ML18081B227

Forwards IE Info Notice 80-11, Generic Problems W/Asco Valves in Nuclear Applications Including Fire Protection Sys. No Action or Written Response Required

ML18081B227
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	03/14/1980
From:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Schneider F Public Service Enterprise Group
References
NUDOCS 8003250360
Download: ML18081B227 (8)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I 631 PARK AVENUE KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 Docket No. 50-272 Public Service Electric and Gas Company ATIN:

Mr. F. W. Schneider Vice President.- Production 80 Park Place Newark, New Jersey 07101 Gentlemen:

March 14, 1980 The enclosed IE Information Notice No. 80-11, "Generic Problems with ASCO Valves in Nuclear Applications Including Fire Protection Systems, 11 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 written response is requested at this time.

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

If y~u have questions regarding the matter, please contact this office.

Sincerely,

• ~~-

.M Boyce H. Grier O'~Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Information Notice No. 80-11 with Attachments

2.

List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices CONTACT:

S. D. Ebneter*

cc w/enclJflS-337-5283)

F. P. Librizzi, General Manager - Electric Production E. N. Schwa*lje, Manager - Quality Assurance R. L. Mittl, General Manager - Licensing and Environment H. J. Midura, Manager - Salem Generating Station 0

ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C:

20555 SSINS 'No. 6870 Accession No.:

7912190684 IE Information Notice No. 80--11 Date:

March 14, 1980 Page 1 of 2 GENERIC PROBLEMS WITH ASCO VALVES IN NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS INCLUDING FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS Description of Circumstances: is a Recall Notice from The Vi king Corporation, dated July 16, 1979 that identifies ASCO valves used in certain Viking fire protection equipment that could fail.

licensees should review their fire protection system components to determine if the equipment identified in the Viking Recall Notice is in their facility.

If the identified equipment is installed in the fire protection system, then the modifications specified in the Recall Notice should be made and tested for pro~er operation.

The requirements of the technical spe~ifications or any other licensee commitment should be complied with when a fire protection system is disabled.

South Carolina Electric and Gas Company (Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station) reported to the NRC on October 24, 1979, a potential significant deficiency regarding the effects of oil on elastomeric materials used in ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves.

Specifically, these valves utilize an ethylene propylene elastomer which expands or swells when brought into contact with oils, possibly causing valve failure.

For this reason, ASCO specifies these NP-1 solenoid valves for use in 11oil free instrument air 11 systems. *.

Although instrument air systems are 11oil free 11 by design, installation instruc-tions may Specify the use of thread lubricants utilizing an oil base.

Thus, the potential exists for traces of this lubricant from threaded connections in the air system, in addition to traces of oil from the air compressors themselves, to come into contact with the elastomers in the solenoid valves.

Degraded elastomers can cause the solenoid valve to fail by sticking, swelling closed flow paths, or rupturing causing leakage across the seat or to atmosphere.

Failure of the solenoid to function properly on an active valve could prevent a system from performing its required safety function.

Some ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves are equipped with tags which state:

11 Important -

this valve is equipped with ethylene propylene elastomers which can be attacked by oils and greases.

To be used for oil-free instrument quality air.

Clean pipe threads of cutting oils." Care should be taken to use approved thread lubricants which do not contain oil for the installation of these valves.

/

• e IE Information Notice No. 80-11 Date:

March 14, 1980 Page 2 of 2 ASCO offers vit6n elastomers as an option for their NP~l solenoid valves.

The viton elastomers are not affected by oil or grease.

Replacement kits of viton elastomers are available for the NP-1 solenoid valves from ASCO.

It is recom-mended that ethylene propylene elastomers found in Class IE qualified ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves be replaced with the viton kits.

In addition, enclosed is a letter from EG&G (Attachment 2) dated December 26, 1979 that provides the results of an LER review of failure of so.lenoid valves.

This Information Notice provided information about a potential s.afety concern.

