ML18082A156
| ML18082A156 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1980 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Schneider F Public Service Enterprise Group |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004110506 | |
| Download: ML18082A156 (3) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I
. 631 PARK AVENUE KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 April 2, 1980 Docket No. 50-272 Public Service Electric and Gas Company ATTN:
Mr. F. W. Schneider Vice President - Production 80 Park Place Newark, New Jersey 07101 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Nati ce No. 80-13, 11General Electric Type SBM Control Switches - Defective CAM Followers," is forwarded to you for information.
No written response is required.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, Grier
Enclosures:
- 1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-13
- 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices CONTACT:
S. D. Ebneter (215-337-5296) cc w/encls:
F. P. Librizzi, General Manager - Electric Production E. N. Schwalje, Manager - Quality Assurance R. L. Mittl, General Manager - Licensing and Environment H. J. Midura, Manager - Salem Generating Station j
ENCLOSURE *1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION. AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 SSINS No.: 6870
. Accession No.:
8002280650 IE Information Notice No. 80-13
- Date:
April 2, 1980 Page 1 of 1 GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE SBM CONTROL SWITCHES DEFECTIVE CAM FOLLOWERS D~scription 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 ~ppears 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 deter~ined 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 informatfon 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 application.
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 11 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 possibly 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.
Information Notice No. 80-02 80-03 80-04 80-05 80-06 80-07 80-08 80-09 80-10 80-11 80-12 ENCLOSURE 2 IE Information Notice No. 80-13 Date:
April 2, 1980 Page 1 of 1 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Subject Date Issued 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 End Plug Wear Main Turbine Electro-1/31/80 hydraulic Control System BWR Fuel Exposure in Excess 2/4/80 of Limits Chloride Contamination of 2/8/80 Safety Related Piping and Components Notification of Signif-2/27/80 icant Events Pump Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 Link Electrical Terminal Block Possible Occupational Health
- 3/7/80 Hazard Associated with Closed Cooling Systems for Operating Power Plants Partial Loss of Non-Nuclear 3/7/80 Instrument System Power Sup-ply During Operation Generic Problems With ASCO 3/14/80 Valves in Nuclear Applica-tions including Fire Pro-tection Systems Instrument Failure Causes 3/31/80 Opening of PORV and Block Valve Issued to All BWR Facilities with an Operating Litense (OL) or Construction Permit (CP)
All Power Reactor Faci-1 ities with an OL or CP All BWR Facilities with an OL or CP.
All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP and applicants for a CP Ail Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL and applicant for OL All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP A 11 Powe.r Reactor F aci 1-i ti es with an OL or CP, Fuel Fabrication and Processing Facilities All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP