ML19256B395
| ML19256B395 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 05/22/1979 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Gerstner W ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906130103 | |
| Download: ML19256B395 (1) | |
Text
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g GLEN E LLYN, ILLINO15 60137 MAY 2 21979 Docket No. 50-461 Docket No. 50-462 Illinois Power Company ATTN:
Mr. W. C. Gerstner Executive Vice President 500 South 27th Street Decatur, IL 62525 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is IE Bulletin No. 79-11 which requires action oy you with regard to your power reactor facilities 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,
%N tW'/
amesG.Keppler[
Director
Enclosure:
IE Bulletin No. 79-11 cc w/ encl:
Central Files Director, NRR/DPM Director, NRR/ DOR PDR Local PDR NSIC TIC Mr. Dean Hansell, Office of Assistant Attorney General 7906130103
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND EhTORCEMENT RECION III May 22, 1979 IE Bulletin No. 79-11 FAULTY OVERCURRENT TRIP DEVICE IN CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS Discussion:
We have received information from Westinghouse and an NRC licensee relating to the potential failure of a circuit breaker in an engineered safety system of a nuclear power plant. This circuit breaker had a defect in cre of its three time delay dashpots which resulted in a reduced time delay for over-current protection. The defect was a small hairline crack in the end cap of the dashpot. Further investigation by this licensee disclosed that 7 out of 17 spare dashpot end caps and 2 non-engineered safety feature breakers also had similar defects. The circuit breaker is a Westinghouse type DB-75.
Westinghouse type DB-50 breakers also use the sa=e type of dashpot and end cap. DB-50 and -75 breakers are used extensively in PWR's, and some BWR's may also have the same breakers.
Similar make and model circuit breakers, when used for scram purposes, do not require the overcurrent trip feature and thus are not of concern. The end cap crack defect, if severe enough, could result in premature tripping of the circuit breaker because of insufficient time delay in overcurrent protection, i.e.,
the motor starting (inrush) current could'eause the breaker to trip inadvertently and thus prevent the motor start.
The defects reported by the licensee in April 1979, occurred in the replacement end caps which were provided to solve the problem described in IE Bulletin 73-1.
The subject of Bulletin 73-1 was end caps made of a black phenolic material. As a result of that Bulletin, the black end caps were replaced with a new type made of fibre-filled polyester material called " navy-gray". Prior to the April 1979 report, there have been no reports of suspect " navy-gray" end caps eitha.r from scheduled test.ing or unusual behavior in service. The manufacturer of the " navy-gray" end caps believes the crack defects may be linked to a raw material batch problem. That is, the molding ingredient materials used may have neared the end of their shelf life before use. It is not believed the end caps, after fabrication, have a significant shelf life limit, due to the low residua DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:
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