No written response 1s required.

If you des1re additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate Regional Office.

Attachments.:

1.

Viking Corporation Recall Notice 2~

EG&G Letter,

Dearien to Tiller dated December 26,

1979

Attachment No*. 1 to IE Information Notice NcL 80~ 11. 1

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---=-=*=-=*-::::-:.=-=-=-*:.:.:*-._~.~,==----~-*:::.:**-::.:-::.:--=-;.::*=*-==-.. -"*~---

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11 II \\ 11'L'.:C U )Rt~ >RAl 10:">.:

. RECALL NOTICE

.! 1r 1 '\\J. Nl )l..lS'J RIA! IY\\!\\l\\ ~"( l-\\I),

t I:\\~ I INC ;\\ ;\\ 110 t.. L '. <iA 49' J"">R 11111 >f IC)~[ (C,lfJl 9*l>-'r1' l f July 16, 1979 Viking Model B-2 Magnetic Byoass and Firecy'cl~ Trim Box we h.;ve been informed by the manufacturer that the following listed solenoid valves may contain a black teflon coated core which could cause improper valve operation under certain water and heat conditions.

S~ch failure ~ou1d result in the sprink*

fer. system not operating or, once h01vin9 operated, not being capable of being.reset.

Solenoid v~Jves in Question are as follows:

HASCQH Automatic s~; tc:h Co ** with the following specifications:

. Cataloci No.

TllT82JOB34.

. THT8210B34

• THT8210B34 THT821os34E

.. THT8210834 TFTX8210B34E THT8210834E 8211834 THf8210B]l.rE THT82:10B34 THT8210634 THT8210B34 1"HT8210B34.

THT8210B34E

• THTS2 t OB 34E THT8210834E THT8210B34E THT821 OB 34E..

8211831+

THT8210B34E.

• • • Voltase l:Z0/6Q...

l 2"b/60 110/60 120/60

. t20/60 120/60 120/60 24/60 1'2/DC'....

24/0C.

24/DC 24/DC.

24/0C 24/DC

. 24/DC 24/DC 24/DC

• .. 2"/DC 24/0C

.

• 115/DC

~ -

S~rial No.

19913£ 70440E S9284E 79329E

• 97504E 28508H it2536H

.285l0H.

.. 7932.SE 13912£

• S044SE 56556E 5928SE

. 79327E 82928E 91S19E 1687lH 18391H 285l1H 79330£ These vi;i Ives may h~ve been ust?d o_~ the fo ti cwi ny i tc~s of Viking equ i prnent:

The Hodel B-2" 11agne~lc Bypas*s and the Ff recyc*1e Valve Trlm Box shipped from Viki rig f'rorn January 1977 through* M.ay 1979, t nc I udi ng thos~ mcdified as a re~~lt of the Vjking January 20. 1978 Rec~ll Not leer.

I (OVE~)

Attachment No. 1 ~E Information Notice No. 80-In 1977 the manuf'actur-er received some teflon coated cores that may not have been proc:essed properiy.

lt has now become apparent that under c:ertain water and heat condition$, the tef1on c:oating may blister and flake ~ff and this~;/ cause the valve to s~ick in either the open or closed po~ition.

In Hay, 1979 the manu-facturer changed to a ncn-c:oated c:ore which he believes will e~rrec:t the problem.

Viking bec:ame awa-re or the problem as the resui t of reports f rorn the fieid indi-cating failures of devi ee' dul'"i ng routine tas tl ng.

A-check with the manufacturer indicated that the abnve des*crlbed_changes had taken p1ac:e..

Viktng feels very str"ongly that the pr-esenc:e of potentially def~c:tive solenoid v~l ves 1 n the field const I tutes an extremely dangerous **situation and recommends ta alt owners cf the above listed equipment that they rmmediateJ"y inspect the equ*ipment to determine if the suspect solenoids are employed.

