ML18030A217

Interim Deficiency Rept Re Substantial Safety Hazard Posed by Derating of Westinghouse Circuit Breakers,Initially Reported on 801212.Number & Location of Breakers Under Investigation.Completed Corrections Expected by 810430

ML18030A217
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	12/19/1980
From:	Curtis N PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML17156A106	List: ML18030A217
References
10CFR-050.55E, 10CFR-50.55E, PLA-591, NUDOCS 8102270866
Download: ML18030A217 (5)

Text

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REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

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ACCESSION N3R; 810227086> DOC ~ DATE: 80/12/19 NOTARI7ED: NO FAC IL: 50-367 Sus.",uehanna Steam E ec 1 tr i c Stat i one Un i t 1 Pennsy va g 1 0 50-386 Susquehanna Steam Electric Stations Unit 2i Pennsylva AUTH ~ NA!4E AU T'idR 41. F IL I ATION CURT I S i N ~ "1 ~ Pennsylvania Power '.4 Liqht Co ~

REC IP VAMP'. REC IYIEN1 AFF ILIA TION li

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GRIER p B ~ H ~ Region Phi]adelphiar Office of tne Director

SUBJECT:

Inter i> def iciency rept re substantia'I safety hazard o posed rector ted on 8 J1 2 12. Number amends'OCKET by deratinq ot <estinghouse cir cui t breakersiinitial y 1n investigation.Completed corr actions expected by ~10430, 1 oca t i on of breakers under 1

DISTRIBUTI'JN CODE: 8019S COPIES RECEIVED:LTR ENCL SIZE,:

TITLE: Construction Deficiency Report (10CFRSO 55E) ~

NOTES:Send I3,E 3 cooies FSAR 1t all 05000387 IKE 3 conies i.S~R ~ all amends'end 05000388 RFC Ip lENT COP lES RECIPIENT COPIES ID CODE/NA~E I.TTR ENCL ID CODE/NA "iE LTTR ENCL ACTION: A/0 L I CE ~S~'.r, 0~ 1 YOUNGBLOODeB 05 1 1 RUSH&ROO~ ' ~ 06 1 STARKgR ~ 07 1 1 INTERNAL: AD/RCI/IE 1 7 1 ASLBP/J ~ HARD 1 D/DIR HU" F 4C1> 1 1 EDO S, STAFF 1 1 EQLIP QUAL RR 1 1 1 1 HYO/CEO BR 1 1 09 1 LIC QUAL BR 12 1 1 MPA PO 1 1 VRC PDR 02 1 1' GELD 21 1 PRO / REV 13 QA BR 14 FILE 01 1 RllTRERFORO p vl ~ IE 1 l DEV 21 1 1 EXTERNAL: ACRS 16 16 LPDR 03 1 1 NS1C 1 1 l<AA 1 7 teII TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRE,D: LTTR 38 FNCL 38

TWO NORTH NINTH STREET, ALLENTOWN, PA. 18101 PHONEr (218) 821 51S I NORMAN W. CURTIS Vice President- Engineering 8 Construction- Nuclear 821-5381 December 19, 1980 Mr. Boyce H. Grier Director, Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 SUSQUEHAr KA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION REPORT OF A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY HAZARD RELATIVE TO DERATZNG OF WESTINGHOUSE CIRCUIT BREAKERS ERs 100450/100508 FZLE 840-4/900-10 PLA-591

Dear Mr. Grier:

This let er serves to confirm information provided by telephone to NRC Region I Inspector Mr. J. Mattia by Mr. A. R. Sabol of PP&L on December 17, 1980.

Mz. Mattia was advised that the dezating of certain Westinghouse circuit breakers used in safety related systems at Suscpzehanna Steam Electric Station results in short circuit interrupting capability which does not meet design ze~irements. A description, of the deficiency is attached.

PP&L became aware of this problem through our receipt of the attached letters from Eaton Corp. to the NRC and Bechtel on December ll, 1980 and Mr. A. R. Sabol advised Mr. Mattia on December 12, 1980 that the condition was under evaluation as a potential reportable condition under 10CFR50.55(e) .

Zt is anticipated that the final report which is submitted pursuant to the provisions of 10CFR50.55(e) will contain whatever pert'nent information or details may exist but which are not available at this time.

The number and location of all defective circuit breakers has not yet been fully determined but is under investigation.

We expect to complete our corrective action by April 30, 1981. We trust the Commission will find the information forwarded by this letter to be satisfactory.

Very truly yours, N. W. Curtis Vice President-Engineering 6 Construction Nuclear ARS: jmk PENNSYLVANIA POWER L LIGHT COMPANY

Mr. Boyce H. Grier December 19, 1980 cc: Mr. Victor Stello (15)

Director-OfHce of Znspection 6 Enforcement U. S. Nuclear R'egulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Mx'. G. McDonald, Director Office of Management Znformation & Program Contxol U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. Robert M. Gallo U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P"O. Box 52 Shickshinny, Pennsylvania 18655

ATTACHMENT TO PEA 591 1 The d'efect. invoLves circuit, breakers manufactured hy Westinghouse Corp.

during the period April, 1979. to the present. The breakers are type JB, KB, HKB and were supplied hy Eaton Corp. (Cutler Hammer) in Motor Control Centers on P.O.'s E-LS and. E-118.

4 NATURE OP DEHKT & SAPETY XMPLZCATZONS

2. The circuit breakers are deficient in their short-circuit: interrupting capability. The types JB and KB were purchased. with a rating of 22,000 amps RMS and the type HKB was purchased. with a rating of 25g000 amps RMS. The manufacturer now states that all three types of breakers (of recent manufacture} have a short-circuit interrupting capability of 18,000 amps RMS. This de-rating applies only to these three types of breakers what are manufactured between 4/79" and the present. This is apparently due to a change in certain materials used in the manufacturing of said bzeakers during the specified time period.

t PP&L expects to review purchase orders and perform a visual check of the JB, KB or HKB ci cuit breakers instalLed after April, 1979. All hxeakers with date codes after April, 1979,,will be removed and replaced with breaker's having adequate short-circuit interrupting capability.

PP&L will replace the breakers already turned over,to PP&L and Bechtel will replace the bx'eakers which have not yet been accepted by PP&L.

All circuit breakers can he checked and defective breakers 'removed in g minimum amount of time. However, in order to minBnize the impact on start-up activities; it wouLd not be practical to take a circuit out of service until a replacement breaker is available. We have no data stating how long it found to he defective.

will take to receive new breakers to replace those Zf a bolted phase-to-ground short-circuit. should occur in a circuit containing one of these defective circuit breakers, the most Likely result would be an explosion, followed by a f9 e. Xf this scenax'io happens in a Class IE MCC; there is a good possibility of. causing damage to several Class IE circuits, possibly esulting in the Loss of a channel DATE AWARE 30 SPAZ became aware of this problem on 12/11/80 thru a .copy of a letter f-om the Vendor to Bechtel, describing the defect.

'NUMBER & LOCATION

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4 The total number and locations. of all such defective circuit breakers is not known at this time. As of 12/L7/80, Bechtel has Located three Class IE bzeakers, type KB', which were manufactured after April, 1979.