ML19259B321

Forwards Correspondence Re Unspecified Voltage in Aws Prequalified Welding Procedures,Specifically Bechtel P1-A-LH.Usable Arc Length (Voltage) Easily Discernable by Welder

ML19259B321
Person / Time
Site:	Midland
Issue date:	01/19/1979
From:	Howell S CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
To:	James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
References
HOWE-19-79, NUDOCS 7901260163
Download: ML19259B321 (5)

Text

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Stephen H. Howell

. Seniar Vice President

%d General Of fices: 1945 West Parnall fload, Jackson, Michigan 492C1. (517) 788-0453 January 19, 1979 Hove-19-79 Mr J G Keppler, Regicnal Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement U3 I;uclear Regulatory Commission Region III 799 Roosevelt hoad Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

.UI;3FECIFIED VOLTiiGE IN NJS PREQUALIFIED WELDING PROCEDURES

Reference:

(1) URC IE Incpection Report No 50-329/78-03 and no 50-330/78-03; dated 14ay 4,1978 (2) S H Hovell letter to J G Keppler; Midland. Nuclear Plant - ilRC Items of Honcompliance, Inspectjon Report no50-329/78-03andno50-330/78-03; Serial Hove-69-78; (3) R F Heishman letter to S H Howell; Docket no 50-329 and 50-330; dated September 13, 1978 (4) S H Howell letter to J G Keppldr; Unspecified Voltage jn Ecchtel WPS Eo Pl-A-DI; Serial *Eove-223 '78; dated October 31, 1978 (5) R F Heishman letter to S H Howell; Docket No 50-329 and 50-330; dated november 22,19'(8 (6) NRC IE Incpcetion Report No 50-329/78-17andno50-330/78-17 The referenced correcpondence deals with the subject identified in reference 1 as U'!SPECIFIED VOLTAGE In EECHTEL WPS II0 Pl-A-LH. An infraction ves issued for not specifying volter,e in an AWS Welding Procedure Specification (WPS).

Referencea 3 nnd 5 3dentify na URC spec 3fied " requirements" two items as fol2cun:

a. "The veldin6 procedure specification and qualificction record must identify an acceptable combination of voltete and amparage for each electrode size, and velding shall be performed at values within i 151; of these nominal values."

b. ... ve requent that ycur scr.:pling measurement cyctem provide accurance that c13 velding machines are covered by your amperage and voltage measur 790126D163 tPs \

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. 2 Hove-19-79 In regard to a., Consumers Power has maintained that this is en incorrect interpretation of the AWS Dl.1 Code for prequalified velding procedures.

Attachments 1 and 2 to this letter are correspondence to and from the AWS Structural Welding Committee on this subject. The reply as given in Attachment 2 completely substantiates the Consumers Pover position. The voltage and amperage checks being made vill use the range specified in the procedures as the accept / reject criteria.

In regard to b., we discussed with Mr Vandel on December 18, 1978, the possibility of doing a monthly voltage check on each velding supply Grid to satisfy the NRC's request to include all machines. The information necessary to define the grid systems and the appropriate measurement locations is expected to be available February 1,1979 The surveillance system presently impicmented, as described in reference 2, vill ba coatinued for bcth veltcge and amperage measurements until such time as agreement can be reached with the URC to discontinue them.

Measurements were initiated on December 2,1978. After December 9, 1978, the '

recording form was revised to record each individual veld machine which is subject to the surveillance cheeks. The records show, for the month of December, that starting on the 9th, 17 checks were made on 17 different machines. The total number of measurerents made in December represent over 7 percent of the listing of qualified velders for the month of November.

Consumers Power Company has expended significant effort to comply with the NRC specified " requirements." Concurrently, ue have sought to obtain additional information to clarify the usefulness of voltage measurements as an aid in assuring the quality of velding required to meet the AWS Dl.1 Structural Welding Code. In this regard, Messrd T E Vandel and K Haidu attended a demonstratior, at Ohio State University cn December 14, 1978. A technical report on the t tMy conducted at Ohio State is expected to be released by March, 1979 This report and the videotapes of the effect of voltage varirtions on the shielded metal arc welding process vill be made available to you and the Headquarters Staff. Our cone:.usion is that a usable are length (voltage) is easily discernable by the velder. Only where the voltage is significantly ratside the specified range does it abruptly cause poor veld quality. This breakdown is clearly visible to the velder in the velding arc.

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5 Attachments: (1) J V Walvoord letter to Dr Moss V Davis, Secretary of AWS Structural Welding Committee, Serial Ualv 60-78, dated November 2, 1978 (2) Dr Moss V Davis letter to J V Walvoord, Eesponse to Inquiry on Prequalified Welding Procedures, dated November 15, 1978

3 nove-19-79 CC: Director, Office of Inspection & Enforcement Att: Mr John G Davis, Acting Director, USNRC (15) y Director, Office of Management Information and Program Control, USNRC (1)

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Attachment 1 Howe-19-79 33 . CCD3E2fS

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valv 60-73 Dr s c V Davis, Secretary .

AWS Structural Welding Committec ,

American Uelding Cociety 2501 Hortht:est 7th Street Micmi, FL 33125

Dear Dr Devis:

Inspection agencies have recently been interpreting Paragraph 5.5.2.l(10 of the AUS Dl.1 Structural Ucidinn Code as applying to prequalified welding procedures. This paragraph acals trith limitations of variables for the shielded tr.etal are 1:elding process. Constr.crn Po::er Company believen that the limitaticus of vt.riables listed under Paragraph 5 5 2.1 apply cnl,, to velding procedure specificatiens t:hich require qualification and that the requirenents of Paragraph h.lO.2 appl:t for thesc variables (current and voltage) for prcqualified 1:c1dirs procedures. We at Consumers Pouer Company would gratefully appreciate your interpretation of the Structural Ucidinc Code in this matter.

Sincerely,

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/r ohn V Ualvoord CC: RCEatunon URUlrd AJBirkle .

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Mr. John Walvoord .

Consumers Power Company ,

6 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 l Re: Your inquiry regarding Prequalified Welding Procedures'

Dear nr. Ualvoord:

This is in response to your letter asking for an interpre- '

tation of 5.5.2.1 (4) of AWS Dl.1 as it applies to Pregualified Welding Procedures.

Picane be advised that the limitation of variables. in 5.5.2 of Section 5, Part B, on1" cpply to welding procedure qualificanon established by tests; they do not apply to prequalified SIGW procedures which are governed by 4.10 in AWS Dl.1 Rav2-77 or 4.6 in AWS Dl.1-79.

I trust this answers your question with regard to~this matter.

Sincerely, frJJJ .

Hoss V. Davis, Secretary  !

- AWS Structural. Welding Cormittee MVD/sd ,

File: Dl-30.1 1 cc: J. T. Biskup F. H. Ray D. L. Sprow L. R. Colarossi D. W. Blodgett -

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