ML19225A386
| ML19225A386 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 06/06/1979 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Groce R VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7907190119 | |
| Download: ML19225A386 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES
[ $. <g['%j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3., A.d""}34 / f Y
a REGION I o, "A 631 PARK AVENUE
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KING OF PRUSSI A, PENNSYLVANI A 19406 h,
J June 6, 1979 Docket No. 50-271 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation ATTN:
Mr. Robert H. Groce Licensing Engineer 20 Turnpike Road Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is supplement IE Bulletin 79-OlA.
It requires action by you with regard to power reactor facility (ies) with an coerating license except for the 11 SEP (Systematic Evaluation Program) plants wilich are listed in Enclosure 3.
This Bulletin is also being sent for information to the 11 SEP plants and all power reactor facilities with a construction permit.
No action or written response is required for these two categories of facilities.
Should you have questions regarding this Bulletin or the actions required of you, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
/ oyce H. Grier Director EnclosJres:
1.
List of IE Bulletins Issued in Last Twelve Months 3.
List of SEP Plants (ll) cc w/encls:
W. F. Conway, Plant Superintenient Ms. J. Abbey, Technical Secretary A. Z. Roisman, Natural Resources Defense Council oiE I
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ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Bulletin No.79-01A Date:
June 6, 1979 Page 1 of 3 SUPPLEMENT NO.79-01A TO IE BULLETIN 79 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATION OF CLASS 1E EQUIPMENT (DEFICIENCIES IN THE ENVIP,0NMENTAL QUALIFICATION OF ASCO S0LEN0ID VALVES)
Description of Circumstances:
Recently, a noncompliance report under 10 CFR Part 21 was received by the NRC from the Henry Pratt Company, manufacturer of butterfly valves which are installed in the primary containment at the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Nuclear Station.
These butterfly valves are used for purge and exhaust purposes and are required to operate during accident conditions.
The report discusses the use of an unqualified solenoid valve for a safety-related valve function which requires operation under accident conditions.
The solenoid valve in question is Catalogue No. HT-8331A45, manufactured by the Automatic Swi'.:h Company (ASCO) of Florham Park, New Jersey. This pilot valve is used to pilot control the pneumatic valve a:tuators which are installed on the containment ventilation butterfly valves at this facility.
The deficiency in these solenoid valves identified in the Part 21 Report concerns the parts made of acetal plastic material.
The acetal disc holder assembly and bottom plug in the pilot valve assembly are stated by ASCO to have a maximum service limit of 400,000 Rad integrated dosage and 200 degrees F temperature.
According to ASCO, exposure of these acetal plastic parts to specified maximum environmental conditions may render the solenoid pilot valve inoperable which would cause the associated butterfly valve to malfunction.
Further investigation at ASCO by the NRC staff has revealed that the valve seals in most ASCO solenoid valves contain Buna "N" elastomer material, which reportedly has a maximum service limit of 7,000,000 Rad integrated dosage and 180 degrees F temperature.
The investigation further revealed that ASCO has available a line of qualified solenoid operated pilot valves (ASCO Catalogue No. NP-1) which have no plastic parts, utilize ethylene propylene or viton elastomers and have a continuously energized operating life of four years, under normal embient conditions up to 140 degrecs F.
According to the manufacturer, at the end of this period, the coil, manual operator (optional feature) and all resilient parts must be replaced.
These preventive maintenance instructions are specified in the installation and instruction bulletins which are provided to the purchaser with each shipment of solenoid valves.
The final items of concern identified during this investigation deals with the application of Class "A", "B", or "F", solenoid coils which are exposed to an accident environment.
In this regard, ASCO representatives stated that the 4
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IE Bulletin No. 79-Ol A Date: June 6,1979 Page 2 or 3 high temperature coils identified as Class "HT" or "HB" are the only coils con-sidered suitable for service under accident conditions; whereas, Class "A", "B",
and "F" coils are not.
With respect to the corrective measures to be taken to resolve the above concerns, ASCO recommends the following:
1.
The parts of the solenoid valve made of acetal plastic material should be replaced with similar parts made of metal which can be provided by ASCO.
2.
The valve seals and gaskets which are made of Buna "N" material should be replaced with either ethylene propylene or viton elastomers, considered by ASCO as suitable for the service intenced.
3.
