ML19283B632
| ML19283B632 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 02/09/1979 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Andognini G BOSTON EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7903050514 | |
| Download: ML19283B632 (1) | |
Text
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[ pa afCoq(C, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l,
f }hg[,: j REGION I e '4 g
631 PARK AVENUE g
KING OF PRUSSI A, PENNSYLVANI A 19406 February 9, 1979 Docket No. 50-293 Boston Edison Company M/C Nuclear ATTN: Mr. G. Carl Andognini, Manager Nuclear Operations Department 800 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02199 Gentlemen:
This Information Notice 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 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 recomend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding the matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, f4 lb n Boyce H. Grier
' Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 79-03 2.
List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 cc w/encls:
P. J. McGuire, Pilgrim Station Manager A. Z. Roisman, Natural Resources Defense Council 790305051f
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Information Notice No. 79-03 Date:
February 9, 1979 Page 1 of 1 LIMITORQUE VALVE GEARED LIMIT SWITCH LUBRICANT Description of Circumstances:
At Commonwealth Edison reactors excessive failure 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 same qualification para:.ieters 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 facilities.
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 re-garding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Enclosure:
List of IE Information Notices Issued in 1979 7902150358
IE Information Notice No. 79-03 Date:
February 9, 1979 Page 1 of 1 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 Operating License (0L) or a Construction Permit (CP) 79-02 Attempted Extortion -
2/2/79 All Fuel Facilities Low Enriched Uranium