ML19263C666
| ML19263C666 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  |
| Issue date: | 02/02/1979 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Clayton F ALABAMA POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7902280459 | |
| Download: ML19263C666 (5) | |
Text
.,.
TERA UNITED STWe ES g* AL q NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
+4 jo,,
REGION ll Sv
g 101 M ARIETT A STREET, N.W.
(
"g g
IT I
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 FEB 2 1979 o
\\ *. 6,o#
In Reply Refer To:
RII:JPO 50-348 Alabama Power Company Attn:
Mr. F. L. Clayton, Jr.
Senior Vice President Post Office Box 2641 Birmingha=, Alaba=a 35291 Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a It is expected that recipients vill possibly significant matter.
review the inforcation for possible applicability to their f acilities.
this time.
If further No specific action or response is requested at NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued If you have questions to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely,
'l I
~ f f ' "J) 'I
)
.c
/
es P Reilly Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 79-01 2.
List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 7902280459
FEB 2 1979 Alabama Power Company cc w/ encl:
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 J5291
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COB!ISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCDENT WASHINGTON, D. C.
20555 February 2, 1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-01 BERGEN-PATERSON HYDRAULIC SHOCK AND SWAY ARRESTORS (HSSA)
On December 4, 1978, Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station reported the failure of seven Bergen-Paterson HSSA (Snubber) uc!!s to lockup in the cocpression direction and the failure of one additional unit to lockup in the extension direction. These failures were identified during surveillance testing and the affected models included ESSA-3-6, BSSA-10-6 and BSSA-20-6.
When the units were disassembled, the licensee observed damage to the poppet valve and seat on the compression side of the valve blocks of the seven units that failed in the co=pression direction.
It was also observed that five of the seven units had the poppet spring entrapped between the poppet and the seat. The licensee attributed the seven failures in the compression direction to abusive handling during compression of the units for installation following testing at the previous refueling outage. The cause of the single failure in the extension direction has not been determined.
In addition to exercising greater care in reinstallation, the licensee com=itted to functionally test all Bergen-Paterson snubbers subjected to transient conditions which cause either physical damage to or significant movement of piping. This testing vill include verification of piston movement, lockup and bleed. The Bergen-Paterson Technical Maintenance Manual recommends that additional inspections should be made on units which may have participated in an unusual shock occurrence involving known damage to piping or equipment.
On January 3,1979, the licensee reported that the decay heat removal system had been subjected to a transient condition in the form of a
" water ham =er."
This transient, caused pipe movement great enough to damage two rigid pipe support wall attachments. The subsequent functional testing of the affected Bergen-Paterson units revealed that one of seven units failed the lockup test.
This unit 04odel No. HSSA-3-6) was disasse= bled and damage to the poppet valve and seat was observed.
The damage to the poppet valves is presently being reviewed by both the licensee and Bergen-Paterson. At this time, the cause of damage has not been cocpletely defined nor has appropriate corrective action been determined. Other licensees have reported instances of poppet valve damage; however, the cause and extent of damage are not known at this time.
IE Information Notice No. 79-01 February 2, 1979 This information is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter.
It is espected 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 Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Page 2 of 2
aa.
IE Information Notice No. 79-01 February 2, 1979 LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN 1979 Infomation Subj ect Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued An Information Notice is a new method of coc:municating items of potential interest to licensees. This item, Information Notice No. 79-01, is the first of this new form of communication.
I-