ML19312D668
| ML19312D668 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rancho Seco |
| Issue date: | 03/14/1980 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Mattimoe J SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003250161 | |
| Download: ML19312D668 (1) | |
Text
- Is :
'o UNITED STATES N
D, NOCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3
,E REGION V Q
g 1990 N. CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD
%g *,,,, e '
SUITE 202, WALNUT CREEK PLAZA WALNUT CR EEK, CALIFORNIA 94596 March 14, 1980 Docket No. 50-312 Sacramento Municipal Utility' District P. O. Box 15830
-Sacramento, California 95813 Attention: Mr. John J. Mattimoe Assistant General Manager Gentlemen:
This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant inatter.
It is expected that recipients will reviei 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 Regioral Office.
Sincerely, f
/
%l I /t$l >
J Engelken
- [R.
Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice i
No. 80-11 2.
List of IE Information Notices Recently Issued cc w/ enclosures:
1 R. J. Rodriguez, SMUD L. G. Schwieger, SMUD 8003 250161 q
?
SSINS No. 6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 7912190684 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 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: 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 eTiects of oil on elastomeric materials used~in ASCO NP-1 solenoid valves. Specifically, these valves utilize an ethylene propylene elastomer which exparJs 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 uti'iizing 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 stata:
"Important -
this valve is equipped with ethylen by oils and greases. To be used fo pipe threads of cutting oils." Car DUPLICATE DOCUMENT lubricants which do c.ot contain oil Entire docu'nent previously entered into system under:
/.
b3 ANO No. of pages:
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