ML19263C627
| ML19263C627 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  |
| Issue date: | 02/09/1979 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Clayton F ALABAMA POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7902280041 | |
| Download: ML19263C627 (2) | |
Text
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FEB g 1979 In Reply Refer To:
8
( 50-364 Alabama Power Company Attn:
Mr. F. L. Clayton, Jr.
Senior Vice President Post Office Box 2641 Birmingham, Alabama 35291 Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter.
It is expected that recipients will review the infor=ation for possible applicability to their facilities.
No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding the catter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely, w ~\\'A u..
James P. O'Reilly F-
' Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 79-03 2.
List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 790228cO y
VEB 91979 Alabama Power Company cc w/ enc 1:
Mr. W. G. Hairston, III Plant Manager Drawer 470 Ashford, Alabama 36312 Mr. R. E. Hollands, Jr.
QA Supervisor P. O. Box U Ashford, Alabama 36312 Mr. A. R. Barton Executive Vice President Post Office Box 2641 Birmingham, Alabama 35291 Mr. H. O. Thrash, Manager Nuclear Generation Post Office Box 2641 Birmingham, Alabama 35291 Mr. C. Biddinger, Jr., Manager Corporate Quality Assurance Post Office Box 2641 Birmingham, Alabama 35291
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 February 9, 1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-03 LIMITORQUE VALVE GEARED LIMIT SWITCH LUBRICANT Description of Circumstances:
At Commonwealth Edison reactors excessive f ailure rates of the Limitorque valve geared limit switches were being experienced.
Investigation revealed that the failure mode was a drying out and hardening of the Beacon 325 lubricant. Once hardening takes place, the brass gears within the limit switch become immobile and destroy themselves when an attempt is made to operate the valve.
The Limitorque Corporation has recommended Mobilgrease 28 as a replacement grease for switch applications where the temperature exceeds 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Tests conducted by Mobil and Limitorque Corporation indicate that Mobilgrease 28, in addition to having a superior temperature rating, will satisfy the same environmental conditions and meet the aame qualification parameters as Beacon 325.
All licensee and construction permit holders should consider conducting a review to determine if Beacon 325 lubricant is being used in geared limit switches in environments conducive to drying out and subsequent hardening of the lubricant.
If conditions are found to be conducive to failures, consideration should be given to replacing the grease with a more suitable grease.
This information is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter.
It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability to their f acilities. No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If further NRC evalua-tions so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recom-mend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Enclosure:
List Of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 Page 1 of 1 700 2150358
f IE Information Notice No. 79-03 February 9, 1979 LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN 1979 Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 79-01 Bergen-Paterson Hydraulic 2/2/79 All power reactor Shock and Sway Arrestor facilities with an OL or a CP 79-02 Attempted Extortion -
2/2/79 All Fuel Facilities Low Enriched Uranium