ML19305B936
| ML19305B936 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 03/14/1980 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Tallman W PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003250364 | |
| Download: ML19305B936 (1) | |
Text
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' *f noug'o, qq UNITED STATES
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION O
j REGION I S
g 631 PARK AVENUE M
D KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406
- * * * *,o March 14, 1980 Docket Nos. 50-443 50-444 Public Service Company of New Hampshire ATTN:
Mr. W. C. Tallman President 1000 Elm Street Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Information Notice No. 80-11, " Generic Problems with ASCO Valves in Nuclear Applications Including Fire Protection Systems," 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 written response is requested at this time.
If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular, Bulletin, or Generic Letter will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding the matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, c
h Boyce H. Grier
)
Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-11 with Attachments 2.
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices CONTACT:
S. D. Ebneter cc w/enclfp15-337-5283)
John DeVincentis, Project Manager 8003 250 369-
ENCLOSURE 1 SSINS No. 6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 7912190684 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Information Notice No. 80-11 Date:
March 14, 1980 Page 1 of 2 GENERIC PROBLEMS WITH ASCO VALVES IN NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS INCLUDING FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS Description of Circumstances: is a Recall Notice from The Viking Corporation, dated July 16, 1979 that identifies ASCO valves used in certain Viking fire protection equipment that could fail.
Licensees should review their fire protection system components to determine if the equipment identified in the Viking Recall Notice is in their facility.
If the identified equipment is installed in the fire protection system, then the modifications specified in the Recall Notice should be made and tested for proper operation.
The requirements of the technical specifications or any ot.%er licensee commitment should be complied with when a fire protection system is disabled.
South Carolina Electric and Gas Company (Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station) reported to the NRC on October 24, 1979, a potential significant deficiency regarding the effects of oil on elastomeric materials used in ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves.
Specifically, these valves utilize an ethylene propylene elastomer which expands or swells when brought into contact with oils, possibly causing valve failure.
For this reason, ASCO specifies these NP-1 solenoid valves for use in " oil free instrument air" systems.
Although instrument air systems are " oil free" by design, installation instruc-tions may specify the use of thread lubricants utilizing an oil base.
- Thus, the potential exists for traces of this lubricant from threaded connections in the air system, in addition to traces of oil from the air compressors themselves, to come into contact with the elastomers in the solenoid valves.
Degraded elastomers can cause the solenoid valve to fail by sticking, swelling closed flow paths, or rupturing causing leakage across the seat or to atmosphere.
Failure of the solenoid to function properly on an active valve could prevent a system from performing its required safety function.
Some ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves are equipped with tags which state:
"Important -
this valve is equipped with ethylene propylene elastomers which can be attacked by oils and greases.
To be used for oil-free instrument quality air.
Clean
- pipe threads of cutting oils." Care should be taken to use approved thread lubricants which do not contain oil for the installation of these valves.
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IE Information Notice No. 80-11 Date: March 14, 1980 Page 2 of 2 ASCO offers viton elastomers as an option for their NP-1 solenoid valves.
The viton elastomers are not affected by oil or grease.
Replacement kits of viton elastomers are available for the NP-1 solenoid valves from ASCO.
It is recom-mended that ethylene propylene elastomers found in Class IE qualified ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves be replaced with the viton kits.
In addition, enclosed is a letter from EG&G (Attachment 2) dated December 26, 1979 that provides the results of an LER review of failure of solenoid valves.
This Information Notice provided information about a potential safety concern.
No written response is required.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate Regional Office.
Attachments:
1.
Viking Corporation Recall Notice 2.
EG&G Letter,
Dearien to Tiller dated December 26,
1979 l
Attachment _N.q.__L_tp. IE Information Notice No. 80-11
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July 16, 1979 RECALL NOTICE Viking Model B-2 M netic Bvoass and Firecy'cle Trim Box We have been informed by the manuf acturer that the following listed solenoid valves may contain a black teflon coated core which could cause improper valve operation under certain water and heat conditions.
