recommended or advisable as a method to ascertain contact continuity. Any attempt to use such a meter will produce variable readings. Should resistance verification be desired the method that is reconunended is to use a test circuit that inoludes a DC source connected to a known resistance load through the switch's closed contacts and to measure the voltage drop across the closed contacts.
Tlere is no definite value or prediction of how much this voltage drop will be but iris expected it will be a negligible value.
Regards; Jim From. Jim Garrison [mallto:JGarr[son@unltedcontrols.com]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 12:10 PM To, Statton, Jim (GE Energy Management); Colson, Karlos Cc: Jeannette Martin
Subject:
RE: SBM Switch Question Jim, From talking with our customer, they believe that contacts in the SBM were of a different design. The stationary contacts being pure silver with a steel back coined to a nickel plated brass base and the moving contact being pure silver with a steel back coined to a brass base. They confirmed this through testing an old switch that they had in storage. Do you know when the material specification and process for the contacts may have changed? Please let me know, thanks.
Jim Garrison Engineering Manager United Controls International (770)-496-1406 ext. 103 From: Statton, Jim (GE Energy Management) [mailtolames.Stattonmoecom1 Sent, Wednesday, January 15, 2014 8'04 AM To: Colson, Karlos Cc: Jim Garrison
Subject:
RE: SBM Switch Question 1
Page 5 of 5 United ControlsInternational0 205 Scientific Dr. Norcross, GA 30092 CONFlDENTIAL AND PROPRImTARY DOCUMENT: Do not disclose to third party without express written consent from United Controls.
MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:46 AM United Controls FAX No, P. 001 UCI FAX TRANSMITTAL DATE: March 21, 2014 TO: NRC OPERATIONS FROM: Korina Looft/UCI CENTER FAX: 301-816-5151 FAX: 770-496-1422 TEL: ....30.1-816-5100 TEL: 770A496-1406 cc: Part 21 Initial Notification PAGES: 7 with cover page Report COMMENTS:
I WILL FOLLOW UP AS DIRECTED TO MAKE SURE THE FAX TRANSMITTAL WAS RECEIVED.
THANK YOU, KORINA LOOFT
MAR/21/2014/FRI 08:46 AM United Controls FAX No. P.002 UNITED CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL 10CFR21 INTERIM LETTER March 19, 2014 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington D.C. 20555-0001
Subject:
JOCFR21 Interim Letter, UCI Not Capable to Determine if Defect Exists General Electric SBM Switches This report documents the discovery of a manufacturing change in the contact assembly of General Electric SBM series switches. At this time, UCI is unable to evaluate if this manufacturing change may have an adverse effect on the capability of the General Electric SBM switches to perform in their intended safety related application.
UCI reviewed all orders on which General Electric SBM switches have been supplied since the manufacturing change occurred in 2009. The attached report, EER-14-94013-02, Revision 0, documents the Utilities, part numbers and purchase orders that may have been affected. UCI will notify the affected Utilities to our findings.
Robert B. Hale President www.unitedcontrols.com