ML19312D655
| ML19312D655 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000734 |
| Issue date: | 03/14/1980 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Wellhouser H GENERAL ATOMICS (FORMERLY GA TECHNOLOGIES, INC./GENER |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003250146 | |
| Download: ML19312D655 (1) | |
Text
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.. f'& g.,4 UNITED STATES 8.
3 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
,5 REGION V Q
1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD
,o#g' SUITE 202, WALNUT CREEK PLAZA WALNUT CRE E K, CALIFORNIA 94596
. March 14, 1980 Docket No.70-734 General Atomic Company P. O. Box 81608 San Diego, California 92138 Attention: Mr. H. N. Wellhouser, Manager Nuclear Material Control Division Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly signifierat 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, 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,-
/
Cr 2 0ti W ^
j /f Engelken f R
Director
[f
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80 '
2.-
List of IE Information Notices Recently Issued j
.8003250 /Y[
v
SSINS tio. 6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 7912190684 HUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AtlD ENFORCEMEtlT 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:
~ Enclosure 1 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 Recill flotice is in their facility.
If the identified equipment is installed in tha 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 l
instructions may specify the use of thread lubricants utilizing an oil base.
l 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.
l Some ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves are equipped with tags which state:
"Important -
this valve is equipped with ethylene by oils and greases. To be used for.
pipe threads of cutting oils." Care DUPLICATE DOCUMENT
-lubricants which do not contain oil f l
Entire document previously entered into system under:
~N/1/9G /oN ANO No. of pages:
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