ML19210D837

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Forwards IE Bulletin 79-25, Failure of Westinghouse Bfd Relays in Safety-Related Sys. Action Required
ML19210D837
Person / Time
Site: Seabrook  NextEra Energy icon.png
Issue date: 11/02/1979
From: Grier B
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To: Tallman W
PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
References
NUDOCS 7911280117
Download: ML19210D837 (11)


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UNITED STATES i

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION E

REGION I

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631 PARK AVENUE S,

,o KING oF PRUSilA. PENNSYLVANIA 19406

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Docket Nos. 50-443 Ilnv 0 2 rg9 50-444 Public Service Company of New Hampshire ATTN:

Mr. W. C. Tallman President 1000 Elm Street Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 Gentlemen:

Enclosed is IE Bulletin No. 79-25 which requires action by you with regard to your power reactor facility (ies) with an operating license or a construction permit.

Should you have questions regarding this Bulletin or the actions required of you, please contact this office.

Sincerely,

/

f oyce. Grier Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Bulletin No. 79-25 w/ attachments 2.

List of IE Bulletins Issued in the Last Six Months CONTACT:

S. D. Ebneter (215-337-5283) cc w/encls:

John 0. Haseltine, Project Manager 1435

?83 7911280//7

ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES SSINS No.:

6820 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Accession No.:

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 7908220139 WASHINGTON, D. C.

20555 IE Bulletin No. 79-25 Date:

November 2, 1979 Page 1 of 3 FAILURES OF WESTINGHOUSE BFD RELAYS IN SAFETY-RELATED SYSTEMS Description of Circumstances:

While conducting response time tests on Westinghouse BFD relays at the H. B.

Robinson facility, two relays were found to be stuck in the energized position with the coil de-energitad.

The twenty relayr being tested were installed spares and provided no ;afety-related or operational function.

The subject relay is identified as a Westinghcuse Electric Corporation type BFD, style 5069A95G03, coil st.yle 1259C71G19.

Upon discovery of the two stuck relays in the test prograrr, the licensee conducted response tests on similar relays installed in the: Reactor Protection System.

During this additional testing a reactor trip relay was found to be t!ck in the energized position.

Detailed investigation of the problem by the licensee's staff indicated that the armature was sticking to the armature stop post.

This condition is apparently created when heat generated by normally energized coils causes a softening and resultant flow of epoxy adhesive used to attach the magnetic antistick disc to the top of the armature stop post.

When sufficient adhesive flows to the top of the armature stop, the armature becomes bonded to the stop post, resulting in the relay sticking in the energized position.

The epoxy adhesive had also discolored to a dark brown as opposed to clear in new relays.

After reviewing this problem, Westinghouse issue.1 a service letter dated December 6, 1978.

A copy of this letter is attached for your information and appropriate use. Westinghouse recommanded replacing affected relays with a relay identified as NBFD, style 5072A49, coil style 1271C50G01, 125/130 Volt DC 10 percent.

During installation and testing of the new NBFD relays identified by Westinghouse, H. B. Robinson determined that some of the new style relays exhibited marginal or unsatisfactory armature overtravel.

Ar. investigation of the problem by Westinghouse indicated that the insufficient overtravel was limited to eight and twelve pole models of the NBFD relays. Westinghouse issued a Technical Bulletin NSD-TB-79-05 to Licensees.

A copy of this Technical Bulletin is also attached for your information and use.

Westin house recommended a testin method for identifying relays with replacement of relays with insuffi DUPLICATEDOCUMENT]4 }84 Entire document previously entered into system under: ~M Z2A /54 ANO No. of pages: b}}