ML19312D650
| ML19312D650 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000984 |
| Issue date: | 03/14/1980 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Selby J Battelle Memorial Institute, PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATION |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003250141 | |
| Download: ML19312D650 (1) | |
Text
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4 UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION V 3
1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD -
-4>g 4d-SUITE 202, WALNUT CREE K PLAZA.
WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA 94596 March 14,1980 Docket No.70-984 Battelle Memorial Institute Pacific Northwest Laboratories i
Battelle Blvd.
Richland, Washington 99352 Attention: Mr. J. M. Selby, Manager Radiation Standards & Engineering
- Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter.
It is expected that recipients will review the infonnation for pessible applicability to their facilities.
No specific
~ action or 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 the Director of the appropriate NRC
, Regional Office.
Sincerely,
.(,QjtW R
H.
ngelken y
. irector
Enclosures:
1.-
.IE Information Notice No. 80-11 2.
List of IE Information Notices fecently Issued 8003250 i
SSINS No. 6870 Accession No.:
UtlITED STATES 7912190684 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND-ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 March 14, 1980 IE Information flotice No. 80-11 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 other licensee commitment should be complied with when a fire protection system is disabled.
South Carolina Electric and Gas Company (Virgil C. Summer fluclear 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 clastomers 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 ethyle by oils and greases. To be used f pipe threads of cutting oils." Ca DUPLICATE DOCUMENT lubricants which do not contain oil Entire document previously entered into system und-r:
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ANO N o.
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