ML19305C043
| ML19305C043 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001113 |
| Issue date: | 03/14/1980 |
| From: | James O'Reilly NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Alkema R GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003250515 | |
| Download: ML19305C043 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 8
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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101 MARIETTA ST., N.W., SUITE 3100 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 s
MAR 141980 In Reply Refer To:
-It JPO s 70-111h General Electric Company Attn:
R. J. Alkema, General Manager Wilmington Manufacturing Depar tment Post Office Box 780 Wilmington, NC 28401 Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter.
It is expected that recipients will review the infor-mation for possible applicability to their facilities. No specific action or response is requested at this time.
If further NRC evaluations so indi-cate, an IE Circular, Bulletin, or Generic Letter will be issued to recomrend or request specific licensee actions.
If yot have questions regarding the matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely, C"S%
Jam 2s P. O'Re Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-11 2.
List of IE Information Notices Recently Issued s00s230 sig
MAR 141980 General Electric Company cc w/ encl:
A. L. Kaplan, Manager Licensing and Compliance Audits Post Office Box 780, Mail Code J-26 Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 C. M. Vaughan, Manager Nuclear Materials Management Post Office Box 780, Mail Code K-88 Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 i
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SSINS No. 6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 7912190684 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORC,EMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 March 14, 1980 IE Information Notice No. 80-11 GENERIC PROBLEMS WITH ASCO VALVES IN NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS INCLUDING FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS Description of Circumstances:
J 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 other 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 instructions may specify the use of thread lubricants utilizing an oil base.
Thus, the potential exists for traces of this lubricant from threaded connec-tions 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 -
j this valve is equipped with ethylene propylene elastomers which can be attacked by oils and gresses. 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 March 14, 1980 l
Page 2 of 2 ASCO offers viton clastomers 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 (Enclosure 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.
Enclosure:
1.
Viking Corporation Recall Notice 2.
EG&G Ectter, Dearien to Tiller dated December 26, 1979 DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:
h ANO No. of es:
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