All VIKING INSTALLERS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM ANY OWNERS WITH WHOM THEY MAY BE ACOUAINTEO OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS Sl1"UATIOtJ AN() TO OFFER THEIR-SERVICES TO SUCH O\\JNERS.

If suspect solenoid valves are found, the system should immediately be* tested in accordance with the owner*s.instructions and a Modification Kit shou.1d be Of"dered dtrt!ctly _from ASCO at the following address:

Automatic Switch Company

• 56-A Hanover Rd *

. *.. F lol'"ham Park, ~'ew Jersey 07932.

Attn:

Mi ke Co I ane ri Asst. Hgr. 1 S~rvice Dept.

Telephone (201) 966-2314

... ORDER ASCO_ Kl'~. NO. *:_*2-!4"'.'997 (F_g_r AC or DC Service)

Order one kit for-eac:h Mag~tic. Bypass to be modified and two-kits for each Fire-cyc.le System.

The Modi.fication Klt will consist of:

Core and suffielent parts with speeific: in*

structions for repafr of Hagnettc Bypa5s and Flrec:ycl:= Trim Box.

fn order to effe~t the modiflciatfon, it wi 1 J be necessary to take the_ system out*..

of service. shut off the power, disconnect the solenoid leads and disassemble the

. coi 1.

There Is na d1sassemb1 y of pip Ing._ It* h. estimated that mod if i cat ions t9

.. the so-lenoid val"e itself ca~.. ~ ac:~~pl ~,she~ ~~ e~P}-~~im~t7ty 20 minu~~s.

The Hodific:~tio" Ktt*wf11 b~-furnish~*d-,w.fth~~t dharge by ASCO.-

The.modifications

!hculd be made as soon as possibl~ and the replaced parts returned to ASCO by January 1,.1980.*

Any que_stic11s.. shou*d be referr=d to ASCO..

Owners shou 1 d be reminded of the ext rer::e importance cf c:onduct i ng mai ntenanc:e and tests in accordanc:ewith Vlking 1s instruct,ons.

All of the abo\\fe noted failures *....ere determJned by such activities.* Proper testing and mai~tenanee are particularly im*

porunt \\~hen electr-o-mechanic:al co.npont!nts are involv~d.

Such components should ba -

exerc:_ised frequent 1 y.

• An ~erge~cy system h no better than *the care ; t receives.

• ~*

-*-***~--

I

~ *--

~~ EGc.G Jeaho, Inc.

Attachment No. 2 to tE "Information Notice No. 80-1 e

• ** *;** 0..~ 'tG2$

~,..~~

Decer.1ber 26t 1979

• .

• Mr *. R. E. Tiller, Director Reactor Oporations and Programs D1v1s1on Idaho Oper~tions Office

• IX>E Idaho Falls, ID 83401 SOLE1mIO VALVE FAILURES REPORTED IH LlCEffSEE EVENTS R£POirTS

• JAo-25S.79 Ref: o. G. Eisenhut Ltr to All Pressurized Water Reactors dated SP.ptcnbe1* 21 *

• 197!)

Dear Mr. Tiller:

EGAG is 1n the process a'f' suramariz1ng and evaluating *lfcmsee *ivent.

Reports CL.ERs) under contract to the Probab11fst1c Analysis Staff cf rmc. Having received a copy of the above r-eferenced 1etter.

• EG&G felt that some of the information gleaned from the t.!R.s J/Jlj,Y be or vcilue to HRC 1n 1nvest1gatfng the nature and fi'"equeflc:y of

• solenoid vnlve failures.

. In evaluating L1~ensee Event Reports (LERs) en valves and \\'ll1ve operators we Olive encountered many failures cf solenoid valves

• ~fell control the 1.ir supply to air operated valves. Fifty fail*

ures of solenoid valves 1n air supply systens appear 1n 41 LERs *

. Twenty-three of the SO failures cccun-ed in ten "ts O'f two or three fziflure:s. Each set of ault1ple faflures !d&S dfseovered fn one p1~nt en

• single date~ We.ccnsidet-ed the$e sets to be* l=O$*

sible c~n cau$e failures because each :et.uhibited ~* ccmmon failure mchanism.