Such f ailure could result in the sprink-ler system not operating or, once having operated, not being capable of being. reset.
Solenoid valves in cuestion are as follows:
"ASC0" Automatic Switch Co., with the following specifications:
Cataloc No.
Voltage Serial No.
Tilt 8210834 120/60 19913E THT8210834 12b/60 70440E THT8210834 120/60 59284E THT821083kE 120/60 79329E THT8210834 120/60 97504E TFTX8210834E 120/60 28508H TNT 8210834E 120/60 42536H 82Ii834 24/60 28510H TH T821083trE 12/DC 79328E THT8210B34 24/0C 13912E THT8210834 24/ :C 50445E THT8210834 24/DC 56556E THT8210834' 24/DC 59285E THT8210B34E 24/DC 79327E THTS210834E 24/DC 82928E THTS210834E 24/0C 91819E THT821083hE 24/DC 16871H THT8210834E 24/DC 18391H 8211834 24/DC 28SilH THT8210834E 125/DC 79330E s
inese valves may have been used on the following items of Viking equipment:
The Model "B-2" Magnetic Bypass and the Firecycle Valve Trim Box shipped f rom Viking from January 1977 through Hay 1979, including those modified as a result of the Viking Ja.iuery 20, 1978 Recall Notice.
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Attachment No. I to IE Information Notice No. 80-l In 1977 the manufacturer received some teflon coated cores that may not have been processed properiy.
It has now become apparent that under certain water and heat conditions, the teflon coating may blister and flake off and this m*/ cause the valve to stick in either the open or closed position, in May, 1979 the manu-f acturer changed to a non-coated core which he belicves w111 correct the problem.
Viking became aware of the pr'oblem as the result of reports f rom the field Indi-cating failures of devices during routine testing.
A check with the manufacturer indicated that the abnve described changes had taken place.
Viking feels very strongly thct the presence of potentially defective solenoid valves in the field constitutes an extremely dangerous situation and recommends to all owners cf the above listed equipment that they immediately inspect the equlpment to deermine if the suspect solenoids are employed.
AlL VIKING INSTALLERS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM ANY ObNERS WITH WH0H T ACOUAINTED OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATICN AND TO OFFER TO SUCH OWNERS.
if suspect solenoid valves are found, the system should immediately be tested in accordance with the owner's. instructions and a Podification Kit should be ordered directly from ASCO at the following address:
Automatic Switch Company SC-A Hanover Rd.
Florham Park, flew Jersey 07932 Attn:
Mike Colaneri Asst. Mgr., Service Dept.
Telephone (201) 966-2314 ORDER ASCO KIT NO.
214-997 (For AC or DC Serv!ce)
Order one kit for each Magnetic Bypass to be modified and tte kits for each Fire-cycle System.
The Modi.fication Kit will consist of:
Core and sufficient parts with specific in-structions for repair of Magnetic Bypass and Firecycle Trim Box.
In order to effect the modificiation, it will be necessary' to take the, system out
- of service, shut off the power. disconnect the solenoid leads and disassemble the coil.
There is no disassembly of piping.. It is~ estimated that modifications tp the solenoid valve itself can be accomplished in approximately 20 minutes.
The Modification Kit will be furnished without charge by ASCO.
The modifications should be made as soon as possible and the replaced parts returned to ASCO by January 1, 1980.
Any questions, should be referred to ASCO.,
Owners should be reminded of the extreme importance of conducting maintenance and tests in accordance with Viking's instructic9s.
All of the above noted f ailures ere determined by such activities. Proper testing and maintenance are particularly im-portant when electro-mechanical components are involved.
Such components should be exercised frequently. An emergency system is no better than the care it receives.
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.. u Attachnunt No. 2 to fE Information Not. ice No. 80-1 h 52s2 usaho,Inc.
