ML19253A570

Final Rept of Significant Const Deficiency 12 Re 4-inch,45 Degree Ell & 4-inch,90 Degree Ell Pipe Fittings Subj to Cracking When Welded.Caused by Erroneous Identification of Piping Matl as High Carbon Steel

ML19253A570
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	08/31/1979
From:	Stinson L LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:
Shared Package
ML19253A567	List: ML19253A566 ML19253A570
References
NUDOCS 7909100328
Download: ML19253A570 (3)

Text

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1.0UISIANA POWER & LIGHT COMPMN WATERFORD SES UNIT No 3 FINAL REPORT OF SI?;IFICANT CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY NO 12 MATERIAL FAILURE -

PIPI FITTINGS - 4" - 45 ELLS AND 4" - 90 ELLS

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Submitted by bu A L. A. S:.lnson - P nager, Site Quality Program o,

7009100328

FINAL REPORT SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY REPORT N012 MATERIAL FAILURE -

PIPE FITTINGS U 4" - 45 ELLS AND 4" - 90 ELLS SCHEDULE 40 Introduction This report is submitted pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e) . It describes a deficiency in the type of material utilized for the manufacture of Pipe Fittings (4" - 45 Ell and 4" - 90 Ell) purchased through Purchase Order WP3-1235 f or use in Louisiana Power & Light's Waterford Steam Electric Station Unit No 3. Tube Turns Division also reported this problem to the U. S. Regulatory Commission by letter dated 4-12-79.

Description On April 6,1979, the McJunkin Corporation, Tube Turns Division, notified Ebasco Services Incorporated that the pipe fittings bearing lot identification number W6719 were subject to experience material failure (cracking when welded) and that these fittings be returned to them.

The sequence of events leading to the deficiency is as follows:

Tube Turns Division, upon learning that one 4" - 90 elbow had cracked when welded in a line, determined that the carbon content of the fitting was above the li=it of ASTM A234 WPB. Subsequent investigation determined that the steel from which the fitting was made was f rom a shipment of pipe received from U S Steel. It was further deter =ined that U S Steel had erroneously identified high carbon steel with the same marking as Tube Turns' regular material and mixed it with the regular material prior to delivery.

Tube Turns received 3.500 OD x .250W pipe f rom U S Steel - Lorain - identified as U S Steel Heat Number N57028. A total of 28,153 feeg was received and identified by Tube Turns as Lot W6719. From this pipe, 4" - 90 and 45 .237 wall elbows and 2" .237 wall straight tees, A234 WPB, were produced by Tube Turns. Approxi-mately 27,000 fittings were produced and each is identified by Tube Turns Lot Num-ber W6719. Shipment of these fittings started in March of 1978, and it is esti-mated all were shipped before the end of 1978.

Upon confirming that several lengths of pipe were involved, iube Turns initiated a recall progra= under which they advised all of their customers who had received 4" elbows and 2" tees to return to Tube Turns any of these marked Lot W6719 that are in their stock.

Safety Imolication The fittings in question were purchased as stock material for use by the Plant Process Piping Contractor. This particular type and size of fittings are utilized in Safety Category Two (2) and Three (3) Systems. Ebasco received ten (10) fittings J

SCD N0 12 of the lot in question. Of this, three have been installed and at present only one (1) has been identified as having been installed in a safety-related system; i.e., Component Cooling System. The postulated failure of these fittings, had they been left installed, would have resulted in invalidating the safety func-tions of the systems in which the fittings would have been incorporated.

Corrective Action Six (6) of the ells were immediately placed on hold in the sarehouse. Site Nonconformance Report No. W3-1354 was issued to tne piping contractor directing the removal of the three (3) installed <-lls.

As of August 30, 1979, these nine (9) ells were removed from the Waterford 3 Site.

As reported 1 letter LPL 11493 dated June 29, 1979, it is concluded that the re-maining ell was scrapped. This conclusion was reached only af ter an intensive search had been conducted to verify the ell was not installed or available to be installed in the plant.

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