Fifteen o.f the so failures "tmn! reported by cne plut. Zion 1. ;

• A11 of Zion's failures resulted fran the same failure 11:eeh&nim

• foreign material contm1nat1on.

T~lve.of Z1on's 15 faflures *re

• mu1t1p1a fnf lures; that is~ they appeared 1n sets of faflures as

_ discussed above *. T~ 1'e!!la1n1ng 35 'l'a11ures were reported by 20 dfffercnt plants; one reported five failures and the rest repcrted three 01". less.

Ill-.

In eva1u~t1ng thes~ so1enofd nlves. it appears that gene'l""fc prob-lems tli1.." exist in the use of.solenoid valves fc~ ~trolling a1r

_.*~.. -*_

~ :.

-* -. ~...

Attachment No' *. 2 to ! ~formiition Nati ~e No! 80-JI

• l R. E. T111cr Decer11ber 26. 1979 JAU-l!iu... '/9 P'1ga 2 supply systems. The Njor prob1en. appears to be tha fnc~tibf11ty

. of the solenoid va1ves With foreign material* speeftieally 011 1 wh1ch can be present 1n the air supp1y system. Fo'rty percsnt of the so1e-

. ncfd valve faUures were reported as f)e1ng caused by on or other foreign s:iaterfal in the air supply sys~. Another problem appears to be the envil"Ot'Unent 1n whic:h the solenoid re$1des.

Ef ghteen per-cent cf the faflures were reported &s be1ng caused by hfgh tempe1"a*

ture and hunidfty resulting in elec:.tr1c:a1 f:i11ure of the soleno1d.

• We hopo that this 1nfonnation ~111 be useful. If you should have any.

questions, plaase contact c. F. Miller at (FTS) 583-9673 1 or "* D. Co.:c at (FTS) su3... 9ros.

HDC:tn cc: W. E. Yese1y. ffRC.. PAS D. G. Ebenhut, HRC-toR R* W. Kf ehn. EG&G Ida~

~*..:-.

• J *. A. Dearien. Managei-Code Assessment and

.. App11cat1ons Pt-Qgnm

,....: ~-** ~ *.. *.- *.......

~

. *.... :~.* : *.-.**..*... *-..

Information

• Notice No.

79-36 79-37 80-01 80-02 80-03 80-04 80-05 80-06 8ff-07 80-08 80-09 80-10 e*

ENCLOSURE 2 IE Information Notice No. 80-11 Date:

March 14, 1980 Page 1 of 1 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Subject Date.

Issued to Issued Computer Code Defect in 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Stress Analysis of Piping lities with an Operating Elbow

.License (OL) or Construe-tion Permit (CP)

Cracking in Low Presssure 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Turbine Discs lities with an OL or CP Fuel Handling Events 1/4/80 A 11 Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities with End Plug Wear an OL or CP Main Turbine Electro-1/31/80 All Power Reactor Faci-hydraulic Control System lities with an Ol or CP BWR Fuel Exposure in Excess 2/4/80 All BWR Facilities with of Limits an OL or CP Chloride Contamination of 2/8/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Safety Related Piping and lities with an OL or CP Components and applicants for a CP Notification of Signif-

. 2/27/80 All Power Reactor Faci-icant Events lities with an Ol and applicant for OL Pump Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 A 11 Power Reactor Faci.-

lities with an OL or CP The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Link Electrical Terminal lities with an Ol or CP Block Possible Occupational Health 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Hazard Associated with Closed lities with an Ol or CP Cooling Systems for Operating Power Plants Partial Loss of Non-Nuclear 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Instrument System Power Sup-lities with an Ol or CP ply During Operation