ML19256B461
| ML19256B461 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 06/26/1979 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Eric Turner HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7907110246 | |
| Download: ML19256B461 (1) | |
Text
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r eecg)f, UNITED STATES g
yj c(j g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g!jr1 39
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- REGION IV 8
t 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 1000 AR LINGToN, TEXAS 76012 June 26, 1979 In Reply Refer To:
RIV Docket Nos. 50-498/IE Circular No. 79-10 50-499/IE Circular No. 79-10 Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN:
Mr. E. A. Turner, Vice President Power Plant Construction and Technical Services Post Office Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:
This IE Circular is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant aatter.
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 further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Bulletin will be issu'e'd 't'o recommend or request specific licensee actions.
~
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate hTC Regional Office.
Sincerely, k
Wk r1 V. Seyfrit Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Circular No. 79-10 2.
List of IE Circulars Issued in Last IT Months 835 211.
'9071 1op y
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Circular No. 79-10 Date: June 26, 1979 Page 1 of 2 PIPEFITTINGS MANUFACTURED FROM UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL Description of Circumstances:
Liberty Equipment and Supply Company of Kennewick, Washington and Tube Turns Division, Chemetron Corporation of Louisville, Kentucky reported on April 4 and 12, 1979, respectively, that potentially defective pipe fittings were manufactured from material with a high carbon content beyond the range allowed by ASTM A-234 WPB. These high carbon content fittings may crack when welded.
Tube Turns received 3.500 OD x.250W pipe from U. S. Steel - Lorain -
identified as U. S. Steel Heat No. N570028.
A total of 28,153 feet was received and identified by Tube Turns as Lot W6719.
U. S. Steel has not been able to determine the exact number of lengths of pipe of incorrect chemistry, but indicated it could be at least four lengths.
From this pipe, 4" - 90 degrees and 45 degrees
.237 wall elbows and 2"
.237 wall straight tees, ASIll A-234 WPB, were-produced by Tube Turns. Each length of pipe is twenty feet and makes from 20 to 30 fittings. Approximately 27,000 fittings were produced and each is identified by Tube Turns Lot No. W6719.
Shipment of these fittings started in March of 1978, and it is estimated all were shipped before the end of 1978.
On May 10, 1979, the Tube Turns Division reported to the NRC that 4" elbows, Lot W6719, have been provided to the nuclear power plants listed below.
U.S.
Steel has tested about one hundred and fifty (150) loose and installed fittings at the seven sites noted by an asterisk.
- Grand Gulf
- Zimmer
- Phipps Bend
- Wtterford III
- Brown's Ferry Midl.and Limerick Shoreham
- LaSalle Sequoyah
- Brunswick Hartsville Bellefonte On June 1, 1979, the Tube Turns Division reported to the NRC via telephone that of the 160 fittings tested at Nuclear Power Plants, three (3) pieces were found to have a high carbon content and were replaced.
All construction permit holders are ad-75 *A- % W ~ A m?--:* %mmm m 1 pipefittingreceivingdocumentsfort(
~
", ' [^ ~ z and determine if fittings manufactured DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Oh0 /)s i
identified as Tube Turn Lot W6719.
I' were received, appropriate corrective Entire document previously entered l
into system under:
W l
ANo 7 966100 / 7/
No. of pages:
8
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