Review and determine that the coils of the solenoid valves installed inside containment are Class "HT" or "HB" as required for high temperature environmental conditions.
4 Review and determine that the solenoid enclosures installed inside contain-ment have at least a NEMA 4 enclosure rating.
5.
Establish a preventive maintenance program to assure replacement of those val.a parts identified above in the time period recommended in the appro-priate ASCO valve bulletin.
6.
ASCO also stated that all unqualified solenoid valves inside containment be retrofitted to qualified ASCO No. NP-1 valves in lieu of the above.
7.
Questions from licensees to ASCO concerning corrective measures should reference both catalogue and serial numbers of each valve in question.
These numbers are stamped on the metal nameplate on each solenoid valve.
Action to be Taken by Licensees of all Power Reactor Facilities (except those 11 SEP Plants listed on Enclosure 3) with an Operating License:
1.
Determine whether or not ASCO solenoid valves are used or planned for use in safety-related systems at your facility (ies).
2.
If such valves are used or planned for use, identify the safety system involved and determine that:
(a) valves which could be subjected to a LOCA environment are qualified to that environment.
Specifically that no parts made of acetal plastic or Buna "N" materials or Class "A", "B",
or "F" solenoid coils are used in such valves; (b) a preventive main-tenance program is being conducted such that the solenoid coil, the manual operator (if applicable), and the resil
'. parts of the valve are being replaced in accordance with the time perud established by the manufacturer and documented as the qualified life of the assembled component.
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IE Bulletin No. 79-01 A Date:
June 6, 1979 Page 3 of 3 3.
All holders of operating licenses of power reactor facilities are obligated to meet the review and reporting requirements established in previously issued IE Bulletin 79-01, regarding environmental qualifica-tion of electrical equipment installed in their plants.
No additional written response to this Supplement IE Bulletin is required other than those responses described above.
NRC inspectors will continue to monitor the licensees' progress in completing the requested action described above. If additional information is required, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Approved by GAO, B180225 (J,0072); clearance expires 7/31/80. Approval was given under a blanket clearance specifically for identified generic problems.
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IE Bulletin No. 79-01 A Date:
June 6, 1979 Page 1 of 5 ENCLOSURE 2 LISTING OF IE BULLETINS ISSUED IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS Bulletin Subject Date Issued Issued To No.
78-07 Protectic.i afforded 6/12/78 All Power Reactor by Air-Line Respirators Facilities with an and Supplied-Air Hoods OL, all class E and F Research Reactors with an OL, all Fuel Cycle Facilities with an OL, and all Priority I Material Licensees 78-08 Radiation Levels from 6/12/78 All Power, Test and Fuel Element Transfer Research Reactor Tubes Facilities with an OL having Fuel Element Transfer Tubes
~/3-09 BWR Drywell Leakage 6/14/78 All BWR Power Paths Associated with Reactor Facilities Inadequate Drywell with an OL (for action)
Closures or CP (for information) 78-10 Bergen-Paterson 6/27/78 All BWR Power Reactor Hydraulic dhock Facilities with Suppressor Accumulator an OL or CP Spring Coils 78-11 Examination of Mark I 7/24/78 3WR Power Reactor Containment Torus Facilities with an OL Welds for action:
Peach Bottom 2 and 3, Quad Cities 1 and 2, Hatch 1, Monticello and Vermont Yankee.
All other BWR Power Reactor Facilities with an OL for information
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IE Bulletin No.79-01A Date: June 6, 1979 Page 2 of 5 LISTING 0F IE BULLETINS ISSUED IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS (CONTINUED)
Bulletin Subject Date Issued Issued To No.
78-12 Atypical Weld Material 9/29/78 All Power Reactor in Reactor Pressure Facilities with an Vessel Welds OL or CP 78-12A Atypical Weld Material 11/24/78 All Power Reactor in Reactor Pressure Facilities with an Vessel Welds OL or CP 78 -12B Atypical Weld Material 3/19/79 All Power Reactor in Reactor Pressure Facilities with an Vessel Welds OL or CP 78-13 Failures In Source Heads 10/27/78 All General and of Kay-Ray, Inc., Gauges Specific Licensees Models 7050, 7050B, 7051, with the subject 70518, 7060, 70608, 7061 Kay-Ray, Inc.
