ML14170A617
| ML14170A617 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Harris, Brunswick, Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1980 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Jackie Jones CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004150067 | |
| Download: ML14170A617 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II 101 MAR IETTA ST., N.W., SUITE 3100 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 In Reply Refer To:
APR 2 1980 RII:JPO 50-325, 50-324 50-400, 50-401 50 Q 50-403
-261 Carolina Power and Light Company Attn:
J. A. Jones Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 411 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, NC 27602 Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possible significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities. No specific action or response is requested at this time; however, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions, if required. If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the director of the appropriate NRC regional office.
Sincerely, 4-r James P.O Reiy Director
Enclosures:
- 1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-13
- 2.
List of IE Information Notices Recently Issued
____80041500G&7
APR 2 1980 Carolina Power and Light Company
-2 cc w/encl:
A. C. Tollison, Jr.
Plant Manager Box 458 Southport, North Carolina 28461 R. Parsons, Site Manager Post Office Box 101 New Hill, North Carolina 27562 R. B. Starkey, Jr., Plant Manager Post Office Box 790 Hartsville, South Carolina 29550
SSINS No.: 6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 8002280650 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 2, 1980 IE Information Notice No. 80-13 GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE SBM CONTROL SWITCHES DEFECTIVE CAM FOLLOWERS Description of Circumstances:
This Information Notice alerts licensees and holders of construction permits of a potential defect in the cam followers of General Electric (GE) Type SBM control switches. Based on preliminary information, it appears that the defect is limited to switches manufactured prior to 1976 with cam followers of polycarbonate material, such as Lexan. In brief, the problem is initiated by exposing such polycarbonate material to hydrocarbons. Such exposure leads to severe cracking having a rock salt appearance which ultimately could progress to mechanical failure. It has been determined that such exposure has occurred during fabrication and could occur while performing maintenance (e.g. cleaning the contacts).
On February 22 and March 10, 1980 we were informed that SBM switches with defective cam followers had been found at Diablo Canyon Unit 1 and at the Cooper Station, respectively. Although the information was preliminary and sketchy, the problem is a long-standing one for which GE has issued "Service Information Letters" to its BWR customers. The problems associated with such switches, however, are not restricted to GE customers as evidenced by the Diablo Canyon case. Furthermore, these switches have a broad range of applica tion. For example, the defective switches at the Cooper Station were used principally as hand control switches, most of which were located in the control room. In contrast, those at Diablo Canyon Unit 1 were used as auxiliary contacts on the 4KV and 12KV "Magna Blast" circuit breakers, with three SBM switches used per breaker: (1) a breaker mounted auxiliary switch, (2) a cell mounted auxiliary switch, and (3) a cell interlock switch.
This information is provided as notification of a possible significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff. It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time. If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
IE Information Notice No. 80-13 Enclosure April 2, 1980 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 80-13 General Electric Type SBM 4/2/80 All holders of Power Control Switches - Defective Reactor OLs and CPs Cam Followers 80-12 Instrument Failure Causes 3/31/80 All holders of Power Opening of PORV and Block Reactor OLs and CPs Valve 80-11 General Problems with ASCO 3/14/80 All holders of Reactor Valves in Nuclear Application OL, CP, fuel fabrica Including Fire Protection tion and processing Systems facilities 80-10 Partial Loss of Non-Nuclear 3/7/80 All power reactor Instrument System Power facilities holding Supply During Operation OLs and CPs 80-09 Possible Occupational 3/7/80 All holders of Health Hazard Associated power reactor OLs with Closed Cooling Systems and near term CPs 80-08 The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All power reactor Link Electrical Terminal facilities with an OL Block or a CP 80-07 Pymp Shaft Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 All Light Water Reactor Facilities holder power reactor OLs and CPs 80-06 Notification of Significant 2/27/80 All holders of Reactor Events OLs and to near term OL applicants 80-05 Chloride Contamination 2/8/80 All licensees of nuclear of Safety Related Piping power reactor facilities and applicants and holders of nuclear-power reactor CPs 80-04 BWR Fuel Exposure in 2/4/80 All BWR's holding a Excess of Limits power reactor OL or CP 80-03 Main Turbine Electro-1/31/80 All holders of power Hydraulic Control System reactor OLs and CPs 80-02 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities End Plug Wear holder power reactor OLs or CPs