ML19305D409
| ML19305D409 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1980 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Gerstner W ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004150045 | |
| Download: ML19305D409 (1) | |
Text
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e GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS 60137 Docket No. 50-461
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Docket No. 50-462 Illinois Power Company ATTN:
Mr. W. C. Gerstner Executive Vice President 500 South 27th Street Decatur, IL 62525 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; however, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions, if re-quired.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely, b
James G. Kepp er Director
Enclosure:
IE Information Notice No. 80-13 cc w/ encl:
Central Files Director, NRR/DPM Director, NRR/ DOR PDR Local PDR NSIC TIC Mr. Dean Hansell, Office of l
Assistant Attorney General l
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80041500 %
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l SSINS No.: 6870 l
Accession No.:
i UNITED STATES 8002280650 l
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 April 2, 1980 IE Information Notice No. 80-13 GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE SBM CONTROL SWITCHES DEFECTIVE CAM FOLLOWERS Description of Circumstances:
This Information Notice alerts licensees and holders of construction permits of a potential defect in the cam followers of General Electric (GE) Type SBM control switches.
Based on preliminary information, it appears that the defect is limited to switches manufactured prior to 1976 with cam followers of polycarbonate material, such as Lexan.
In brief the problem is initiated by 3
exposing such polycarbonate material to hydrocarbons.
Such exposure leads to severe cracking having a rock salt appearance which ultimately could progress to mechanical failure.
It has been determined that such exposure has occurred during fabrication and could occur while performing maintenance (e.g. cleaning the contacts).
On February 22 and March 10, 1980 we were informed that SBM switches with defective cam followers had been found at Diablo Canyon Unit 1 and at the Cooper Station, respectively. Although the information was preliminary and sketchy, the problem is a long-standing one for which GE has issued " Service Information Letters" to its BWR customers. The problems associated with such switches, however, are not restricted to GE customers as evidenced by the Diablo Canyon case.
Furthermore, these switches have a broad range of applica-tion.
For example, the defective switches at the Cooper Station were used principally as hand control switches, most of which were located in the control In contrast, those at Diablo Canyon Unit I were used as auxiliary room.
contacts on the 4KV and 12KV "Magna Blast" circuit breakers, with three SBM switches used per breaker: (1) a breaker mounted auxiliary switch, (2) a cell mounted auxiliary switch, and (3) a cell interlock switch.
This information is provided as notification of a possibly significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff.
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 you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
.m. -
s.
IE Information Notice No. 80-13 Enclosure April 2 1980 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 80-12 Instrument Failure Causes 3/31/80 All holders of Power Opening of PORV and Block Reactor OLs and cps Valve 80-11 General Problems with ASCO 3/14/80 All holders of Reactor Valves in Nuclear Application OL, CP, fuel fabrica-Including Fire Protection tion and processing Systems facilities 80-10 Partial Loss of Non-Nuclear 3/7/80 All power reactor Instrument System Power facilities holding Supply During Operation OLs and cps 80-09 Possible Occupational 3/7/80 All holders of Health Hazard Associated power reactor OLs with Closed Cooling Systems and near term cps 80-08 The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All power reactor Link Electrical Terminal facilities with an OL Block or a CP 80-07 Pump Shaft Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 All LigV, Watei.*aactor Facilities h61 der power reactor OLs and cps 80-06 Notification of Significant 5/27/80 All holders of Reactor Events OLs anc to near term OL applicants 80-05 Chloride Contamination 2/8/80 All liaensees of nuclear of Safety Related Piping power reactor facilities and applicants and holders of nuclear power reacter cps 80-04 BWR Fuel Exposure in 2/4/80 All BWR's holding a Excess of Limits power reactor OL or CP 80-03 Main Turbine Electro-1/31/80 All balders of power Hydraulic Control System reactor OLs and cps 80-02 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 All bWR Facilities End Plug Wear holder power reactor OLs or cps l
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