and 7061B Gauges 78-14 Deterioration of Buna-N 12/19/78 All GE BWR Faci-Components In ASCO lities with an OL Solenoids (for action), and all other Power Reactor Facilities with an OL or CP (for information) 79-01 Environmental Qualif-2/8/79 All Fower Reactor ication of Class IE Facilities with an OL, Equipment except the 11 Systematic Evaluation Program Plants (for action), and all other Power Reactor Facilities with an OL or CP (For Information) 79-02 Pipe Support Base Plate 3/8/79 All Power Reactor Design Using Concrete Facilities with an OL Expansion Anchor Bolts or CP
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Enclasure 2 IE Bulletin No. 79-Ol A Date:
June 6, 1979 Page 3 of 5 LISTING OF IE BULLETINS ISSUED IN LAST TWF' VE MONTHS (CONTINUED)
Bulletin Subject Date Issued Issued to No.
79-03 Longitudinal Weld Defects 3/12/79 All Power Reactor in ASME SA-312 Type Facilities with 304 Stainless Steel Pipe an OL or CP Spools Manufactured by Youngstown Weldin7 and Engineering Company 79-04 Incorrect Weights for 3/30/79 All Power Reactor Swing Check Valves Facilities with an Manufactured by Velan OL or CP Engineering Corporatior, 79-05 Nuclear Incidert at 4/1/79 All Babcock and Three Mile Island Wilcox Power Reactor Facilities with an OL, Except Three Mile Island 1 and 2 (For Action),
and All Other Power Reactor Facilities With an OL cr CP (For Information)79-05A Nuclear Incident at 4/5/79 Same as 79-05 Three Mile Island -
Supplement 79-06 Review of Operational 4/11/79 All Pressurized Water Errors and System Mis-Power Reactor Facil-alignments Identified ities with an OL Except During the Three Mile B&W Facilities (For Incicent Action), All Other Power Reactor facil-ities with an OL or CP (For Information) no\\
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IE Bulletin flo. 79-OlA Date:
June 6, 1979 Page 4 of 5 LISTIllG OF IE BULLETIflS ISSUED Ill LAST TWELVE M0tlTHS (C0flTIllVED)
Bulletin Subject Date Issued Issued to tio.79-06A Same Title as 79-06 4/14/79 All Westinghouse Designed Pressurized Power Reactor Facil-ities with an OL (For Action), and All Other Tower Reactor Facilities with an OL or CP (For Information)79-06A Same Title as 79-06 4/18/79 All Westinghouse (Revision 1)
Designed Pressurized Power Reactor Facil-ities with an OL (For Action), and All Other Power Reactor Facilities with an CL or CP (For Information)79-06B dame Title as 79-06 4/14/79 All Combt stion Engineering Designed Pressurized Power Reactor Facilities with an O' (For
'ction), and All Otiier Power Reactor Facilities with an OL or CP (For Information) 79-07 Seismic Stress Analysis 4/14/79 All Power Reactor of Safety-Related Piping Facilities with an OL or CP
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L-3 IE Bulletin No. 79-01 A Date:
June 6, 1979 Page 5 of 5 LISTING OF IE but.LETINS ISSUED IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS (CONTINUED)
Bulletin Subject Date Issued Issuea to No.
79-08 Events Relevant to 4/14/79 All BWR Power Boiling Water Power Reactor Facilities Reactors Identified with an OL (For During Three Mile Action), All Other Island Incident Power Reactor Facil-ities with an OL or CP (For Infonnation) 79-09 Failures of GE Type 4/17/79 All Power Reactor AK-2 Type Circuit Facilities with an Breaker in Safety OL or CP Related Systems 79-10 Requalification Training 5/11/79 All Power Reactor Program Statistics Facilities with an OL 79-11 Faulty Overcurrent Trip 5/22/79 All Power Reactor Device in Circuit Breakers Facilities with an for Engineered Safety OL or CP Systems 79-12 Short Period Scrams at 5/31/79 All GE BWR Facilities BWR Facilities with an OL a, ') l
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ENCLOSURE 3 SEP Plants Plant Region Dresden 1 III Yankee Rowe I
Big Rock Point III San Onofre 1 V
Haddam Neck I
Lacrosse III Oyster Creek I
R. E. Ginna I
Dresden 2 III Millstone 1 I
Palisades III
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