ML19332C583

Part 21 Rept Re Misapplication of Magnetrol Level Switches Supplied by GE W/Hpci & RCIC Turbine Assemblies.Switches Declared Inoperable & Electrically Disconnected.Magnetrol Will Modify Spare Level Switch Assemblies

ML19332C583
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	11/20/1989
From:	Labruna S Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
REF-PT21-89, REF-PT21-89-195-000 NLR-N89232, PT21-89-195, PT21-89-195-000, NUDOCS 8911280317
Download: ML19332C583 (4)

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Pubbe Service Decnic and Gas Company ,

Stunley LaBruna Pubhc Service Doctnc and Gas Company P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-4800 vu e. o . w a cs e x.

November 20, 1989 NLR N89232 U.S. Nucluar Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Nashington, DC 20555 I Gentlement i 10CFR21 NOTIFICATION - MISAPPLICATION OF NAGNETROL LEVEL SWITCH i HPCI AND RCIC TURBINE STEAN SUPPLY DRAIN VALVES l HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION l FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-57 j DOCKET NO. 50-354 j Pursuant to the notification requirements of 10CFR Part 21, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) hereby provides a  !

report of a misapplication of Magnetrol Level Switches supplied  !

by General Electric Company with the High Pressure Coolant I Injection (HPCI) and Reactor Core Isolation Cooling (RCIC) turbine assemblies for the Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS).

As described'in Attachment 1, and in our telephone notification (S. ' La Bruna to H. Thompson) on this date, PSE&G determined, on k7 ,

November 16, 1989, that a design misapplication exists for the subject Magnetrol level switch assemblies. i i

Please contact us if you have any questions with regard to this l transmittal.  !

t Sincerely, ,

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Document Control Desk 2 November 20, 1989 NLR-N89232 C Mr. C. Y. Shiraki Licensing Project Manager l Mr. D. K. Allsopp Resident Inspector Mr. W. T. Russell, Administrator Region I Mr. Kent Tosch, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Nuclear Engineering l -.

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• 0 ATTACEMENT 1 i

SUBJECT! 10CFR PART 21 - MISAPPLICATION OF MAGNETROL LEVEL SWITCH - NODEL 5.0-751-XXXX (PART $57-3003-006 WITEOUT FIN SECTION) SUPPLIED BY GE WITH MPCI AND RCIC TURBINE ASSEMBLIES

REFERENCE:

GE Environmental Qualification Report No. NEDC-30433, Magnetrol Level Switches, dated April, 1985 On November 16, 1989, PSE&G determined the misapplication of the Magnetrol Level Switches supplied by General Electric Company with the HPCI and RCIC turbine assemblies for Hope Creek Generating Station. The subject switches, upon indication of condensation buildup in the steam supply line to either the HPCI or RCIC turbine, actuate automatic bypass of the normal low point drain trap on the affected line.

The PSE&G Equipment Identification for the subject level switches at HCGS are:

1FCLSH-N010-E51 Magnttrol Level Switch for the RCIC Turbine 1FCLSH-N014-E41 Magnetrol Level Switch for the HPCI Turbine PSE&G has been experiencing failure of the subject switches at much shorter intervals than those specified by GE in the above-referenced qualification Report.

PSE&G has been replacing these swi:ches as necessary while investigating the root cause for the failures and evaluating potential alternative switches. 7he failures of the microswitch within the level switch housing is apparently due to excessive heat. As part of the investigation, PSE&G measured the temperature inside the level switch hgusing at the microswitch, recording temperatures as high as 335 F.

A review of the GE qualification report has determiged that, originally, a temperature at the microswitch of 235 F vas used by GE in determining the design application and the qualified life of the level switch for HCGS application. However, GE also had provided, in the report, revised calculations based on varying process fluid temperatgre wherein the temperature at the micro switch could reach 264 F.

The qualified life of the level switgh was originally determined by_GE to be 6.5 ygars based on a 235 F temperatureg at the microswitch, a 72 F ambient temperature, and a 560 F process fluid temperature. Subsequently,gGE provided a revised qualified life of 1.65 years based on a 260 F temperature at the

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• ATTACHMENT 1 - Cont'd microswitch, a 108 F ambient temperature, and a 575 F process fluid temperature. This qualified gife was adjusted by PSE&G to 2.1 years using temperatures of 255 F at the microswitch, calculatedbyusgngtheGEformulaandHCGSparametersof92F ambient, and 581 F for the process fluid.

The above qualified life could not be achieved at Hope Creek Generating Station.

Based upon the recorded actual temperature at the microswitch and the experience of the frequent failure of the Magnetrol Level Switches, as supplied by GE, we have concluded that there is a misapplication of these switches at HCGS and that 10CFR, Part 21 applies.  ;

A potential safety hazard is created wherein, if one of the level switches fails at the same time that the normal drain trap on its ,

associated steam supply line also fails, condensation could build up on the inlet side of a HPCI or RCIC turbine. Then, upon a ,

demand to start the affected pieca of equipment, damage to the r turbine could result in its inability to perform its intended function.

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PSE&G has taken the following corrective action: 1) declare the subject level switches inoperable, 2) electrically disconnect the switches, and 3) open the steam trap bypass valves and defeat t their controls in that position on the HPCI and RCIC turbine steam supply lines, thereby ensuring no collection of .

condensation that could degrade the operability of the turbines. .

t The longer term corrective action is to have the vendor, Magnetrol, modify our spare level switch assemblies to include an extended, cooling-finned section between the condensate pot portion and the microswitch and of the assemblies. This modified switch assembly design is qualified to IEEE 323-1974 and IEEE 344-1975 and will result in temperatures at the microswitch which will return to within the GE qualified life basis.

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