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December 26, 1979 i
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l Mr. R. E. Tiller, Director Reactor Operations and Programs Division
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Idaho Operations Office - DOE Idaho Falls, ID 83401 SOLEHOID VALVE FAILURES REPORTED IN LICENSEE EVENTS REPORTS -
JAD 258 79 Ref:
D. G. Eisenhut Ltr to All Pressurized Water Reactors dated Septenber 21. 1979
Dear Mr. Tiller:
EGt.G is in the process of sumarizing and evaluating t.fconsee Event Reports (LERs) under contract to the Probabilistic Analysis Staff of IUtC. Having received a copy of the above referenced letter.
. EG&G felt that some of the infomation gleaned from the LERs may be of value to NRC in investigating the nature and fmquency of solenoid valve failures.
In evaluating Licensee Event Reports (LERs) on valves and valve operators we have encountered many failures of solenoid valves whici control the air supply to air operated valves. Fifty fail-t ures of solenoid valves in air supply systems appear in 41 LERs.
Twenty-three of the 50 failures occurred in ten sets of two or three failures. Each set of multiple failures was discovered in one plant on a single data. We considered these sets to be pos-sible comon cause failures because each set exhibited a ecmmon failuru mechanism.
Fifte'en of the 50 failures were reportad by ene plant. Zion 1.
All of Zion's failures resulted from the same failure mechaniss -
foreign material contamination. Twelve of Zion's 15 failures wers J
multiple failures; that isi they appeared in sets of failures as discussed above. The remaining 35 failures were reported by 20 different plants; one reported five failures and the rest reported
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three or less.
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s In evaluating these solenoid valves, it appears that generic prob.
lams may exist in the use of. solenoid valves for controlling air e 'g e
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Attachment No'. 2 to IE Information Notice Noi 80,11 n
l R. E. Tiller l
December 26, 1979 l
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supply systems. The major problers appears to be the incompatibility of the solenoid valves with foreign material, specifically oil, which can be present in the air supply system.
Forty percent of the sole =
noid valve failures were reported as being caused by oil or other foreign material in the air supply system. Another prob 1m appears to be the environment in which the solenoid resides.
Eighteen per-cent of the failures were reported as being caused by high tempera-ture and humidtty resulting in electrical failure of the solenoid.
We hepo that this infonnation will be useful.
If you should have any questions, please contact C. F. Millcr at (FTS) 583-9673, or N. D. Cox at(FTS)583-9605.
Very truly yours.
C'%kud % sed by J. A. Dearten. Manager Code Assessment and
' Applications Program l
NDCatn i
ec:
W. E. Vasely. NRC-PAS D. G. Eisenhut. NRC-DOR R. W. Kiehn. EG&G Idaho e
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ENCLOSUREj IE Information Notice No. 80-11 Date:
March 14, 1980 Page 1 of 1 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued to Notice No.
Issued 79-36 Computer Code Defect in 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Stress Analysis of Piping lities with an Operating Elbow License (OL) or Construc-tion Permit (CP) 79-37 Cracking in Low Presssure 12/31/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Turbine Discs lities with an OL or CP 80-01 Fuel Handling Events 1/4/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 80-02 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities with End Plug Wear an OL or CP 80-03 Main Turbine Electro-1/31/80 All Power Reactor Faci-hydraulic Control System lities with an OL or CP 80-04 BWR Fuel Exposure in Excess 2/4/80 All BWR Facilities with of Limits an OL or CP 80-05 Chloride Contamination of 2/8/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Safety Related Piping and lities with an OL or CP Components and applicants for a CP 80-06 Notification of Signif-2/27/80 All Power Reactor Faci-icant Events lities with an OL and applicant for OL 80-07 Pump Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 All Power Reactor Faci-lities with an OL or CP 80-08 The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Link Electrical Terminal lities with an OL or CP Block 80-09 Possible Occupational Health 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Hazard Associated with Closed lities with an OL or CP Cooling Systems for Operating Power Plants 80-10 Partial Loss of Non-Nuclear 3/7/80 All Power Reactor Faci-Ir.strument System Power Sup-lities with an OL or CP ply During Operation
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