ML19330B985
| ML19330B985 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1980 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Aswell D LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008070357 | |
| Download: ML19330B985 (1) | |
Text
.
PDR LPDR
)
TIC V f 44
- t. ~
.D STATES NSIC 9(
7 [-
fo NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION CENTRAL FILES REGION IV sg:.dII 7 1 o
611 RY AN ?LAZA DRIVE, SulTE 1000 j
ARLlNGTON, TEXAS 76012 o
/e April 2, 1980 In Reply Refer To:
RIV Docket No.
50-382/IE Information Notice No. 80-13 Louisiana Power and Light Co.
ATTN: Mr. D. L. Aswell Vice President of Power Production 142 Delaronde Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70174 Gentlemen:
This IE Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant 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; however, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions, if required.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the director of the appropriate NRC regional office.
Sincerely, I
darl V. Seyfrit Director
Enclosures:
1.
IE Information Notice No. 80-13 2.
List-of IE Information Notices Recently Issued
.8 0 0 8 0 70 3M
SSINS No.: 6870 Accession No.:
UNITED STATES 8002280650 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT n
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 D
q eU av eu 22 IE Information Notice No. 80-13 Date:
April 2, 1980 Page 1 of 1 GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPE SBN CONTROL SWITCHES LEFECTIVE CAM FOLLOWERS Description of Circumstances:
This IE Information Notice alerts licensees and holders of construction permits of a potential defect in the cam followers of General Electric (GE) Type SBM control switches.
Based on preliminary information, it appears that the defect is limited to switches manufactured prior to 1976 with cam followers of polycarbonate material, such as Lexan.
In brief, the problem is initiated by exposing such polycarbonate material to hydrocarbons.
Such exposure leads to severe cracking having a rock salt appearance which ultimately could progress to mechanical failure.
It has been determined that such exposure has occurred i
during fabrication and could occur while performing maintenance (e.g., cleaning the contacts).
On February 22 and March 10, 1980, we were informed that SBM switches with defective cam followers had been found at Diablo Canyon Unit 1 and at the Cooper Station, respectively.
Although the information was preliminary and sketchy, the problem is a long-standing one for which GE has issued " Service Information Letters" to its BWR customers. The problems associated with such switches, however, are not restricted to GE customers as evidenced by the Diablo Canyon case. Furthermore, these switches have a broad range of applica-tion. For example, the defective switches at the Cooper Station were used principally as hand control switches, most of which were located in the control In contrast, those at Diablo Canyon Unit I were used as auxiliary room.
contacts on the 4KV and 12KV "Magna Blast" circuit brenkers, with three SBN switches used per breaker: (1) a breaker mounted auxiliary switch, (2) a cell mounted auxiliary switch, and (3) a cell interlock switch.
This information is provided as notification of a possibly significant matter that is still under review by the NRC staff.
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 you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
1
O IE Information Notice No. 80-13 April 1, 1980 LISTING OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.
Issued 80-08 The States Company Sliding 3/7/80 All power reactor Link Electrical Terminal facilities with an Operating License (OL) or a Construction Permit 80-09 Possible Occupational 3/7/80 All holders of power Health Hazard Associated retctor Operating With Closed Cooling Systems Licenses (OLs) and For Operating Power Plants near term Construction Permits (cps) 80-10 Partial Loss of Non-Nuclear 3/7/80 All Power reactor Instrument System Power facilities holding Supply During Operation Operating Licenses (OLs) and Construction Permits (cps) 80-11 General Problems with ASCO 3/14/80 All holders of Reactor Valves in Nuclear Application Operating License (OL),
Including Fire Protection Construction Permit (CP),
Systems fuel fabrication and processing facilities 80-12 Instrument Failure Causes 3/31/80 All holders of Power Opening of PORV and Block Reactor Operating Valve Licenses (0Ls) and Construction Permits (cps)
Enclosure
.