ML19326C295
| ML19326C295 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 12/01/1977 |
| From: | Howard E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Cavanuagh W ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004220852 | |
| Download: ML19326C295 (1) | |
Text
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ARAL FILES PDR:HQ
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,k, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IIC 2
REGION IV N$1C o
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.g 611 RYAN PLAZA ORIVE. SUITE 1000
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AR LINGTON. TEXAS 76011 g, v j December 1, 1977 Docket Not. 50-368 50-313 Arkansas Power and Light Company ATTN: Mr. William Cavanaugh III Executive Director of Generation and Construction Post Office Box 551 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Circular No. 77-15 is fomarded to you for information.
No written response is required. Should you have any questions related to your understanding of this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, kkwu E. Morris Howard Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Circular No. 77-15 2.
List of IE Circulars Issued in 1977 8004220 49 V 9
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ErlFORCEMENT WASHINGTON D.C.
20555 IE Circular No. 77-15 Date: November 23, 1977 Page 1 of 2 DEGRADATION OF FUEL OIL FLOW TO THE EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR During surveillance testing on July 14, 1977, personnel at the Cooper Nuclear Station noted a degradation of fuel oil flow to the day tank for the emergency diesel generator. Although the fuel oil transfer pump capacity is 13.8 gpm for each of the two redundant pumps, flow to the day tank for number one diesel generator was only 3 gpm. At full load, engine con;umption is 4.5 gpm.
Investigation of this occurrence revealed a clogged strainer in a float operated shutoff valve on the day tank inlet. This valve operates as a backup to level switches which start and stop the fuel oil transfer
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pumps to maintain normal day tank level. The strainer is an integral i
part of the float valve assembly and is not shown on the as-built system drawings. This valve was manufactured by McDonnell-Millen Company. Station personnel were thus unaware of the presence of this strainer and did not schedule it for routine strainer cleaning under the preventive maintenance program. Normal testing of the system under the Technical Specification surveillance requirements does not verify system flow rates.
This e:currence represents an example where the as-built system configuration was not accurately indicated on the system drawings, a.'d that adequate system description was apparently not available tc, 5tation personnt 1 All holders of construction permits or operating licenses should be aware of the potential for variance between as-built configurations and system drawt gs. This is especially true for support systems to the engineered safeguards features where all required system conditions such as pressure and flows may not receive routine testing under the surveillance testing program.
It is recon 7nended that the following be considered in your review of this matter:
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IE Circular No. 77-15 Page 2 of 2 1.
A field verification of the drawing against the as-built system configuration should be made fur the entire diesel generator fuel oil delivery system from the storage tanks to the engines.
Appropriate changes should be made to the drawings and preven-tive maintenance program to account for any components or configurations not previously covered.
2.
Consideration should be given to revising surveillance test procedures to include a flow test on the fuel oil system to ensure the system continues to meet design specifications.
In addition, the following infonnation relating to the maintenance of fuel oil cleanliness should be considered in your review:
1.
During lo.ng-time storage, degradation of fuel oil is a common occurrence. The rate of degradation is not easily predicted since it is a function of the source of the crude oil, the process utilized in making the fuel (e.g., straight distillation or the method of catalytic cracking), and the conditions under which the fuel oil is stored.
I 2.
It is known that certain detrimental processes are accelerated in fuel oils when they are in contact with certain metals. The presence of zinc, such as from galvanizing, has a tendency to form soluble soaps in the fuel oil which are deposited on the diesel engine's injection nozzles. A buildup af this deposit will eventually degrade the engine's performance. The presence of copper promotes the formation of gums which degrade the stored fuel oil and tends to clog filters.
3.
The presence of water in the fuel oil promotes the growth of fungi or slime that also degrades the fuel and has the potential for clogging filters.
No written response to this Circular is required.
If you require additional info, nation regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
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IE Circular No. 77-15 November 23, 1977 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN 1977 CIRCULAR SUBJECT FIRST DATE OF ISSUED TO N0.
ISSUE 77-01 Malfunctions of 1-04-77 All holders of Limitorque Valve OLs or. cps Operators 77-02 Potential Heavy 2-15-77 All affected Spring Flooding holders of OLs 77~02A Potential Heavy 2-16-77 All affected Spring Flooding holders of cps 77-03 fire Inside 2-28-77 All holders of a Motor Control OLs and cps Center i-77-04 Inadequate Lock 3-17-77 Safeguard Group Assemblies I, II, IV, V, Licensees 77-05 Liquid Entrapment 3-24-77 All holders of in Valve Bonnets OLs and cps 06 Effects of Hydraulic 4-01-77 All holders of i
Fluid on Electrical OLs and cps 1 i Cable i
77-07 Short Period During 4-12-77 Holders of Reactor Startup BWR OLs 77-08 Failure of Feedwater 4-13-77 All holders Sample Probe of OLs 77-09 Improper Fuse 5-25-77 All holders of Coordination In BWR BWR OLs or cps Standby Liquid Control System Control Circuits
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77-10 Vacuum Conditions 7-15s'7 All holders of Resulting in Damage to OLs Liquid Process Tanks l
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