ML19329E378
| ML19329E378 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Midland |
| Issue date: | 11/29/1977 |
| From: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Howell S CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8006120690 | |
| Download: ML19329E378 (1) | |
Text
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CEIRRAL RLES
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i NOV 2 0 T
Docket No. 50-329 Docket No. 50-330 l
i Consumers Power Company ATTN: Mr. Stephen R. Howell Vice President 1945 West Parnell Road Jackson, MI 49201 i
i Gentlemen:
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The enclosed IE Circular No. 77-15 is forwarded to you for information. No written response is required. Should you s
t hr.va any questions related to your understanding of this i
mattar, please contact this office.
Sincerely, I
,i Janes C. Keppler i
Director
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Enclosures:
1 1.
IE Circular No. 77-15 l
2.
List of IE Circulars Issued in 1977 i
cc w/encia:
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS Central nles POOR QUAUTY PAGES I
Reproduction Unit NRC 20b PDR Local PDR NSIC i
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Ronald Callen, Michigan Public Service Commission i
Dr. Wayne E. North Myron M. Cherry, Chicago I
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NRC FORM 313 (p.76) NRCM 0244
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.m November 29, 1977 IE Circular No. 77-15 I
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 consumption 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
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backup to level switches which start and stop the fuel oil transfer pumps to maintain nor=al day tank level. The strainer is an integral
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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 j
the preventive maintenance program. Normal testing of the system under the Technical Specification surveillance requirements does not verify system flow rates.
This occurrence represents an example where the as-built system I
configuration was not accurately indicated on the system drawings, and that adequate system description was apparently not available to Station personnel.
All holders of construction permits or operating licenses should be aware of the potential for variance between as-built configurations and system drawings. 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 recommended that the following be considered in your review of this matter:
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IE Circular No. 77-15 November 29, 1977 1.
A field verification of the drawing against the as-built system configuration should be made for 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 information relating to the maintenance of fuel oil cleanliness should be considered in your review:
j 1.
During long-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.
2.
It is known that cer,tain 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 of this deposit will eventually degrade the engine's performance. The presence of copper promotes the formation of guns 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 information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
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IE Circular No. 77-15 November 29, 1977 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN 1977 CIRCULAR SUBJECT FIRST DATE OF ISSUED TO NO.
ISSUE 77-01 Malfunctions of 1-4-77 All holders of Limitorque Valve OLs or cps Operators 77-02 Potential Heavy 2-15-77 All affected Spring Flooding holders of OLs77-02A 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 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 77-06 Effects of Hydraulic 4-1-77 All holders of Fluid on Electrical OL's and cps Cable i
1 77-07 Short Period During 4-12-77 Holders of i
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 77-10 Vacuum Conditions 7-15-77 All holders of Resulting in Damage to OLs Liquid Process Tanks Page 1 of 2 0
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II Circular No. 77-15 November 29, 1977 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN 1977 (Continued)
CIRCULAR SUBJECT FIRST DATE OF ISSUED TO NO.
ISSUE 77-11 Leakage of Con-9-6-77 All holders of OLs taine.ent Isolation and cps Valves with Resilient Seats 77-12 Dropped Fuel Assem-9-15-77 All holders of BWR blies at EWR Facili-OLs or cps ties 77-13 Reactor Safety Signals 9-22-77 All holders of OLs Negated During Testing and cps 77-14 Separation of 11-22-77 All Power and Contaminated Test Reactor, Water Systems Fuel Cycle, and From Noncontaminated major By-product Plant Systems caterial processor facilities with OLs or cps
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