ML19326E035
| ML19326E035 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 07/21/1980 |
| From: | Crews E SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO. |
| To: | |
| References | |
| REF-PT21-80-237-001 NUDOCS 8007250459 | |
| Download: ML19326E035 (4) | |
Text
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Q-3 98 south CAROLINA ELECTRIC a GAS COMPANY aese o.a cc so. '**
I CotuM81A, SOUTH CARQUNA 29218 E. H. Ca r w s, J a, v.u.
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July 21, 1980 c.
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a Mr., James P. O'Reilly United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region Il Suite 3100 101 Marietta Street, N. W.
Atlanta, GA 30303
' Subj ect:. Virgil C. Sunmer Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Reportable Substantial Safety Hazard and Significant Deficiency Diesel Generator Prelube Oil j
Pump Continuous Operation i
Dear Mr. O'Reilly:
On June 27, 1980, a substantial safety hazard and significant deficiency as defined by 10CFR21 and 10CFR50.55(e) was reported to Mr.
C. R. McFarland at the NRC Region II office. The item involved possible failure of the diesel generators to start as a result of flooding if the rocker arm prelube oil pump operated continuously while the diesel was in the standby position.
Details are given on the attachment.
/
The. item is being reported under our 10 FR50.55(e) procedere. This is considered a final report on the matter.
1j V ry r y yours,
>?
m E. H.
-ews, Jr.
JAW:rm Enclosure
'CC: United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission y ffice_of Inspection and Enforcement Washington, DC 20555 United. States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Management Branch i
- Washington, DC 20555' r30/1 sp I
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Mr. James P. O'Reilly Page 2 CC: Messrs.
V. C. Summer E. H. Crews, Jr.
T. C. Nichols, Jr.
D. A. Nauman H. T. Babb
- 0. S. Bradham H. Radin J. Skolls J. M. Moriart: (Colt Industries)
NPCF/Dixon File e+-
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e 10CFR21 - SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY HAZAPO 1.
Name and Address of Reporting Individual James A. Wactor South Carolina Electric & Gas Company P. O. Box 764 Columbia, SC 29218 2.
Identification of Basic Component Diesel Generator Rocker Arm Prelube Oil Pumps 3.
Identification of Firm Supplying Component Colt Industries Fairbanks Morse Engine Division 701 Lawton Avenue Bsloit, W1 53511 4.
Nature of Defect,' Substantial Safety Hazard Created, and Evaluation The item involved the continuous operation of the diesel generator rocker arm prelube oil pump.
This pump is intended to provide lubrication to the rocker arm and valve portion of the diesel while in the standby position to reduce the wear that could occur in an emergency start if the lubrication drained off the parts over long standby periods.
The pump is not safety related and the diesel will start and operate without it.
However, the manufacturer is concerned that under continuous operation, lube oil could leak around the valve stems into the engine cylinders and cause flooding or even fill the cylinder up, creating a hydraulic lock when a start is attempted.
The control of the pump was designed in accordance with manufacturer's drawings with an "on-off-automatic" switch.
The pump ran continuously in the "on" position.
In the " automatic" pos. tion the pump ran -
d continuously when the diesel was in the stan6by position and shutdown i
only when the diesel was started.
The manufacturer claims they designed the circuit this way because the specification called for all "on-off-automatic" switches on the controls.
The manfacturer says their other customers have only "on-of f" switches.
Since the problem was caused by poor communications between the manfacturer and the engineer, it is being reported as a significant deficiency and a substantial safety hazard.
S.
Date Information of Defect was Obtained May 2, 1980
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Number and Location of Defect There is one prelube pump for each diesel generator.
F 7.
Corrective Action The pump controls will be revised to operate for a short period each day. The exact length of time to be determined by the manufacturer.
8.
Advice to Purchasers or Licensees None e
e e
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