ML17272A295

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Forwards IE Info Notice 79-01,Bergen-Paterson Hydraulic Shock & Sway Arrestors (Hssa)
ML17272A295
Person / Time
Site: Columbia, Washington Public Power Supply System, Satsop  Energy Northwest icon.png
Issue date: 02/02/1979
From: Engelken R
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V)
To: Strand N
WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
References
NUDOCS 7902120142
Download: ML17272A295 (5)


Text

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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION V

-SUITE 202e WALNUTCREEK PLA2A 1990 N. CALIFORNIABOULEVARD WALNUTCREEK, CALIFORNIA 94596 February 2, 1979 Docket Nos.

50-397 50-460 50-513 50-508 50-509 Washington Public Power Supply System P. 0.

Box 968 3000 George Washington Way

'ichland, Washington 99352 Attention:

Hr.

N. 0. Strand f/anaging Director Gentlemen:

This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter. 't 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 further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.

If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

Sincerely,

<a, R.

H. Engelken Director

Enclosures:

1..

IE Information Notice No. 79-01 2.

List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 cc w/encls:

H.

E. Witherspoon, HPPSS A.

D. Kohler, WPPSS J.

P.

Thomas, WPPSS W. J. Talbott, WPPSS pe Z./Zola'

0 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.

C.

20555 February 2,

1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-01 BERGEN-PATERSON HYDRAULIC SHOCK AND SHAY ARRESTORS (HSSA)

On December 4,

1978, Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station reported the failure of seven Bergen-.Paterson HSSA (Snubber) units to lockup in the compression direction and the failure of one additional unit to lockup in the extension direction.

These failures were identified during surveillance testing and the affected models included HSSA-3-6 HSSA-10-6 and HSSA-20-6.

i<hen the units were disassembled, the licensee observed damage to the poppet valve and seat on the compression side of the valve blocks of the seven units that failed.in the compression direction.

It was also observed that five of the seven units had the poppet spring entrapped between the poppet and the seat.

The licensee attributed the seven failures in the compression direction to.abusive handling during compression of the units for installation following testing at the previous refueling outage.

The cause of the single failure in the extension direction 'has not been determined.

In addition to exercising greater care in reinstallation, the licensee commi tted to functionally test all Bergen-Paterson snubbers subjected to transient conditions which cause either physical damage to or significant movement of piping.'his testing will include verification of piston movement, lockup and bleed.

The Bergen-Paterson Technical Maintenance Manual recommends that additional inspections should be made on units which may have participated in an unusual shock occurrence involving known damage to piping or equipment.

On January 3,

1979, the licensee reported that the decay heat removal system had been subjected to a transient condition in the form of a "water hammer."

This transient, caused pipe movement great enough to damage two rigid pipe support wall attachments.

The subsequent functional testing of the affected Bergen-Paterson units revealed that one of seven units failed the lockup test.

This unit (Model No.

HSSA-3-6) was disassembled and damage to the poppet valve and seat was observed.

The damage to the poppet valves is presently being reviewed by both the licensee and Bergen-Paterson.

At this time, the cause of damage has not been completely defined nor has appropriate corrective action been determined.

Other licensees have reported instances of poppet valve damage;

however, the cause and extent of damage are not known at this time.

Page 1 of 2

IE Information Notice No. 79-01 February 2,

1979 This information is provided as an early notification of a possibly 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.

If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.

If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

Page 2 of 2

IE Information Notice No. 79-01 February 2,

1979 LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN 1979 Information Notice No.

Subject Date Issued Issued To An Information Notice is a new method of communicating items of potential interest to licensees.

This item, Information Notice No. 79-01, is the first of this new form of communication.

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